Faces of Faith in Second Life
I
designed, coordinated and implemented this experiment which brought journalism
and ongoing discussions about faith to Second Life, the innovative virtual community. "God,
Sex, Family" projects were streamed (video, audio, content) into different
tents created to look and feel like a church revival. Reporters were available
in each tent to speak or answer any questions from SL visitors. The final event
was a panel discussion on Sunday, July 29 from 12-1:30 PM PST held inworld and broadcast
live through
SLCN, the Second Life Cable Network. Religion writer and News21 Senior Editor Don
Lattin moderated a panel which include SL worshipers, spiritual leaders,
anthropologists and theologians. I used online social networking tools like Upcoming, Facebook, MySpace and Squidoo,
to organize and publicize our event. During the panel we reached the maximum
capacity of 50 people/avatars, attending the event on the island or SIM of Nowhereville.
I also wrote two stories, "Oh,
Brave New Virtual World!" and "Introducing
the Great Beth Odets". Check out our blog for
more information and the two
videos I did on finding New
Jerusalem in Mexico.
Maynard Institute
As a Content Producer and Bilingual Multimedia Journalist at the Maynard Institute, I coordinate online news content and strategy. The institute helps the nation's news media reflect America's diversity in staffing, content and business operations. I help train journalists and interns on multimedia assets and social networking strategy. Recent multimedia packages include a profile, obituary and coverage of the shooting of local Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey.
Mexico
As an intern with the Associated Press in Mexico City, I had the opportunity to work on various print, photography and multimedia projects, including Rapping Mexico, a collaborative project during which I engineered and produced the audio, for artists like Jezzy P's live acapella. Print stories include sexist vows, mock soccer game, Vicente Fox presidential coverage, some blogging, as well as translations and contributions, and the production of SoundSlides presentations during the contentious July 2 elections.
Oakland Tribune
I was chosen to be one of 19 Chips Quinn Scholars. I worked as a bilingual English/Spanish general assignment reporter at the Oakland Tribune and won the Chips Achievement Prize for an article on the shooting of a 16-year-old. I completed more than 30 stories, eight of which were A-1 stories, which included crime spot news, features, and photography. Noteworthy stories were a sideshow homicide, a Buddhist legal feud, local tsunami relief efforts, the descendents of Pancho Villa Circus, and the lift of the police hiring freeze. For more clips go to Kara's site or Myspace page.
Alameda Journal/Contra Costa Times
Part-time staff writer responsible for reporting, writing and photographing more than (50) features for the Friends and Neighbors community section of the Alameda Journal. Noteworthy stories included a firefighter memorial for September 11, student DNA testing, profile of gay couple adopting a surrogate child, the greening movement in Alameda, the spiritual progressives, and other local interest stories. I have also done some radio stories for KALX on a compact to not buy anything for a year, egg donations to pay off college tuition's, the story of Alameda told through its water and powwows as a way to express cultural identity.
Agence France Presse
I currently work as a stringer for Agence France-Presse writing and photographing features, some of which included an Avian Flu and Vibrio story from the Infectious Diseases Society of America conference, "Search Giants Staying Hip" story, photos for an Un-Thanksgiving in Alcatraz story, and a Twitter and green dorm story.
Magazines
I have worked as a magazine feature writer and photographer for Colorlines: Race, Culture, Action. Reported, wrote and photographed three national features, Green Liquor Stores, Dharma and Diversity and Leave us Alone. I wrote two stories on New Orleans flood victims and emergency services workers for Code 3 Magazine and photographed and wrote two business stories for the East Bay Business Times .
Conference multimedia projects
AAJA2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii. I worked with a photographer to tell the story of immigrant fishermen, like Bricks or Andy, who travel to Hawaii once a month but have never step foot on the beach. Another feature included Kamehameha Schools admissions policy. At the NAHJ Latino Reporter I edited, produced and wrote the story and audio for Joseph Torres, director of NAHJ, speaking about a study on how U.S. mainstream news magazines present Latinos in an unfair and unbalanced way. I also wrote a story on the NY Times journalism institute and posted on the NAHJ newsblog. At NABJ I was one of 10 minority student journalist providing coverage of the UN Global Youth Leadership Summit where I helped to produce and anchor a newscast for CBS news. At the Online News Association I wrote about the importance of participatory news and veteran ethnic media Sandy Close's talk on online media and community. Another project that I collaborate on was La Cocina a project about a community incubator kitchen in San Francisco. I helped to interview, write and produce the video and story.
