the Vagabond Journalist
Iraqi journalist and sculptor, Ahmed Fadaam, discusses Iraq and what it means to be a journalist.
Leave a Comment
As a working journalist in war-torn Iraq, Ahmed Fadaam knows the power of his profession. On Wednesday, Fadaam shared this insight as well as his experiences in Iraq to a room full of future journalists.
“Since I consider myself anti-war, I don’t like war, I don’t like to have my country at war, then I should do something,” said Fadaam. “And when you want to fight back its not necessary to do it with a weapon. You can do it with words, with bringing in facts, with telling the world about what they are missing.”
Elon Professor, Janna Anderson, introduces Ahmed Fadaam to her reporting class.
Fadaam, who has a Ph. D in Fine Arts, once taught sculpture for the University of Baghdad. Things changed dramatically for Fadaam in 2003 during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Life since, has been anything but normal.
“Lots of government buildings were burned or destroyed, including the art school, so at the time I had to find me another job,” said Fadaam.
His new job, working as a translator for NPR’s “The Connection” with Dick Gordon, launched Fadaam’s career in journalism. Fadaam found the courage to stay and make his life of value by reporting.
“When the bombings started my wife insisted we should leave Baghdad to find a safer haven for ourselves and the children and I refused and told her that when my children would grow up they would need to know what happened and I didn’t want them to hear about it from someone else, I wanted them to hear about it from me and to be a first hand witnesses,” said Fadaam. “So I decided to stay in the city and know as much as I could about what was going on, until suddenly I found myself working as a journalist.”
Fadaam went on to work for the Agence France Presse and the Baghdad Bureau of the New York Times. As the situation in Iraq deteriorated, Fadaam was forced to confront the reality in Baghdad from two perspectives, as a working journalist in Iraq and as a citizen of Baghdad.
In 2006, Fadaam made the difficult decision to temporarily move his family to Syria.
“You couldn’t even feel safe in your house because of the exchanged shelling between neighborhoods. It’s like you are sitting in your living room and suddenly you start hearing sounds of explosions and bits of mortar shower against your neighborhood. That’s why I moved my family out, at least to send my children to school,” said Fadaam.
When the security situation improved in Iraq, Fadaam moved his family back. But as Fadaam found himself facing a different threat, he was forced to move his family back to Syria where they reside today. Some Iraqis saw Fadaam as a traitor for working for western media.
“After receiving a death threat which included kidnapping one of my children or killing my wife I had decided to send them back again. And they are in Syria right now waiting for me,” said Fadaam, “so it’s not an easy job being a journalist in Iraq.”
Last April, Fadaam left Iraq for the United States to work for Dick Gordon’s “The Story”. Fadaam publishes a series called Ahmed’s Diary, which has won 5 major awards. For Fadaam, it is work that opens the dialogue between Iraqis and Americans.
“There is no American in Iraq explaining to the Iraqis that there are Americans who oppose the war and want to live a normal life away from violence. But there is an Iraqi here in the United States who is trying to do this,” said Fadaam.
It is the latest chapter in his career of providing valuable insight for a volatile situation.
Ahmed works at his other profession, creating a sculpture for Elon University. Photo courtesy of Tom Arcaro.
Gov. Palin speaks at Elon University: North Carolinians and others travel far to show support.
Leave a Comment
Photo courtesy of University Relations at Elon University
by Dan Rickershauser
Additional reporting by Bethany Swanson
Vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin made a visit to Elon University this Thursday and was met by enthusiastic supporters from all over North Carolina and the country.
“We live in Danville, Virginia and this is the nearest we could come and support our candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin,” said Barbara Hyler. “We have about a two and a half hour drive back to Danville and it’s well worth it.”
Prior to Gov. Palin’s appearance, most supporters said that they wanted to hear about the economy, an issue that has been at the forefront of many voters minds admit a volatile Wall Street and the global credit meltdown.
“She should talk about the economy, that’s what people are concerned about,” said Robert Priebe, a resident of Winston-Salem.
Tammie McGonagle, a McCain supporter, agreed that the economy was what people wanted to hear about.
“I think the economy affects all of us, so that’s something that everybody here is interested in,” she said.
Palin wasn’t the only politician making a visit, Rick Gunn, a candidate running for the North Carolina State Senate, also made an appearance.
“This is just such a good thing for our community and I feel so good about the ticket with McCain and Gov. Palin,” said Gunn.
Gunn agreed with the other McCain supporters that Palin would be talking about the economy.
“I think you are going to hear a lot about the economy, she knows where we’re from, she knows how we have been hit with economic hard times, both financial but also with our textile communities,” Gunn added.
With music from the Wells Family Band, Hank Williams as well as a brief speech from North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Gov. Sarah Palin took the stage to a crowd of “Sarah! Sarah!” chants.
Tags: alamance county, andy milne, election 2008, elizabeth dole, elon, latham park, palin, presidential election 2008, rick gunn, student protester
Elon Student Arrested for Protesting at Palin Rally
Leave a Comment
While most came to show support for Palin, some came sporting Obama shirts or expressed opposing views.
Elon sophomore Andy Milne, came with signs showing support for Democratic candidate, Barack Obama. After McCain supporters attempted to take his signs, the scene quickly escalated. His disruption was met with McCain supporters yelling obscenities at him.
Milne was eventually escorted from the event and taken to Graham County Jail for disturbing the peace.
Click here for the full story from Elon University’s the Pendulum.
Click here for the follow-up story on Milne.
Tags: andy milne, elon university, latham park, palin protest, pendulum, sarah palin
Tis the Political Season: Students Host Debate to Focus on Key Issues
Leave a Comment
This story was published in Elon University’s The Pendulum. You can find the published story here.
Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama made an appearance at Elon University Wednesday night, as cardboard cutouts. But while neither candidate was in attendance, their stances on the important issues were well represented at the student presidential debates.
Democrat and Republican panels of two Elon undergraduate students and two Elon law students represented each side. Representatives from each side were given the chance to discuss their candidate’s stance on education, the environment, foreign policy, and the economy. The issues were decided on by students at a College Coffee on September 16.
While both sides highlighted their differences on all the issues, the debate heated up when Daniel Shutt, president of College Democrats, and Nick Ochsner, president of College Republicans, took the stage to discuss their candidate’s endgame plan for Iraq.
Daniel Shutt(left) and Nick Ochsner(right) debate foreign policy.
When asked about their party’s benchmarks for success in the War on Terror, Daniel Shutt, president of College Democrats, made a case for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
“Withdrawing from Iraq allows us to put our eye back on the ball, and that’s going into Afghanistan to go after the terrorists that attacked us on September 11,” said Shutt.
He added that the increased focus on Iraq has been the cause of the deteriorating progress made in Afghanistan.
Nick Ochsner, president of College Republicans, expressed his criticism of the Democrats plan.
“We can’t make America safe when we’re withdrawing in defeat from Iraq, when we’re announcing our combat plans in Afghanistan, and when we are acting without deference to what our military commanders tell us,” said Ochsner.
Both sides agreed on the importance of diplomacy with foreign leaders, while disagreeing on specifics as to how to best handle diplomatic relations.
The parties also appeared strongly divided on what could become the number one issue in November elections, the economy. Both sides were quick to blame the opposing candidate for any involvement in the financial meltdown.
“We need to look at who Barack Obama has advising him, and that is the former leaders of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae,” said Daniel Jessup, an Elon Senior representing the Republicans.
Jessup pointed to Obama’s silence in the earlier calls for regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two government sponsored enterprises being blamed for the Subprime mortgage meltdown. Jessup explained part of McCain’s plan to solve the worsening economic crisis.
“We need to go in and directly buy out the bad mortgages,” said Jessup.
Amanda Duberman, Elon Sophomore speaking for the Democrats, noted the deregulation of the financial systems as a cause to the crisis.
“The past eight years have seen sweeping deregulation and that is why this is happening,” said Duberman.
Duberman said that McCain has had a history of pushing for more deregulation. Duberman went on to mention McCain’s, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm, one of the authors of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act that deregulated the financial services industry. Gramm served as McCain’s economic advisor before stepping down in July following a controversial statement. Duberman discussed Obama’s support for a Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights and a commitment to stop predatory lending.
There were moments in the debate where both sides agreed. On Education, both sides addressed the need for making college tuition more affordable. While disagreeing on specifics, each side favored a comprehensive energy plan to reduce carbon emissions and the dependence on oil.
The debate was sponsored by the Elon chapter of the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement, SGA, the Office of Civic Engagement, and Professor George Taylor’s political engagement class.
Tags: college democrats, college republicans, election 2008, elon, mccain, obama, student debate
Good Examples of Crime and Court Reporting
Leave a Comment
Caught in the Web: Evil at the Door from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Frye starts this piece with a lead detailing the most suspenseful part of the story, the kidnapping. It is a lead that grabs the attention of readers as well as giving them a glimpse of what the rest of the story will be about.
One of the interesting things Frye does is spend time describing life of the father of the kidnapping victim. It draws an interesting parallel to the story because Kacie’s father is a police officer, on duty at the time of her kidnapping.
Frye tells most of the story chronologically, using a web chat session that Kacie was having at the time with a friend. To avoid confusion, Frye gives some background as to what instant-messaging is and explains some of the dialogue. Frye tells a story with key details, even writing the time events happened as well as the temperature outside. If it contributes to the story-telling, she uses it, and it makes for a great complete picture of a crime situation.
Humanity on Trial from the Chicago Tribune
Myers story is unique. Rather than focusing on a sole court case, Myers’ story details the strained court system of the Cook County Circuit Court. The strength of this story is the way Myers plays with scope.
She starts off by explaining the larger picture of the court system, and then narrows it down to specific cases and incidents that highlight the desperate situation. Myers gives the example that rape cases are sentenced as hard as drug cases, to show that the strained courts have to often make the tough choice to deviate from the goal of bringing justice.
She also highlights where the courts fall short by giving out the unofficial “rules” of court. Her story ends asking the compelling question of why the system is the way it is.
Metal to Bone, Day 1: Click from the St. Petersburg Times
“Police reporting rarely goes beyond the official version of events.”
That is how America’s Best Newspaper Writing described this work by Anne Hull, going well beyond the official version of events to give a comprehensive story on a police officer who was shot at one night on duty. Hull begins her story by explaining thoroughly the people involved in the incident.
She starts by describing Lisa Bishop, the officer who was shot at one night. Her story details the life of William Merrell, a man who saved Bishop’s life. Through his life story, Hull is able to describe the public-housing life where the shooting took place. The story ends about to find the suspect of who shot at Bishop. It leaves the readers ready to read the second part of the story.
Here are some other good examples of crime and court reporting.
Napster can play on, but threat looms from CNet News
Man executed on disproved forensics from the Chicago Tribune
Meth’s legacy: burns, ruined lives from Rocky Mountain News
The Use of Force from the San Francisco Chronicle
Elon Students and Faculty Weigh In on Biden-Palin Vice-Presidential Debate
1 Comment
Like most of the country, Elon University students and faculty tuned into the vice-presidential debates last night between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin.
Out of the 230 surveyed, about 85 said Biden did a better job, 53 said Palin, 27 said it was a tie or neither candidate did better, and 65 chose not to respond or didn’t watch the debate.
“From what I saw it looked like Palin was more on the defensive and Biden was more defending himself from her accusations,” said Jonathan Russell, and Elon freshman, “I thought both of them didn’t really do a stellar job on showing their opinions.“
Paige Newson, also an Elon freshman, said that while Biden performed better, he still has his own faults as a vice-presidential candidate.
“Biden could have had a much stronger argument, I feel like he’s kind of Republican,” said Newson, “there both not the best candidates for vice presidency, but it’s not about the vice-presidential candidates, it’s about Obama.”
Others felt that Biden was more direct with answering the question.
“I think he answered the questions very well,” said Derrick Cash, Elon University floor technician, “[Palin] was sort of beating around the bush with the questions.”
“She just kept avoiding all the questions,” said Brittney Godwin, Elon freshman, “every time there was a question she always wanted to avoid it.”
This poll at Elon University took place from 10:50 to 11:30. While done informally, the results reflected what other national polls found.
Columnist Jonathan Alter discusses the news as it unfolds
1 Comment
Alter with Q&A Moderator, Elon University Professor Ocek Eke(left)
A question-and-answer session with renowned political commentator and Newsweek columnist, Jonathan Alter, at the closing bell of historic news.
It’s not very often these days that a news story is broken by a news magazine columnist. But on afternoon of September 29 in Whitley Auditorium, Jonathan Alter took stage and notified the audience that the Dow Jones fallen 777 points, in response to the news that the bailout bill had failed in the House.
“I think we now know that the economy will pay a huge role in the election,” said Alter,
“We are talking about momentous economic events that are happening as we speak.”
Alter said the failure of the House to pass the bailout package was because it wasn’t sold well to the American people.
“It smelled like a dead fish,” said Alter, “Imagine, a $700 billion proposal that was only three pages long.”
Newsweek magazine the week before had featured Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on the cover as “King Henry,” criticizing his three-page proposal for having no accountability or oversight.
Jonathon Alter delivered a lecture later that afternoon titled, “Between the Lines: Politics, Media and Society.” With an audience packed to the balcony of McCrary Theatre, Alter was quick to deflect the attention.
“I might like to think this turnout is for me but I know this is really about what’s going on in this country.” Alter said.
In his lecture, Alter further discussed the election and how the recent news of the day would change everything.
“This crisis will be seen as more relevant than any other issue up to this point,” said Alter.
Alter added to his comments earlier on the collapse of the bailout plan in the House was, in part, due to the lack of the President’s political leverage.
“The President is not just a lame duck, he is a dead duck,” said Alter, “his political collapse has happened entirely.”
Alter also cited John McCain for being hurt by the crisis.
“He was the one who said he had brought the Republicans in and then they voted against it,” Alter said.
Looking ahead in the week, Alter shared what he saw as the upcoming challenges for the vice-presidential candidates.
“One of the challenges with Sarah Palin on Thursday is she’s going to have to show the American public that she’s not George Bush,” said Alter. “There are also big challenges for Joe Biden,” Alter added, “if he’s at all condescending or arrogant, he’ll lose.”
So who does Alter believe will win the election?
“At this point I would put $5 on Barack Obama, but I would not put $10 dollars on him,” Alter said.
While he could not say for certain who would win the election, he used a quote from former President, Bill Clinton, to express his trust in the American public to make the best choice.
When Alter asked President Clinton if he thought the Lewinsky scandal would effect the mid-term election, President Clinton responded, “If you give them enough information, the American people always get it right.”
