Multimedia Reporting Fall 2019

Author: Reema Doleh

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Video Proposal: Thanks But No Thanksgiving

Following in the theme of my radio project, I hope to highlight an event titled “Thanks But No Thanksgiving” that is going to be held on Friday, November 22nd at Union Hall in Brooklyn. The event is hosted by indigenous Americans and hosts a variety of performances, from stand-up comedy to games with interaction from audience members. The event is held in opposition to the mainstream narrative of the holiday, described by the organizers as an “antidote to the settler nonsense that is Thanksgiving.” I hope that my reporting can serve as contrast to all the news surrounding the Thanksgiving parade, and highlight actual celebrations organized by indigenous people. It is supposed to be a lighthearted gathering while also showcasing the work of young indigenous people. I reached out to the three hosts of the event and they are all open to being interviewed as well as me attending and filming the event.  

https://www.unionhallny.com/e/thanks-but-no-thanksgiving-75973152745/ 

Radio Proposal

For this radio project I hope to highlight a speaker at the Indigenous People’s Day (IPD) event that is going to be held on October 14th at Randall’s Island. The speaker I plan to interview is Tahnee Ahtoneharjo-Growingthunder. Tahnee is of the Kiowa tribe and is an artist and educator. She is a Harvard graduate and hosts the podcast “Curating Indigeneity,” that discusses Indigenous art, lifestyle, and culture. Tahnee also is a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for American Indian Nations and works as a State liaison for the thirty-nine tribes of Oklahoma. I reached out to Tahnee on Instagram and she is open to being interviewed!

While NYC does not officially recognize IPD, this will be the 5th year of the IPD celebration. The IPD event should lend itself well to produce great natural and auxiliary sounds. The event is going to be filled with music, performances, and speeches by natives. It would be great to give a platform to share Indigenous voices and experiences.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indigenous-peoples-day-nyc-2019-tickets-62438831225

 

Photoville

As a native Brooklynite, I tend to stay away from Dumbo due to the influx of tourists, over priced eats, and hard to maneuver streets. After visiting Photoville, however, I have a newfound appreciation for the area. One of the first things I noticed about Photoville was the profound amount of diversity in the portrayed works. For the first time, I saw many people, artists as well as subjects in the art, that looked like me. 

One of the more informative and heavy works of art was organized by a group called Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality (NCF), entitled “Forced From Home.” Before entering the container, I knew after reading the title that it would be about the forced relocation and diaspora of the Palestinian people. As a Palestinian-American, I was excited to see this narrative on such a large platform. NCF featured the work of four different Palestinian women, each given the power to portray what is important to them about their village and life style. Much of what was featured included the women’s children, cuisine, and adaptations to the struggles around them. 

Another exhibit that I strongly admired was titled, “Of Love and War,” by Lyndsey Addario. This exhibit features a war torn Afghanistan, before and after 9/11. It was interesting to see the stark contrast of before and after American imperialism devastated the land of Afghanistan. 

It was amazing to have the artists there to bring life to their photos and to hear about their passions and motivations behind the work that they do. I highly recommended Photoville to my NYC based friends and will most definitely be visiting again next year!      

 

Photojournalism Proposal

For this assignment, I plan on highlighting an example of resiliency in New Yorkers. In early 2014, the first ever Whole Foods came to Brooklyn, placed in the affluent neighborhood of Park Slope. When the plot of land, located on the corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue, was first purchased by Whole Foods, there was a fear that small businesses would be priced out of the area. While many local shops have closed for good, others have managed to stay afloat.

I plan to highlight a local, family owned and operated bodega/grocery store that sits less than a 10-minute walk from Whole Foods and depict how their business has persevered since Whole Foods has opened in the area almost 5-years ago.

Some photos I plan to highlight include specific updates made to the store after Whole Foods arrived.

-Reema Doleh