The New York Herald is seeking a multi-media savvy editor with a sharp eye for finding a good story ahead of the pack. We are moving towards an editorial focus on art, culture, dining, media, trends, with bread and butter reporting of bars and restaurants, real estate development, and personal interviews and profiles of the many interesting, rising stars that make up this fine city. We are seeking a reliable and imaginative editor who can not only spin a witty line but also engage in deeper investigation when the opportunity arises.
We are looking to find someone with multi-media interest, e.g. combining video with the story and connecting with audiences through social media. Please contact us in confidence and if possible provide examples of any current work (blog, videos, etc) along with salary requirements. Thanks!
This curse-filled NYPress article by “Staff” calls out the naughty and nice list of 2009. If you’re the judgemental type, here are two bad boys of NYC media.
Jonathan Safran Foer, as far as we can tell, NYPress is just hatin’ here, on the Schadenfoer tip, for his success with “Eating Animals”, the anti-meat manifesto. Shrug.
Dominic Carter, former host of NY1’s “Inside City Hall” is labeled a “Newscastout” for his domestic abuse and fallout from the popular political talkshow roost. While it may be accurate that Mr. Carter has taken a big fall, we’re pretty certain redemption and return is part of Mr. Carter’s future in New York media. Now check out their “nice list“.
Wish you were there rubbernecking the whole Tiger Woods crash? Now with the help of low budget (but really fast!) Chinese motion graphics technology, you too can relive the whole sordid episode. Grab the popcorn, the action starts at 15 seconds.
Of course even this Chinese news broadcast isn’t up on the latest, that a second “other” woman has turned up – 24 year old Jaime Grubbs, who is claiming via a possibly paid interview with US Weekly that she had a 31-month fling with the number one ranked golf pro. There goes that Buick sponsorship – Mr. Woods crashed an Escalade.
Not only is Efren Penaflorida CNN’s Hero of the Year, he’s also a heck of a speaker. This Thanksgiving weekend, we’re thankful CNN is using its mighty reach to highlight everyday heroes like Mr. Penaflorida.
If you were too busy partying Saturday night, you might’ve missed Obama’s press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, as retold by SNL. That reminds us, Lorne Michaels, isn’t it about time you had an Asian cast member?
Dominic Carter, the personable host of the NY1 political talk show “Inside City Hall”, described as “the best political reporter working in NYC television”, has been found guilty of attempted assault of his spouse and may face up to 4 months in jail. Sentencing is due January 14th. NY1 is reviewing the situation and has not decided on whether he’ll be able to keep his high profile job. Dominic Carter ran a free-wheeling, often rancorous “cross fire” style show about City Hall politics. His regular guests included former Mayor Ed Koch and a host of other “Wise Guys”. Dominic Carter’s ability to steer his guests into news worthy quotes as well as to provide an articulate voice as the devil’s advocate earned him kudos and a loyal following among NY1 regulars. Dominic Carter has been with NY1 since the cable channel’s inception, in 1992. He took on perhaps his highest-profile role in 2006, when he moderated a series of statewide debates for Governor, Attorney General and Senator.
Our take: The entire incident is sad, not only with the alleged domestic assault itself, but also afterwards when traffic-hungry bloggers and the gawking media used the story to attack the man for everything they never liked about him. Chances are slim but with a 4 month bid served without incident, his family affairs back in order and sincere apologies to his disappointed viewers, we hope this talented political host and commentator will have a fair chance to earn his spot back at the City Hall desk.
Google News, which attracts 140 million pageviews per month according to Quantcast, doesn’t actually have it’s own news content to offer readers. Rather, As you can see above, it aggregates news content from around the web. Displaying one or two lines of the story, Google News then links out to the original source. Perhaps that’s why AP, which is owned by a wide constorium of newspapers throughout the country, is beginning to take offense. William Dean Singleton, Chairman of the AP group, announced at the organization’s annual meeting in San Diego today, that the organization will begin taking legal measures against unauthorized use of their content on websites. “We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under misguided legal theories.” he said.
Desperately looking for a profitable business model, old school media companies are latching on to the realization that cheap and dirty sites like HuffPost, Gawker (and hopefully us someday) are onto something. Why pen original pieces when you can curate the boatloads of content that’s already on the web?
That’s not to say merely aggregate, because that suggests an automated, unfiltered solution (e.g. all stories with the keyword “Obama” and “G-20″). Curating is spending your human capital on editors that don’t necessarily write original content but curate and quality control the content that’s already out there – linking to substantive sources ala the new maxim “write what you know, link to the rest”.
Makes sense to us. Consumers are getting quite overwhelmed with all of this content coming out of there ears, and it does explain why HuffPost and other “curators” are doing well with very little staff (besides the fact that they get celebs to write an original article once in a while for free). Yet, with everyone curating, won’t that lead to the pile-in that occured with aggregating and user generation? We think so, at the end of the day, curating may work as a starter solution (its the model we’re following until we have more resources), but nothing beats scoops, long-form investigative and original pieces. It is afterall what the “curators” will be linking to, if they see fit. Read: “Can Curation Save Media?” Business Insider
The street artist Shepard Fairey added to his considerable fame when the Obama campaign unofficially adopted his ‘Hope’ poster, which was based on a photo of Barack Obama taken by AP freelancer Mannie Garcia. Now Mr. Garcia and the AP are threatening to sue for copyright violation after repeatedly contacting Mr. Fairey to demand payment and a portion of revenue from the project. Mr. Fairey, accustomed to both jail time for his guerilla style graffiti activities and also copyright lawsuits, filed a pre-emptive strike against the AP, asking a federal judge to declare that Mr. Fairey is protected from copyright claims due to the concept of “Fair Use”.
According to Mr. Fairey’s lawyers, including Anthony T. Falzone, Executive Director of the Fair Use Project an a law lecturer at Stanford University, Mr. Fairey’s “Hope” poster only used Mr. Garcia’s photograph as a reference and transformed it into “a radically different message,” from the original photo taken by Mr. Garcia.
Images: AP photo by Mannie Garcia, poster by Shepard Fairey
RWANDA – Professor Krishna K. Govender (pictured) is not your typical rector or university dean, if there is such a thing, nor did his path lead him to the often sought after academic post of a European or North American elite institution. After 15 years working in a “cushy job” at a small university in South Africa, Prof. Govender donned his robe and velvet hat and accepted a position as the head of the Kigali School of Finance and Banking (SFB) in the capital of Rwanda.
He says the hills and weather reminded him of his country and the mix of students struggling with tuition and school fees were reminiscent of his days growing up in a poor family. “I see the students, faculty and emerging economy,” he says, “and have great hope for their future”.
Hired by the Rwandan government, with an expectation to make the Kigali School of Finance and Banking and internationally respected institution within the next decade, Prof. Govender has thrown his hat into the ring and within his first school year made a remarkable difference.
In connection with the Maastricht School of Management of the Netherlands, SFB is the only school in Rwanda that now offers a Masters in Business Administration, with specialties in banking, finance and project management. “I wanted a challenge and I’ve got it,” he grins. In addition to offering the first such masters program in the country, SFB is now going to offer degrees in finance, accounting, marketing and human resource management, as well as training towards an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (which is the largest and fastest growing global professional accountancy body in the world). Short certificate and “Professional Programmers in a variety of management disciplines,” are in the pipeline.
Since the genocide devastated the country in 1994 and literally wiped out any academic infrastructure, the entire nation has been trying to rebuild its educational institutions, businesses and banking. Over the last decade the country has had an influx of investment from international aid organizations, banking institutions, world governments and multi-national companies. But without a stable economy and educated populace, these investments will not last or bear fruit. That is why the Rwandan government has placed such an emphasis (and invested heavily) on education and training for its citizens, with the likes of SFB and Prof. Govender.
“Most universities focus on teaching and research,” states the professor, “but often leave out community involvement. We are trying to integrate teaching and community involvement so that each generation will have more opportunities to enrich themselves and the nation. I realized when I came to Rwanda that I could add some value.” At first, he said he was overwhelmed with the situation and didn’t know where to start, but he soon reminded himself that, “If you think not having nice shoes is a problem, try not having feet.” He put the situation into perspective and began with what he had in hand.
“At first, the government wanted us to be an internationally accredited premier business school within 3 years, but we need to first focus on the quality of our teachers and students and lay a better foundation, before we branch out and that is what we are doing,” he says. “We have the complete support and understanding of the staff and our employers. Quality of education is more important than the quantity. We are accredited and fast becoming a premier school of business, but it will take time to match our vision with reality.” There are approximately 2500 students presently attending SFB.
Professor Govender has not only been laying the foundation for later expansion, he has also been making multiple advantages connections and starting innovative programs that will improve the lives of those at the university and the surrounding community. SFB, in affiliation with the William Davidson Institute is going to offer scholarships to Rwandan women to attend business school. The program is administered through the Goldman Sachs Business School Scholarship Fund and targets underprivileged and qualified women and pays for their education for four years. In the past, Rwandan women were denied these schooling opportunities, especially in business. Rector Govender says this program is small, but will help catalyze and empower generations of Rwandese women.
Reaching out even further, the SFB rector has been in contact with a local orphanage of 200 children and plans on creating a program that sees graduate students helping orphans (now referred to as “vulnerable children”) as mentors and advisors. They will introduce the children to higher education and the possibilities that are available, as well as work with them on concepts of business and entrepreneurial endeavors.
To further infringe on the little time he has with his wife or his children (in England and South Africa), Professor Govender has taken on the task of establishing an Institute of Banking in Rwanda. This institution will be a professional certified organization, which is also being supported by the World Bank and will help to further establish economic credibility, standards and practices throughout the nation. To make sure he has little time for sleep, the transplanted academic from South Africa also wants to establish a Consumer Association of Rwanda to help protect consumers and improve the quality of products made in the country. He states that “the Ministry of Commerce and other governmental departments are all in favor of establishing such rights and setting up regulations to protect consumers.”
The factors that inspire this man to make a difference in his newly adopted country are varied. “I have always been positive,” he says. “I believe in God and remember my parents, who have passed, daily. I also jog every morning, as if there is no tomorrow. Jogging keeps me sane and is my one true addiction.”
Jogging in Rwanda is no small feat. Known as the land of a thousand hills, there is little level land on which to coast or cool down. Going for a constitutional jog inevitably takes Professor Govender up and down one steep grade after another. It’s a good thing he’s in good shape, as he doggedly strides to improve the lives of thousands and create the backbone of a successful business climate and educational culture in a country that has in many ways started from ground zero. In spite of the number of obstacles that lay ahead, you can see the determined professor reaching the crest of one hill at a time, hand in hand with the hopes of the Rwandan people.
The writer, Gabriel Constans has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, journals and books throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, including The Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Cream, New York Herald, Afrique News Magazine, Go World Travel and San Francisco Chronicle. You can see most of his writing credits (with some links) here.
The New York Herald is seeking a multi-media savvy editor with a sharp eye for finding a good story ahead of the pack. We are moving towards an editorial focus on art, culture, dining, media, trends, with bread and butter reporting of bars and restaurants, real estate development, and personal interviews and profiles of the many interesting, rising stars that make up this fine city. We are seeking a reliable and imaginative editor who can not only spin a witty line but also engage in deeper investigation when the opportunity arises.
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