For the this semester I plan on focusing on the Dominican republic. I’m going to focus in on digging into its struggles with corruption in its government. 2 Siblings of former president Danilo Medina, are been accused of embezzling money through government funds and earlier this year the minister of environment and natural resources was killed in his office. These scandals have started rise over the last decade, as the countries economy has been rising due to the booming tourism industry.
Theirs multiple Dominican communities throughout NYC, with an estimated 900,000 people of Dominican decent living in the city. The Bronx and Washington Heights are 2 communities that are accessible where I could find people who are Native Dominicans as well as Dominican Americans perspective on the issues on the island. I know of a couple of sizeable churches located in The Bronx and Manhattan that have mostly Dominicans members, where I’d be able to find people to interview as well.
For this semester’s beat, my focus will be the Republic of Honduras, located in Central America, west of Guatemala and El Salvador, and east of Nicaragua. Honduras has claimed its independence twice now, the first time was back in 1821 when it declared its independence from Spain and joined the Central American Federation. 1841 marks the start of Honduras’ current status as an independent republic after it no longer belonged to the Central American Federation.
There are currently overlapping circumstances that shape the living conditions of the people of Honduras, essentially facing a humanitarian crisis. These factors range from the global climate crisis to domestic conditions of low income/high poverty rates, high crime rates, and high displacement rates.
Climate Crisis effects in Honduras:
For many people of Honduras, having their homes and small businesses destroyed by a natural disaster marks their last straw for bearing the harsh conditions of constantly living with no shelter or security. Many families either have to stay on the streets or place their remaining hope on seeking refuge or sending their children to seek refuge in the U.S.
Natural disasters have taken enough from the people of Honduras, some even describe the living conditions during the aftermath of a storm as unlivable. “That’s why they leave home and come to the United States,” says Vice President Harris. “They are suffering. They are in pain. Some are experiencing unimaginable anguish” (Harris, 2022).
Violence in Honduras:
Children, women, and LGBTQ+ members are often more targeted and more vulnerable to violence in Honduras, due to a lot of gang activity or people being economically or sexually exploited. Violence is a leading cause of the displacement of families in Honduras because many families and businesses are obligated to give money to the international criminal gang known as the MS-13. If the obligations aren’t met, people and even entire families are at risk of being killed.
Displacement of the people of Honduras:
Honduras currently represents one of the largest highest numbers of nationalities from Central America crossing the southern U.S. borders, in seeking asylum. More than 200 families a day, according to U.S. costumes and border protections. Many people of Honduras get killed, go missing, get raped, or get their belongings stolen by those who they rely on to get them to the southern borders.
Honduran Communities in New York:
New York / New Jersey Honduran population: Estimated 114,769
Locations: West Bronx, Newark – NJ, Islip Long Island.
Honduran Businesses: Ruinas de Copan & Bar (still searching)
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-honduras/ (U.S. relations with Honduras) – offers information on U.S migration policy toward Honduras and U.S. assistance to Honduras as a response to the humanitarian crisis/ high rates of displacement.
I recently saw a piece on Reuters called “Boon or threat? Mexico City wrestles with the influx of remote U.S. workers” which talked about how remote workers from the U.S ( Digital nomads) migrating to Mexico affected Mexico city residents. I want to write about how this affects Mexican immigrants here in New York. There were About 156,000 Mexicans living in NYC in 2019 according to the NYC mayor’s office of immigrant affairs. As of 2020, Mexico had a population of 128,932,753. There are a lot of Mexican immigrants in the tri-state area, and in NYC Sunset Park has a large Mexican community. In Sunset there is also the Mixteca organization which aims to help Mexican immigrants and other Latin American immigrants. The most common jobs for Mexican women are housekeeping and for Mexican men construction. Mexican people migrate to the U.S due to poverty in Mexico and the promise of more opportunities to make money in the U.S, this started in the 1940s when the U.s and Mexico created a labor program that encouraged Mexicans to migrate to the U.S as contract workers. This is why I want to focus my story on working-class Mexican immigrants in NYC and the effects that remote workers from the U.S moving to Mexico would have on them.
Has the country been in the news lately? If so, for what?
As of lately, the biggest news I’ve seen where Bangladesh was mentioned was mid June. The flooding in Bangladesh and India had left millions homeless with very little to no access to food for more than two weeks.
How many live in the US? In the tristate area? How many are in the international diaspora? How many in the home country?
According to Pew Research, there are approximately 208,000 Bangladeshi/Bengalis living in the US. There are 93,000 Bangladeshis in New York, 11,000 in New Jersey, and about 2,625 Bangladeshi people in Connecticut. In total, there’s a Bangladeshi population of approximately 106,625 people living in the tristate area. The Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment states that there is an estimate of 13 million Bangladeshis living outside of Bangladesh. The country itself has a population of 150.36 million people.
In the tristate area, where do they live?
According to Pew Research, the top metropolitan area where the Bangladeshi population reside, is in New York. There are 93,000 Bangladeshis in New York.
What types of jobs do a significant percentage of them have?
There is an influx of Bangladeshi immigrants who’ve become traffic cops in New York City. Many also own restaurants in the East Village. Approximately 30-40% of Taxi cab drivers are also Bengali/South Asian.
Why did they come to New York/the US? When?
New York happens to be very diverse and welcoming when it comes to the Bangladeshi community. Most families had men in the family who came in ships throughout the early 1900’s illegally, so they could build a life for future families to immigrate to. Large groups of Bangladeshis immigrated to the United States throughout the 1970s and 1980s. They also came for economic prospects because Bangladesh was still developing after they got their independence in 1971.
What are some major organizations/advocacy groups/resources in this community?
Bangladesh Development Project, which is located in Astoria, is a non profit that seeks to help out people in poverty in Bangladesh. It is run by first-generation bengalis who create projects concerning healthcare, social justice, disaster relief, and more. Sapna NYC, and LAAL are two nonprofits that empower Bengali immigrant women through advocacy and different initiatives such as healthcare, and meditation.
Do they have local media house/s? If so, list them.
They have a Bangla language Newspaper that mostly the older generation reads but it is very popular. It’s called Weekly Bangalee. It’s the most widely read newspaper since 1991.
How strong are relationships with the home country? How significant are remittances to the home country’s economy?
Many Bengali Americans send back money to their relatives to build houses, Start community projects, and investments in real estate. Many bengali americans still have family back home and as a result must not only suppose themselves but also make sure to send money back home.
In the homeland what is the GDP per capita? Where does that rank in the world? What are the major industries?
Bangladesh’s GDP per capita according to the World Bank is $2,508 USD, this would rank Bangladesh as 41st in the world. Major industries such as the textile and garment industries have been the primary source of exports but things such as pharmaceutical drugs have a
What is the system of government? When did this system come into place? Was there a colonial power? (Or was it the colonial power?)
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democratic republic. The current system was adopted in 1991. Bangladesh was a part of the British empire for approximately two hundred years.
Name of the NY consul general. How long has he/she been in the role?
Ms. Sadia Faizunnesa Consul general and she’s been in the role since 2018
Link to three news stories that have been published about the immigrant community in New York.
Are there any restaurants, bars, small businesses etc. that are owned/frequented by members of the immigrant community? Are there any other informal community spaces you can identify in the city?
A very active area for many south asian communities is jackson heights. Jackson Heights has a diverse population of hispanic, Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis, and Bengali that fill the streets with delicious cuisine. The east village in Manhattan is home to many Bangladeshi restaurants that operate under the “Indian,” name as many people don’t know what Bangladesh is.
Give three potential story ideas. (Doesn’t need to be a fully fleshed-out pitch yet, but should be well thought-out.)
Laal – Bengali immigrant women come here to America for a better life for their children, for their family, and they often don’t get to do what makes them happy. The main reason is because it’s often hard to connect with people in a new country, but at LAAL everyone is the same. Everyone comes here to learn. Everyone comes here to chat about things that seem taboo such as reproductive issues. They’ve gone to North Central hospital with a group of Bengali women so they can engage in a conversation about what’s going on in their bodies and why. They learned about diseases and infections and ways to prevent it. It’s something they are usually not taught because they’ve been married off early and/or simply just haven’t had the conversations
Violent attacks against Uber/Lyft drivers who are bangladeshi – discrimination faced
Bangladeshi Development Project – Raises money to send back home (disaster relief)
For this semester’s beat, I’ve chosen to focus on Armenia — a small landlocked country in the Middle East, bordering Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia — and the corresponding immigrant diasporic community in New York.
Has the country been in the news lately? If so, for what?
Yes, it’s been on the news lately regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, though most of the reporting of this comes from international, primarily Middle Eastern publications. About a month ago there was a firework explosion in the Surmalu shopping center, which made it to a lot of major news publications.
How many live in the US? In the tristate area? How many are in the international diaspora? How many in the home country?
Home Country – 2.963 million US – 1.5 million to 2 million International Diaspora – approximately 9 million Tri-State Area – 150,000
In the tristate area, where do they live?
Though today the most notable Armenian community in the US is in California, in the early 20th century, New York and Massachusetts were the top destinations for Armenian immigrants. The area between East 20th Street, Lexington Avenue, and First Avenue was called “Little Armenia” until the 1960. Now, Queens is where the majority of Armenian New Yorkers live, with an estimate of 50,000, compared to the estimate of 10,000 in Manhattan, where Armenian populations are concentrated in Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, and Murray Hill where the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is located.
Boston and its neighboring cities harbor the second largest Armenian community in the US. The Armenian Heritage Park, dedicated to the victims of the genocide, was opened in downtown Boston on May 22, 2012. The Armenian Library and Museum of America is located in Belmont and aims to be a center for Armenian Studies research.
Philadelphia and Providence also harbor a significant Armenian population, and another notable mention includes Portland, Maine, where the Armenian community was founded in 1896 and is currently represented by the Armenian Cultural Association of Maine.
What types of jobs do a significant percentage of them have?
Not Available Information
Why did they come to New York/the US? When?
There were a few waves of Armenian immigration to the US, all caused by varying reasons. In the early and mid 19th century the persecution of Christian minorities under Ottoman rule combined with American missionary activities became the first small wave of Armenian migration to the US from Cilicia and Western Armenia. In the late 19th century, after the Hamidian Massacres of 1894-1896 there was a much more notable migration wave. Turkish Armenian migration rose steadily from late 19th century into early 20th century as the situation became progressively more hostile in the Ottoman Empire (Adana Massacre of 1909, Balkan Wars of 1912-1913). Before the genocide or 1915, there was an estimate of 60,000 Armenians in the US, but the genocide surely causes the most prominent formation of the Armenian diaspora and one of the biggest immigration waves.
Moving through the 20th century, a new wave of Armenian immigration began in the 1940s after WWII. The Displaced Persons Act of 1948 allowed people who were displaced during the war to immigrate to America between 1944 and 1952, and upwards of 5,000 Armenians moved to the US at the time with the help of the American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians. This was followed by a much bigger migration wave after the passing of the Immigration and Nationality Act or 1965 which abolished national origins quotas. Armenians from Soviet Union, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries flocked to the US.
In the late 20th century, the 1988 Armenian earthquake in Spitak, the energy crisis brought on by the fall of the USSR in 1992, and the first Nagorno-Karabakh War caused approximately 700,000 Armenians to leave the country, moving primarily to Russia, Europe, and the US.
What are some major organizations/advocacy groups/resources in this community?
Armenian Assembly of America Armenian National Committee of America Armenian-American Action Network Armenian Educational Foundation Armenian Relief Society Ararat-Eskijian Museum Society for Armenian Studies Armenian National Institute Armenian Cultural Foundation Hamazkayin
Do they have local media house/s? If so, list them.
168 Hours; Aravot; Armenian Times; Armenian Weekly; AZG Daily; Aztag; The California Courier; Civilnet; Golos Armenii; Hetq; Novo Vremia; Oraterts; Tert; Zhamanak Daily; Asbarez; Haytoug; Hye Sharzhoom
List/link the major media houses in the home country. Are they reliable? What is the press landscape like there?
ArmenPress is the only state-owned news agency. There are eight private agencies: Shant, Noyan Tapan, Arminfo, Arka, Mediamax, PanArmenian, News-Armenia and Photolur.
The Constitution of Armenia guarantees freedom of speech, but media freedom is still restricted. Journalists often face threats of violence and publications have strong political interference, though press freedoms have improved considerably since the Velvet Revolution of 2018. Armenia ranks 51st in the 2022 Press Freedom Index report made by Reporters Without Borders, considerably high for the region.
How strong are relationships with the home country? How significant are remittances to the home country’s economy?
It depends on when the diaspora was established. The diaspora in California which was established more recently has a much stronger connection to the homeland. On the other hand, Western Armenians whose families have been here for generations in the Northeast will struggle to maintain closer ties. However, the generational trauma and the war back home does bring people closer and push them to build connections with the homeland. In the recent years there’s been a wave of immigration back to Armenia to help with the war crisis.
In the homeland what is the GDP per capita? Where does that rank in the world? What are the major industries?
4,267.45 USD (2020) per capita Armenia is number 136 in the ranking of GDP of the 196 UN recognized countries.
Major Industries – brandy, mining, diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing
What is the system of government? When did this system come into place? Was there a colonial power? (Or was it the colonial power?)
Parliamentary Democracy Constitution adopted in 1995; Established Armenia as a democratic, sovereign, social, and constitutional state.
Previously a Soviet Republic Previously Russian Armenia Previously Ottoman Armenia
Name of the NY consul general. How long has he/she been in the role?
Couldn’t find information.
Link to three news stories that have been published about the immigrant community in New York.
Are there any restaurants, bars, small businesses etc. that are owned/frequented by members of the immigrant community? Are there any other informal community spaces you can identify in the city?
Hi Food Café Balade (Lebanese) Sevan Restaurant and Catering Sevan Market Lilya’s Restaurant & Grill Café Gourmand Baruir’s Coffee Brooklyn Bread House Krichian’s Grill & Bistro
Give three potential story ideas. (Doesn’t need to be a fully fleshed-out pitch yet, but should be well thought-out.)
A story centering around the exploration of Armenian identity and where it fits in in American racial and ethnic categorization. I want to specifically explore what it’s like for the diaspora to exist in a country that places such great value on ethnic and racial categories while not fully fitting into the conception of any of the made-up races.
I’d like to profile the Armenian Society of New York, considering they recently had their 50th anniversary, I feel like it would be a good time to create this profile.
Lastly, I’d like to work on a story centering around something that has to do with the Western Armenian experience in the diaspora and how it differs from the Eastern Armenian experience. Furthermore, I’d like to look into how strong the ties that Western Armenians hold with the homeland are.
I plan to cover the political and economic instability in Sudan, especially in the year since their latest coup last October. There is a substantial Sudanese community in the tri-state area, most notably in Jersey City and Brooklyn with many members of various opposition groups to the government in Khartoum active and organizing with communities in the rest of the US. I would be interested to explore any tribal differences that may hinder effective organizing in the US so far, and what courses of action are being pursued as Sudan faces record inflation and a large portion of the population’s dependence on remittance sent home by family living abroad, including NYC. I have many contacts in the community from businessmen to political activists and lawyers to journalists still in Sudan reporting. A cultural angle I could include is going into the history a little bit, as up until the mid-70s, Sudan was lauded as a success story in post-colonial Africa with emerging industries, a decades long intellectual and artistic tradition centered around Khartoum, meek but ambitious plans for healthcare access and fairly decent press freedoms in relation to the rest of the continent. Many of the older generation came to the US during that time as the country began a long descent into the more repressive structure it keeps to this day. I would like to explore the frustrations of those older generations that have made their homes here in the US, and the hopes of younger immigrant generations who only ever heard tales of “Sudan zamaan” or the old Sudan.
Quick check-in about beat memos, which are due today. Reminder that your pitch for your first story of the semester is due by class time on Thursday.
Logistics of International Reporting
Last week, we talked a lot about the state of press freedom around the world, and about how it should figure into your planning process as a reporter working abroad. That’s just one element you need to plan for. Reporting trips often require a lot of coordination ahead of time: booking flights, booking hotels, hiring fixers, hiring translators, renting a vehicle, securing the right visa, etc.
Accreditation
Get accredited if it is advisable/feasible to do so.
Things to consider:
Expense
Timeframe
Whether or not you’re trying to keep a low profile
Potential consequences for not being accredited (without it, if arrested, some governments may take the opportunity to accuse you of espionage, for instance, or of being a combatant)
Every country has different requirements for visiting journalists. Some will have a clear-cut journalist visa that you have to apply for. Some will require media accreditation only if you’ll be filming, or only in certain regions, or only for certain kinds of stories. Some will charge you for bringing in a lot of camera equipment. In some places, the only viable option is to go as a tourist or sneak over the border. As ever, you’re going to want to rely on your network to advise on the best option for you.
Protect your data and your sources. (We will have an entire class devoted to digital security later in the semester.)
Make sure your phones, laptops, tablets, etc. are password-protected.
Communicate with apps like Signal if you’re discussing anything sensitive.
Be careful what you share on social media.
Travel “naked” if you have a lot of sensitive sources on your phone. No matter how good your encryption, if a foreign government is determined to seize your phone, they’re probably going to do it.
Remember that it’s NOT JUST YOU you’re protecting here. Especially if you’re American, your local sources and fixers will often be far more at risk than you will.
Working With Fixers
“Fixer” is a term that can mean a lot of things. A good fixer is someone who Makes It Happen. They have a good sense of what a journalist’s needs are for a story; they know the right people and can facilitate introductions; they know their way around; they generally deserve a lot of the credit for a successful assignment. Often they are journalists themselves.
Sometimes your fixer will pull double or triple duty as driver/translator; other times you will need to hire someone else to fill these roles. Depending on the story, you might be able to get away with not hiring a fixer at all because a contact at a local NGO or agency is willing to introduce you to sources or give you a lift.
The golden rule of working with fixers is this: Don’t Be An Asshole.
Remember that you are going home after the day or week you’ve spent in their country and company, and that they will continue to live there. Remember that any stupid decision you make doesn’t just endanger you; it endangers them, and it likely endangers them many times over. Local journalists tend to be killed and imprisoned at a much higher rate than foreign correspondents.
And pay them a fair rate. Find out what the going rate is (it can be anywhere from $50 to $400 a day depending on where you are) and clear it with whoever’s handling your expenses (and advocate on behalf of your fixer if you’re told it’s too high).
What we found is that the dynamic of a deep-pocketed foreign reporter hiring a local journalist in an often-poorer country, to do his or her bidding, has inherent power dynamics that can lead to problems. Some highlights of our findings include: More than 70 percent of journalists say they never or rarely placed a fixer in immediate danger, while 56 percent of fixers said they were always or often put in danger.
60 percent of journalists state that they never or rarely give fixers credit, while 86 percent of fixers would like credit always (48 percent) or sometimes (38 percent).
About 18 percent of the journalists report asking fixers about their political affiliation often or always, while only 6.6 percent of fixers disclose their political affiliation often or always.
80 percent of fixers report questioning or challenging the editorial focus of a client’s story, while only 44 percent of journalists surveyed report being questioned or challenged by fixers.
Half the journalists say they have been corrected by a fixer, whereas fixers report correcting clients 80 percent of the time.
38 percent of journalists say they never rely on fixers for editorial guidance, while 45 percent of fixers say journalists always rely on them for editorial guidance.
About a third of the fixers identify as “journalist-fixers” and 75 percent of fixers say they have another profession, with fixing only a minor or moderate source of income.
The vast majority (92 percent) of journalists say they find fixers through “word of mouth,” rather than online fixer forums, lists of fixers, or social media. *
What the data could not show, but subsequent interviews indicated, are underlying tensions that often remain hidden in professional interactions. A fixer with more than a quarter century of experience working with one of the American news networks, put it bluntly: “Unfortunately they still look at us as ‘brown’ people with funny accents, and though I have reported and done some of the most important and daring stories for [the network], it is a struggle to get a producer credit. Meanwhile, white kids—years my junior—get their names up [in the credits].”
*Word of mouth often is the best way to find a fixer, but what are some pitfalls of all the foreign journalists who come to a country on an assignment all relying on the same few fixers every time?
Working with Translators
Things to consider:
Gender. You may need a male or female interpreter, depending on the story.
Accuracy. Especially if you’re working in audio/video, the translator can’t translate until the interview subject is finished talking, lest you ruin the tape; this means it’s it’s unlikely they will be able to provide an exact word-for-word translation in the moment. They will be able to capture the gist enough for you to ask a follow-up question, but you will need to have it fully translated afterward. And if you have an inexperienced translator who isn’t used to working with journalists, you might find that they’re butchering the translation, especially when it comes to emotion.*
Transparency. I’ve been in situations where it was clear to me that the translator was not telling me everything that was said, or adding something to what I had asked. This isn’t always a bad thing; sometimes a translator will know something you don’t and will be able to frame a question more diplomatically, but there is a risk that their perspective will affect your reporting.
Tone, emotion, and color. Unless you have an absolutely dynamite translator, you’re going to miss out on some of the nuance of what is said. Don’t be afraid to ask your translator to elaborate if you pick up on body language or a lighthearted moment and feel like you’re missing something. It’s a lot harder to detect bullshit from a source when going through a translator. If you have a really good one, they can help you out with this and let you know if they suspect the subject is lying or evading.
Distance. Building rapport with an interview subject and drawing them out is one of our main tasks as journalists. It’s a lot harder to do when you have someone acting as your intermediary. It can be tempting to address your questions to the interpreter (“Can you ask her to to talk about xyz?” but I find that when I focus on maintaining eye contact with the interviewee, addressing my questions to them, and finding time for little human moments, I end up with a better interview and more positive interaction.
Filming. On a practical level, if it’s a video interview, I find it’s often best to have the translator seated in the space next to the camera where you want the subject to look. No matter how much eye contact you try to make, the subject will usually end up addressing their answer to the translator. Try to sit close to them or even slightly behind so that if the subject’s eyes flick back and forth between you, it’s not too obvious.
*“I went to some village and just about everything had been washed away. I interviewed a man who had lost everything, and tears were coming out of his eyes and he was moving his hands to and fro, and the interpreter said something like, ‘I estimate the damage to my dwelling to be substantial.’”
Finding Sources
If you are planning on working with a fixer, they will often take care of a lot of this for you. But still, if it’s possible, try and reach out to as many potential sources in advance as you can. On a reporting trip, time is precious and efficiency is the name of the game.
You may end up working closely with an NGO or agency. Sometimes this can’t be avoided, but it’s important to be conscious of the dynamic here; ethically, can you report this story while being beholden to a group so intrinsically tied up in the situation?
Protecting Your Gear
Your equipment is your livelihood, so it’s important to make sure that if it gets stolen, confiscated, destroyed, or lost, you have it insured. Even a thousand-dollar theft deductible and a lag time of a month or two before your claim is settled and you can buy new gear (oof, I know) is better than losing everything in one fell swoop and being unable to work.
Camera insurance is not cheap, especially if you’re working in areas the insurers deem to be risky. (I was living in a city that is affectionately nicknamed “Nairobbery” which meant I definitely fell under that category.) There are a lot of options out there; the best deals often change over time and differ from place to place, so shop around and see what your colleagues are doing and how much they’re paying.
For what it’s worth, I used Hays Affinity, purchased through the National Press Photographer’s Association. It cost about $700 to $800 to cover $7,000 to $8,000 worth of equipment for a year. They covered me in Kenya, but any time I traveled anywhere new or added a piece of gear, I had to update them in advance to make sure it would be covered or so they could adjust the premium. It was a pain, but for that one really bad hour of my life after I realized that my fixer had left my camera bag on the side of a dirt road after he emptied out the trunk when we stopped to change a tire, I was very thankful that I had it. (DON’T HIRE CUT-RATE FIXERS, I’M TELLING YOU!)
If you’re going to an actual war zone, there are plans that will cover you for medical care, evacuation, involuntary repatriation, death, etc. Out of consideration for your family if not yourself, make sure you’re covered.
Safety: Be Prepared
Take a hostile environment and/or first aid training if you have the opportunity to do so.
Have the right gear. If body armor is recommended where you’re going, make sure you don’t skimp. It can be difficult to bring this stuff across borders so often there are local journalist organizations where you can find gear to borrow or rent.
There will be a whole class later on in the semester devoted to detailed risk assessments, so stay tuned for a lot more on this topic.
Other Common-Sense Things to Consider
For those of us who aren’t doing frontline reporting or working in countries with repressive regimes, there are still some important items to weigh in advance.
How remote is the assignment? How close will you be to good medical care?
What vaccinations or other precautions are recommended or legally required for the place where you’ll be reporting? (In Tanzania, for instance, you can be denied entry if you don’t have your yellow fever vaccination card.)
What are the roads like where you’re going?
What is the weather going to be like?
What is considered appropriate clothing where you’re going?
What is the internet situation there?
Budgets for these trips are often lean, and news outlets appreciate reporters who can keep costs low. But don’t skimp on certain things: it’s worth it to spend a little more to stay at the hotel that has a backup generator, so you can charge your camera battery, your phone, and your laptop.
Use your network, talk to people who’ve already been there to get some advance street smarts. Don’t be a hero!
Bring snacks. Reporting can be hard work, and people are more likely to make dumb decisions or forget things when they’re hungry.
Brazil // Little Brazil, Manhattan & Astoria, Queens.
Has the country been in the news lately? If so, for what? Lately, whenever I see Brazil in the news it’s about the Presidential election. The election is October 2,2022 and if needed, will be October 30, 2022. The election is between current President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Lula de Silva. There’s a lot of tension between supporters of both candidates, so much so, one stabbed another a few days ago. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/bolsonaro-fan-kills-lula-backer-brazil-election-tensions-mount-2022-09-09/
How many live in the US? In the tristate area? How many are in the international diaspora? How many in the home country? According to NYCgo, it is estimated that more than 50,000 Brazilians live in the New York Metro area. Approximately 65,000 Brazilians in the tristate area, according to migrationpolicy.org. In 2019 the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey estimated that there were 499,272 Americans who would report Brazilian ancestry. (451,000 in 2017). 4.2 million Brazilians are in the international diaspora, including the United States.
In the tristate area, where do they live? According to migrationpolicy.org, they live in New York, Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey, as well as Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, Connecticut. However, according to New York Latin Culture Magazine, Brazilian New York City is in Little Brazil, Manhattan; Astoria, Queens; and Newark, New Jersey. Little Brazil is on 46th St between Fifth & Sixth Avenue.
What types of jobs do a significant percentage of them have? In chapter 5 of Little Brazil: An Ethnography of Brazilian Immigrants in New York City by Maxine L. Margolis says Brazilians in New York City do anything available to them; such as: “busing tables, shining shoes, cleaning houses, driving a call cab, dancing in a go-go bar, pouring cement, or selling books on the street.”
Why did they come to New York/the US? When? In 2017, an increase of Brazilians came to the US due to conditions such as a recession which caused unemployment as well as inflation.Those who arrived in the 1980s-1990s came here to make 4 times as much money than they would at home. They planned to stay for three to five years to work before going home. This is called yo-yo migration, especially if done more than once.
What are some major organizations/advocacy groups/resources in this community? Brazilian Consulate NYC . Brazil Foundation – (https://www.brazilfoundation.org/) helps Brazilians with any help they may need. Brazil Ahead – founded in 2007, teaches Portuguese to a variety of ages ( 3 and up ) in New York City. SOB otherwise known as Sound of Brazil, which is a live music venue created to expose the music and heritage of the Afro-Latino Diaspora to all who go there. Brazilian Endowment for the Arts supports artists in many mediums who’s works contain Brazilian culture. The Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce (https://brazilcham.com/) holds important discussions that are helpful to understanding Brazil, which topics such as economics, politics, inclusion, and more.
Do they have local media house/s? If so, list them. CNNBrasil, GloboNews, The Rio Times.
List/link the major media houses in the home country. Globo, Bandeirantes, RBS, Record and Folha. Are they reliable? Due to heavy government interference, I do not feel that they are reliable. What is the press landscape like there? Brazil is ranked at 110 out of 180 on the press freedoms list by RSF. The current President, Jair Bolsonaro is not a fan of journalists or the media and regularly attacks them in his speeches, according to RSF. Two journalists, and one media worker have been killed in Brazil this year. One journalist is currently in prison.
In the homeland what is the GDP per capita? Where does that rank in the world? What are the major industries? GDP per capita in Brazil is 6,796.84 USD (2020) and is expected to reach 11200.00 USD by the end of 2022, according to Trading Economics. Iron, steel, and automobile assembly are a few of Brazil’s major industries.
Name of the NY consul general. How long has he/she been in the role? The Consulate General of Brazil in New York is Maria Nazareth Farani Azevêdo. She has been in this role for 4-5 years, from 2017 to present. She was consul general from 2008 to 2013 as well.
Are there any restaurants, bars, small businesses etc. that are owned/frequented by members of the immigrant community? Are there any other informal community spaces you can identify in the city? NYCgo created a great list of the best places to get to feel immersed in Brazilian culture. For example, a shop called Buzios, which is called the Brazilian market of Manhattan and the products are directly from Brazil. SOB, or Sound of Brazil seems like an important community space.
Give three potential story ideas.
1.) Zouk Festival returns to New York City after Covid puts it on hold for two years. My plan ( access permitting ) is to attend the event to interview and photograph the artists ( who dance as well as teach ). I want to report on the topic of Brazilian dance and how important it is to their culture. On the official website they list their focus as, ” To educate students of all levels in Brazilian Zouk and Lambada and keep with the mission to continuously grow BZ-L throughout the US by raising awareness through teachings, live performances, and connections.” I’m thinking of making this a photography project, with sound bites from the interviews to help tell the story.
2.) Last semester I learned about the lack of sanitation in favelas, so I would like to write a story on how Covid has made these areas more dangerous for those who live in them. My hope is to be able to be connected to people in Brazil through the creator of Coco Zap, Gilberto Vieira. Coco Zap documents dangers such as broken pipes, garbage collection in Mare ( one of the largest favelas) and more. Community members have the ability to come together via whatsapp chat that was created by Coco zap, which is a data_labe project for mapping, advocacy and citizen participation on basic sanitation in poor areas.
3.) I’m still working on developing this idea further, however, I want to interview community members at local Brazilian spaces, such as Sound of Brazil, and the market Buzios, and restaurants to highlight Brazilian Culture in NYC. As of right now, I feel a video would capture this best.
