Good morning! Well, it's morning in Uganda. I'm writing quite informally to introduce my next few weeks of work, all of which will be presented in some way, shape or form on this blog. In quick summary, I received funding from the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication this spring to participate in a …
No quick fix: Why the Mediterranean migrant crisis may not be curbed anytime soon
One might argue there is only one sure response to a humanitarian crisis that has now claimed nearly 1,750 lives since January: Do something. However, the Mediterranean Sea’s migrant crisis between North Africa and Europe has proved a harder case to crack, with only one sure answer appearing: There is no quick fix. The crisis, …
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Denial or dignity in the fight for recognition of the Armenian genocide
“April is the cruelest month.” When T.S. Elliot penned that line in his 1922 poem "The Waste Land," he certainly reflected feelings of death and despair. However, he couldn’t have known just how poignant those themes would be throughout the remainder of the 20th century. Referred to by some academics as “the century of genocide,” …
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A Question of Compromise… Or War
It's not every day that U.S. senators pressure the leaders of a hostile power to abandon American-led negotiations aimed at removing a potential nuclear threat to the United States. But, so it goes. Indeed, 47 Republican senators signed a letter last week warning the Iranian government that any deal it reaches with President Barack Obama …
Why America responded to Ebola with more fear than fact
It starts with familiar cold-like symptoms: mild cough, runny nose and fever. However, these symptoms can develop into more alarming conditions: red sores, oral white spots or diarrhea. It is extremely contagious; on average, 90 percent of those exposed will become infected. Similar descriptions have circulated since the Ebola outbreak began in West Africa. However, …
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Tackling Human Trafficking Beyond the Super Bowl
As Glendale, Ariz. prepared to welcome over 100,000 football fans for Super Bowl XLIX, the state braced for a darker influx of company—the predators and victims of human trafficking. Public officials from both sides of the aisle have voiced concern over Super Bowl Sunday, claiming it draws high levels of sex trafficking activity to host …
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‘The Interview’ is Making Noise, but not Saying Much
I can usually gauge a movie's quality by the rate at which my popcorn bowl empties. If the stainless steel is still hidden by pillowy, popped kernels when final credits begin, I know it was an exceptional film. Last week, Sony Pictures' "The Interview" surpassed $40 million in digital sales, setting a record for biggest …
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Remembering MLK
As I sifted through my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes for my Facebook #MLK quote contribution, I came upon one of the best: "There is nothing wrong with a traffic law which says you have to stop for a red light. But when a fire is raging, the fire truck goes through that red …
Back in the Saddle: Thoughts on Baga attack & solidarity
Europeans and Americans alike are still reeling from the Jan. 7 Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris. And, perhaps for good reason. Millions have gathered around the world to stand in solidarity for Charlie Hebdo and freedom of the press. From unity marches in Paris to #JeSuisCharlie, the world's response to terror has been anything but …
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Je suis Charlie Hebdo & 2015 Win A Trip submission
I may not be a cartoonist, but I certainly sorrow after today's attack on journalism in Paris. As I finalized my video submission for my 2015 Win A Trip with Nick Kristof application this morning, I caught wind of the Charlie Hebdo shooting and couldn't help but click the "Submit" button with even greater pride …
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