Feature Writing

Author: DENNY

NO-CARD

Can You Give Me a Lyft?

Even though it’s the city that never sleeps, that’s often just what Modibo Niambele wants. As a driver for Uber and Lyft, Niambele works everyday, but it’s the weekends that are especially tough.  When the shift is over and he’s ready to enter his home, he can’t – not usually. More often than not, he’s double-parked outside his apartment on the Upper West Side. The city sleeps but Niambele must remain vigilant for any indication that someone might be moving their car. If he’s lucky, it won’t take more than two hours.

Even though the denizens of New York City have benefitted greatly from the taxi industry revolution, which has been made possible by the emergence of companies like Uber and Lyft, drivers continue to get the short end of the stick in terms of total benefits from the service. Ride-sharing platforms like this reached global proportions – Uber alone operates in 540 cities – but they haven’t done much to enhance the driver’s financial situation, which many of their claims are built on, compared to how the taxi market used to operate. Despite the personal aspects apps like these have included – from the picture of your driver to the information about the car that’s just two minutes away – companies like Uber and Lyft have constricted drivers dependent on taxis as their main source of income and given them two options: adapt to our model and drive or get left behind.

Niambele, a father of three, sports a bald head and his voice is dominated by a French accent from his days in Mali. His hands are big and firm, callused from years of gripping a steering wheel, while he peers at you through glasses that sit loosely on his nose.

Before the market was disrupted, Niambele drove yellow cabs and black cars for over 25 years. Though Uber launched in 2010, and Lyft in 2012, he didn’t make the switch right away. Once it was clear that the taxi market was evolving, Niambele joined the next trend taking over the city.

Numerous drivers, much like Niambele, work for multiple ride-sharing companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Gett. While companies rake in the big bucks through partnerships and overall revenue, drivers accelerate their efforts just to stay afloat.

“Overall, competition makes things better. But not that. You see, black cars used to be relaxed. The typical black car used to be more relaxed, you know. You get a call, you go pick up, come, you relax, you take another call, you know. So you got a couple of work in a day, you good. But Uber is not like that. The price is very low so you gotta put a lot of energy, you know, the back and forth,” said Niambele.

Uber and Lyft have placed ads all throughout the city. Often, they display how much money you can make driving with them. Lyft’s website claims an individual can make up to $35 an hour; their earnings estimate on their website says drivers can expect up to $1,400 a week for a driver who commits 40 hours a week in New York City. On Uber’s website, there is a chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that says Uber drivers make over $19 an hour. But these numbers are deceptive, which is just what companies like this want to do.

“Drivers supply everything. We pay the gas, we do the maintenance of the car – if the car is for you, yes or not, you gotta make the payment of the car, okay. And, plus, the TLC ticket, you know, the police ticket, the parking ticket, those are big burdens on us. So the cost is huge, and that’s the problem. You gotta work with Uber and Lyft. At least you gotta put in 10 hours a day to make money with them. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of driving,” said Niambele.

But Niambele isn’t all grumbles. He acknowledged many of the positive changes that Uber and Lyft have imposed on the market, some which have broken up the monopolistic power of the Taxi & Limousine Commission.

“It was kind’ve a monopoly system. And look at how the price was going up. And before Lyft and Uber, there was no middle man in the city. So drivers, a bunch of drivers that I knew used to go to garage, they don’t have no car, they come home not working. So when Uber and Lyft came, they give the chance of many people to have – they buy their own car or leasing a car – and they work for themselves. It’s more relaxing because you don’t have to look for the customers. The yellow cab was more aggressive, you know, for drivers. The more aggressive you, the more customers you can have. But Uber and Lyft everybody got their own customers,” said Niambele.

Niambele claimed the Taxi & Limousine Commission often hits drivers with summons that imposed steep fines, often with little cause.

When Uber and Lyft stepped into the picture, they changed the rules. Though they have to comply with Taxi & Limousine Commission regulations, drivers began to see a change. The integration of smartphones have benefitted both drivers and users alike.

“I’ve been robbed a couple of times. In East New York, I had a gun on me – they took all my money, that was a couple of years ago. And also it happened right, on 110th Street. Got a gun on me. They took all my money in daytime. The doorman who was watching me run away, you know. So completely it’s a difference for that, the safety of drivers. Many people know that we don’t carry cash on us, so it’s more safe,” said Niambele. “The app is great. The customers love it, so we as drivers love it.”

Despite all the advances made for taxi drivers, are these companies improving drivers financially? I joined Niambele one Saturday night to get a glimpse.

…

6:00

Niambele bundled up and kissed his daughter before stepping out the door. Despite the frigid weather, the streets are swarming – it’s a Saturday night and SantaCon is still underway. He walked to his car, a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, and warmed the car up for the night ahead. While soft jazz emanated from the NPR station, Niambele double checked to see if he has everything before calling his friend Ricky over WhatsApp.

6:14

Niambele is officially online and available for request. He made his way down Central Park West. Shades of pink resonate off his screen – hot zones of Lyft activity – and Niambele entered the eye of the storm.

6:16

Niambele’s first request of the night popped up. Anna needed a lift, and Niambele proceeded to drive to her location.

6:17

Anna cancelled her request. Unlike Uber,  Lyft doesn’t notify drivers on-screen when a ride is cancelled; instead, they get a text.

“I hate this. I want it to show me directly,” said Niambele.

6:24

Another request appeared on the screen – Fatima needs a lift. Snow flurried down and Niambele worked to avoid double parked cars, bicycles, and pedestrians – it’s the ultimate game of freeze tag.  

6:27

Niambele arrived and placed Lyft poster on the window. He made his way to the East side, and they conversed lightly along the way. 2nd Avenue construction prevented him from turning to the requested location, and Niambele casually pulled over, impervious to the blaring horns behind him.  

6:42

Fatima is dropped off. Niambele declared her “dropped off” – a requirement by Lyft to signal the ride has ended – and gave her a 5 star rating; the rating system operates as a two way street under Lyft. It doesn’t take much to get a good rating, but simple courtesy for Niambele.

“Anywhere you go, say hello to someone,” said Niambele.

6:43

A French couple requested a ride. As they make their way down the West side, there was silence throughout. Niambele struck up a conversation, and the topic quickly jumps to Donald Trump. The French gentlemen, now animated, expressed concerns for America’s future.

7:00

7:14

The French couple are dropped off and also receive a 5 star rating from Niambele.

7:16

While at a red light, Niambele called to check in on his son. He made his way to another part of the city after another request flashed on the screen.

7:31

A family of four entered. Niambele offered to pull down the seats in the back to make more room but they declined. Somewhat uncomfortable with the cramped space, Niambele put his Kangol on – a first throughout the night. After the family is dropped off, Niambele double-parked his car and pulled down the seats in the back.

7:34

Another request brought Niambele back to the West side. A couple entered and exchanged pleasantries.

7:44

The one mile drive is quiet, and the couple is dropped off. Niambele took a moment to admire a French eatery on the left hand side. There is mounting traffic in midtown and he became agitated, using his horn and high beams more frequently.

“That’s what makes the traffic worse – no left, no right turns. Where we gonna go, the sky?” remarked Niambele, referring to the traffic cops who prohibited turns in many parts of the midtown area.

7:49

After his last drop off, Niambele received a request to come back to the immediate area.

“Sometimes it’s not worth it,” said Niambele, as he struggled to inch through midtown traffic and pick up his patrons.

8:00

8:05

The ride began. Trump’s presidency came up, and so did Modi’s. Niambele offered the guest an iPhone charger after she mentioned her phone is dying. Little quirks like these often help create a distinction between good and great service, which are key for drivers who rely on tips.

8:20

After dropping off his guests, Niambele went offline. He took time to visit a mosque in the area and ate at a Indian-Pakistani restaurant after. He needed some time to unwind and sipped on some coffee, but acknowledged he couldn’t afford a long break.

“Sometimes when you work for yourself, you don’t have no choice,” said Niambele.

9:00

9:47

Niambele jumped back online and a request came in. Niambele, parked in the Baruch area, down to Bowery.

10:00

10:19

The ride ended and another request came. This is the first outer-borough request Niambele received. As he drove over the Williamsburg Bridge, the tempo of the night changed. Now situated in Brooklyn, Niambele is rooted in Brooklyn until the night is over.

…

I rode with Niambele until 11:30. After driving for 4.5 hours – excluding the time he took for break – Niambele received $102.06. This may seem like great money – the kind companies like Uber and Lyft promise, the kind which attracts new drivers to join – there is the share that company itself gets.

According to Niambele, Lyft takes 36.4 percent from drivers. Of the $102.06 Niambele made so far, Lyft will take about $36. After 4.5 hours, Niambele walks away with approximately 66 dollars – which equates to less than $15 an hour.

Even in this brief amount of time, this is far from what Uber and Lyft claim drivers can receive. Expectations of a busy Saturday night are dashed. The business model, no matter how promising, operates with a flaw: drivers can only take a certain number of passengers in an allotted amount of time, and they must compete with mounting pressure from other drivers who are looking for the same customers. Ultimately, the percentage companies like Uber and Lyft take from drivers creates the biggest rift for financial stability.

Niambele has a long night ahead of him, and many more to come working for Uber and Lyft. The industry might not experience another revolution anytime soon, and drivers like Niambele will continue to depend on revolutions per minute to take them home.

Longreads structure

Link: http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/11/10/trump-election-autocracy-rules-for-survival/

The structure begins with quotes following Trump’s presidential victory. Gessen criticizes those who have tried to normalize the recent turn of events by reminding everyone that Trump is not a normal scenario, and his agenda – from the campaign to his proposals – are not to be forgotten.

She circles back to the idea of Trump as an autocrat by what he has said – from being a chronic liar to hateful rhetoric against minorities – to what he has done – avoid taxes and live as a sexual predator.

But she doesn’t just provide this as opinion. She shows us that she is just the person to remind us that America is about to be ruled by an autocrat with support from all sides: she has lived in autocracies most of her life, and has spent much of career writing about Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

While autocrats and their system expect you to play by their rules, Gessen gives us a few rules of our own to follow. The list format further enhances the notion of being “ruled”.

Each rule circles back to Trump as an autocrat and how you can prevent being blinded by him even further. But the final rule reminds us that this isn’t Russia, Trump will not reign supreme forever, and we can move forward – if we keep these rules in mind.

Final Pitch

HELP WANTED. Ads like these are everywhere, but often do they work? That remains to be seen. But when the market is disrupted, the biggest catalyst that spurs attention, growth, and potential employees is success.

Uber provided this catalyst in 2010 when it rattled the market for taxi service in New York City. Since then, the ride-sharing app has opened the door to other apps like Lyft and Gett.

But Uber did more than shake the market: it altered the conceptions that come along with the market. They replaced clunky yellow cabs with sleek, more modern luxury cars; everything is done via an app to ensure optimal revenue, wait time, and demand.

Suddenly there are more attractive perks with a career in the taxi industry.

Cheick Niambele realized this. He has worked part-time with Uber for nearly a year. The flexible schedule offered is crucial to Niambele, a full-time student at Baruch College.

This story will cover the Uber industry with a narrative revolving around Cheick Niambele as a student and a driver in a growing industry.

Stay In School

Journalism should be considered one of the greatest humanitarian acts possible. Day in and day out, journalists seek truth and provide this knowledge to the greater public. There won’t be a lot of praise for the work – but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen; it’s safe to say this won’t be the most profitable career – that much isn’t likely to change. But that’s not usually what attracts journalists to the profession in the first place.

Like most humanitarians, journalists work beyond their self-interest. They don’t need the limelight – their words are their fame; they found their passion and molded it, spending countless hours perfecting their craft. This is what it takes. Time is the name of the game. And how you use it can and will affect your career as a journalist. Cast aside all notions that four years of undergraduate level work were enough to train you. Aspiring journalists need to enter graduate school for journalism if they wish to set themselves apart and, more importantly, succeed.

The fiery debate over graduate school is constantly stoked, but it’s time to extinguish any opposing notions. Job markets continue to look for the best possible applicant to add to their team. While a bachelor’s degree was once more than sufficient, it is now a requirement; shifts in expectations now view a master’s degree as the norm. While a multitude of colleges offer comprehensive preparation during a student’s undergraduate years, aspiring journalists do themselves a great disservice by assuming that this will be more than enough.

Aside from shifting norms, graduate school provide journalists with the ability to focus solely on aspects of journalism, while undergraduate years have time constraints and other classes to consider. This is when our future journalists will hone their skills, along with a specialization in their field of interest. While they will be expected to manage greater projects and work with multiple deadlines – all in preparation for the real word – students will receive guidance from distinguished professors in a way not applicable on the undergraduate level.

Professor Benjamin Hudson, an adjunct lecturer at Baruch College, has invested quite a bit of time in journalism. With over 25 years of experience, professor Hudson has reported in Arizona, Greece, and Venezuela.

“Most of my experience is as an editor. It’s probably why I teach the copy-editing course here,” said Hudson.

Despite attending graduate school himself, professor Hudson believes graduate school is not a necessity “if you’ve done really well in an undergraduate program that is rigorous.” However, he acknowledges that a greater expectation is required today. If a job listing has ten requirements, fulfilling nine things is “not enough anymore.”

Reporters today are expected to have a hand in multiple aspects of journalism: reporting, copy-editing, social media, multimedia, among others. Familiarity with these skill sets will be integral for a successful career in journalism, especially as the field shifts away from traditional means and digital journalism continues to peak.

Two other major factors must be considered when graduate school is discussed: money and drive. Every financial situation is different, thus raising complications. While the cost of school is expensive and rising, the resources gained outweigh financial burdens. A greater skill set, a wider network of likeminded professionals and mentors, and increased reservoir of education are invaluable for an individual preparing for their future career. While debts can be paid off and money gained, the time spent in graduate school and the subsequent resources gained are beyond anything quantifiable monetarily.

Drive also factors into a decision. The structure of school provides guidance for the developing journalist. The true danger lies in the time off post-graduation once a student is left to fend for themselves. While many students are proactive and involved in taking the next step through means outside of graduate school, there are never guarantees. As time passes, aspiring journalists must stay ahaad in a competitive market. Without a graduate program to assist and guide them, they must shed the shackles of unproductiveness and be willing to tackle a variety of projects to reflect their progress and worth in a growing market. While there is no shortage of praise for effort, aspiring journalists will want to have top notch work under the belt to elevate them to the next level.

Journalism should be seen as a ladder without limits. The steps in between are never far and wide, but you will be stretched a bit further when you skip a step. Graduate school should be seen as one of those steps to the top. You may very well still see success without it, but when the ladder adapts to the world but you don’t adapt to the ladder, what’s your next step?

Dream publication

I’d like to write for The New Yorker or Vice.

I feel like TNY’s target audience is a sophisticated audience ranging from early 20s to 70s due to its longstanding history as a publication. VICE seems to represent those with interests outside of mainstream media -especially those who are informed more via digital journalism methods- and want a less rigid, more personal form of journalism.

Pitch ideas:

Jacob quote examples

“I don’t really. I use fantasy football as a distraction from my real work,” said Kaye.

Kaye said, “I check it every morning, and it delays my morning routine by about 15 minutes.”

“Not doing very well,” admitted Kaye. “I won my fantasy baseball – 2nd year a in row – but I’m struggling with fantasy football and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

“I’m trying to defend my championship – I won last year – but it’s not looking too good,” said Kaye, a 23-year-old senior at Baruch. “I don’t even think I’ll make the playoffs.”

 

Op-ed pitch

Nintendo continues to advance their gaming market by building on the success of the past. The Nintendo Switch debuts in March 2017, but already has a strong buzz amongst avid gamers and owners looking for the latest technological breakthrough. The latest console blends the old and the new: a game system for the home that can now be taken on the go. While Nintendo’s popularity has stood the test of time, from the Nintendo 64 to ever-popular franchise series such as The Legend of Zelda, it has faced fierce competition from Microsoft and Sony. While Nintendo has not always promoted their technological breakthroughs, such as their Amiibo concept, the Nintendo Switch will become the standard of gaming in the future.

(TK: Interview with workers at Nintendo World; incorporation of press releases from Nintendo)

This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land

Just like many other students at Baruch College, Angelina Lorenzo feels the pressure to succeed. While school experiences differ immensely for a variety of reasons, one factor in Lorenzo’s life makes her educational success so special: she is an undocumented student. Along with her citizenship status, she is a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Lorenzo, a Dominican 19-year-old junior, often sports her hair pulled back into a bun, along with a pair of maroon glasses. In class, she absorbs the information of the day with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee close by, which she drinks religiously.

Lorenzo’s academic success dates back to her time at public school in the Bronx. She was the valedictorian in both middle school and high school. In Baruch, Lorenzo continues such trends. Despite her quiet nature, she responds with great clarity when prompted by a teacher to engage.

Chuckling lightly, Lorenzo remarked, “It’s a Hispanic thing. It’s just culture. In the Hispanic culture, they believe education is the way to success.”

Despite her achievements, her success is at risk. Republican nominee Donald Trump has vowed an agenda for mass deportation. Lorenzo, along with millions of others scattered across the states, are directly at risk.

According to the Pew Research Center, “there were 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2014.” Despite Trump’s rhetoric about the rising number of immigrants, the Pew Research Center asserts that the population has remained unchanged since 2009; unauthorized immigrants only account for less than four percent of the nation’s population. However, six states – California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois – account for nearly 60 percent of the unauthorized immigrants in 2014, the Pew Research Center stated.

As a Public Affairs major, Lorenzo exerts heavily vigilance with news coverage. The presidential election, in particular, has her attention. While she is not a fan of either candidate, she watched the second presidential debate.

Frustrated, she stated, “I can’t believe I watched it. It was a joke.”

Regardless of her opinion, she understands there are risks and that “you should vote anyway.” Because of class, now she is aware that a tie would lead to a Senate vote, which currently leans Republican.

Lorenzo considers herself fortunate and acknowledges that others don’t get chances like she has.

“I’m a DACA recipient, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Lorenzo.

DACA was enacted in 2012 under President Obama. The program allows undocumented immigrants under 30 to apply for two-year deferrals excluding them from deportation; provisions state that they must be a student, high school graduate or veteran of the armed forces or Coast Guard.. However, unlike provisions found in the DREAM Act, which offers a path to citizenship, DACA does not increase the opportunity to obtain legal permanent resident status.

There are numerous advantages for America which immigrant legalization can offer. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the DREAM Act can lead to a significant increase in tax revenue due to recipients earning more and paying more in taxes over their lifetime. However, they acknowledge certain factors need to be considered when this argument is presented: tax benefits will only be seen in the long-term, which won’t prevent an influx of new students in the short term; this limited spacing may reduce lifetime earnings and tax payments for U.S. citizens; taxpayers will fund a program that offers no guarantees that enrolled students will complete the two years the act requires.

From a purely economic standpoint, programs like the DREAM Act and DACA can enhance the job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 19 percent of of Hispanics in the labor force had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Lorenzo is a humanitarian at heart. Her high school, Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation, helped Lorenzo matriculate to Baruch; the school helped with her financial aid process. It went as far as to nominate her for the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) scholarship, which helped with the financial aspect of college.

With blissful nostalgia and a wide grin, Lorenzo remarked, “I still can’t believe it to this day. That scholarship has been such a blessing.”

Now Lorenzo wants to continue her philanthropic spirit. While she is unsure about her options for graduate school, she did describe her long-term aspirations. Her deep passion for the homeless drives her desire to open a shelter; her shelter would focus on “at-risk” homeless to help put them back on their feet before the situation gets any worse.

“That’s my aspiration – to give back,” said Lorenzo wistfully.

Until then, Lorenzo is focused on how this election will unfold. While she is concerned about the types of executive orders Trump would hope to pass, Lorenzo is adverse to the idea of leaving America, an ever popular alternative that has floated during this election cycle.

“If I leave, he won,” fired Lorenzo.   

Profile Draft

With close to 20,000 students in attendance, Baruch College is an embodiment of life in New York City: a diverse melting pot which we rarely have time to interact in. Students hustle and bustle throughout the day knowing the next day will offer much of the same. Angelina Lorenzo is just one of many caught in this cycle. But the 19-year-old stands out in a way that many students – and New Yorkers , in general – won’t think about when they reflect on how they identify themselves: their citizenship status.

Lorenzo, a 19-year-old junior, has always valued education; her mother would shape these values in the process.  “It’s a Hispanic thing. It’s just culture. In the Hispanic culture, they believe education is the way to success,” said Lorenzo.

Undoubtedly, these values have stuck. She was valedictorian in both middle school and high school; her high school would go on to help her choose Baruch College – her top choice.

Currently tackling her junior year, Lorenzo is majoring in Public Affairs. She chose Baruch for its business reputation, but was pointed towards public affairs, knowing she wanted to involve herself with a future in business or non-profit work.

This comes as no surprise. Lorenzo worked at Phipps Neighborhoods, a not-for-profit which “provides children, youth and families in low-income neighborhoods the opportunities they need to thrive through comprehensive education and career programs, and access to community services.” She also contributes time to the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation, her former high school, every summer since graduating. There she helps with The Bridge to College program, a program targeting soon-to-depart seniors before they matriculate into college. This same program would help Lorenzo when it came to her college application; she would pass on this knowledge to her sister and her sister’s friends when their application time came. “I’ve definitely put those skills to work,” Lorenzo remarked, when reflecting on her time at Urban Assembly. “I love that school.”

As an aspiring business leader and major of Public Affairs, Lorenzo stays informed with the current state of affairs – especially with this tumultuous elections underway.

(Rest TK; numbers and sources ready)