Promise of Protection, Our Hidden Poor, Northern Short Course and WHNPA Student Contest

Worth Watching: Promise of ProtectionAnother powerful multimedia piece from The News and Observer. Vernetta Cockerham-Ellerbee's husband made good on threats to kill her family when he stabbed to death her teenage daughter Candice in 2002. Cockerham-Ellerbe had begged police to lock him up. In a lawsuit, she's asking them to pay for failing to protect her. Our Hidden PoorThe Chicago Tribune published a special report, Our Hidden Poor, with an audio slideshow In their own voices. Tens of thousands of families confront what often amounts to a daily struggle, if not for survival then at least for dignity. And their troubles unfold mostly out of sight, in barren apartments, soulless shelters or overflowing trailers. In these unseen places, hope can be as scarce as cash; victories tend to be small, hard-won and fleeting. Events/Contests: Northern Short Course The 2008 Northern Short Course will be held in Rochester, NY, March 13-15. Confirmed speakers…

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Multimedia Round-up: Reign of Sand, A Journey Through Time, The Women of Evangel, The Crossing, and Vanishing Wetlands

All of these projects are fully worthy of their own posts, but in the interest of time, a week's worth of pieces worth watching: Circle of Blue: Reign of Sand A look at how the traditional nomadic culture of Inner Mongolia is changing as the grasslands turn to sand. Caused by many of the same environmental and policy-based conditions as the American Dust Bowl in the 1930's, this transition is having major effects on the people and land in Northern China.   Life: A Journey Through Time by Frans Lanting "The Life Project is a lyrical interpretation of life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to its present diversity. It includes a large-format book, a multimedia orchestral performance, a traveling photographic exhibition, and a dedicated educational website, www.LifeThroughTime.com. " The Women of Evangel, Healing and Hope by Tim Broekema A documentary on the Evangel Hospital in Nigeria, where some of the thousands…

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MediaStorm publishes Rape of a Nation by Marcus Bleasdale

Rape of a Nation by Marcus Bleasdale The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to the deadliest war in the world today. An estimated 5.4 million people have died since 1998, the largest death toll since the Second World War, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). After successive waves of fighting and ten years of war, there are no hospitals, few roads and limited NGO and UN presence because it is too dangerous to work in many of these regions. The West's desire for minerals and gems has contributed to a fundamental breakdown in the social structure. See the story.

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Projects worth watching

A few recently released projects not to be missed: Bullet Proof Vest from the Independent Lens Online Shorts Festival Nine-year-old twins Mustapha and Jyeshria know they can’t go to the park unaccompanied. “Your parents need to be there with you, so they can block the bullet,” Jyeshria explains." Lesotho Voices- Born Free from HIV These powerful films and photos by photographer Gideon Mendel share the personal stories of seven women in Lesotho. All are living with HIV but only some have benefited from services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Obama's Paranoia Factor Guardian US correspondent Suzanne Goldenberg examines the surge in support for the Democratic candidate Barack Obama, and the orchestrations of his controlling campaign staff. Not Forgotten: Rochester's Victims of Homicide in 2007 Every death is a tragedy. But when someone is murdered, it is an act of violence against the victim, their family, their friends and every one…

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Open Society Institute launches Katrina: An Unnatural Disaster

The Open Society Institute and MediaStorm recently collaborated to produce Katrina: An Unnatural Disaster (www.katrinamedia.org). This site chronicles the struggles and triumphs of Gulf Coast residents since the destruction more than two years ago. Through stories and images, the site explores what is preventing residents from recovering from the disaster and returning home. It features the work of dozens of award-winning print and radio journalists, photographers, filmmakers and youth media organizations, all of whom are OSI Katrina Media Fellows."

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