by A.man.I

NY Jet Accused of Strking Aide in Obama’s Camp

Jets Pro-Bowl Kick Returner Justin Miller is facing a third degree assault charge for hitting 26-year-old Kristin Jarvis ouside of a NY nightclub.  According to NYDAILYNEWS.COM, Miller got into an arguement with some folks outside the club, and it ended with him socking Jarvis in the face.  A witness was quoted as saying:

Kristen has a dent on her chin. She can’t walk. It took 15 minutes to get her into her house … because of pain.”

Turns out Jarvis works for Barack Obama’s chief-of-staff, and it appears that Miller was tipsy…. and it gets better.  After the alleged assault, Miller tried to run, but police caught him hiding in a parking garage.  The Obama camp and Jarvis’ lawyers aren’t saying much, but according to reports, Miller has apologized to the NFL, and his fans, but not to Jarvis.   

by A.man.I

Here is a repost of an interview with CNN’s TJ Holmes.

by A.man.I

Boat Disaster Victims Returned to Haiti
The bodies of 58 Haiti migrants who died when their boad capsized near Turks and Caicos Islands have been returned. Family members are upset because they were never given the opportunity to identify their loved ones.

End of Affirmative Action
Anti-affirmative activist Ward Connely predicts that affirmative action will end after the 2008 election.

Mater P’s Open Letter
Percy Miller aka Master P wrote an open letter response to comments 50 Cent made at the a recent BET press conference.  Master P basically says it’s time for the music industry to change for the positive.

by A.man.I

I was quite surprised when I got a call from a good photog friend of mine who works at WTVT-TV (Fox 13) in Tampa, informing me that my former News Director Phil Metlin was being courted by the company’s sister station in Philladelphia.  Metlin hired me in 1998 for a Reporter Trainee position at Fox when I was one year out of college, and he had been the News Director there for about a decade.

Metlin ran a tight shop at WTVT, and he’ll probably do the same at WTXF-TV (Fox 29).  Friday was his last day in Tampa, and it looks like it was a fun celebration.  Metlin isn’t one to smile much, but it looks like there were plenty of laughs, and tears.  He’s not getting much time off because he starts his new job on Monday.

If any reporters in Philly happen to run across this blog, here’s my advice:  Look for good stories.  Metlin is all about storytelling, he doesn’t have much of a stomach for b.s., and if you’re ever called into his office, and his arms are folded with his head is cocked to the side, you’ve probaby got some explaining to do.  Thanks to C.S. for the pics. 

by A.man.I

Black Press USA published an interesting story that examines a student’s perpspective on education in America. Carl Nolden, a senior at Bronx High School in NY believes that the “Eurocentric” school curricula causes Black students to feel inferior to white students. Noldon wrote about his feelings in a Black History Month speech that stirred up so much controversy that he wasn’t allowed to give it. Here are some portions of his speech:

What I have to say is designed for the enlightenment of those who suffer from a school system that hypocritcally manipulates Black history in a way that cuases a disconnection from Black students and their history… All the history teachers I ever had were White and from every last one of them I never received the link to the genius of Africa.

Noldon said he was “brainwashed,” because his teachers only talked about people like Einstein, or the Greeks, instead of the great ancient African civilizations that came before.  Far too often Black history  starts with slavery, and that’s a big part of the problem. 

by A.man.I
I’m a video fiend if you haven’t noticed. The problem started in 1994 when I got my hands on my first video camera. I was already studying broadcasting at the College of San Mateo, and I had no idea about the path I was creating for myself. The SF Bay Area community college had a 24-hour jazz station, a TV station, and that was all I needed. I started by producing psa’s, then rip-and-reading the morning headlines. I also got some on-air radio experience, and associate produced a TV show.

The station’s General Manager, David Hosley must have seen something in me, because he took me under his wing, hired me as his assistant, and suggested I go out-of-state to continue my media studies. The University of Florida was one of the schools on his list, so I applied, and in 1995 I left my home soils in Cali to learn about the swamplands of Florida.

When I started working at my first TV station, WJLA-TV in Washington D.C., in 1998, there were no bloggers, or podcasts. You got your news from the TV, radio, newspapers, or word of mouth. The game’s changed now. The Internet is revolutionizing the way we communicate, and as much I enjoyed reporting for the mainstream, this is just as satisfying, if not more so. I’m my own gatekeeper, and even though my audience is small it’s growing.

I recently visited home (East Palo Alto) and I’m in the process of editing my episodes. If you want to catch up, check out blip.tv.

by A.man.I

Jesse Jackson Jr. Asks Dems to Suppport Obama
U.S. Rep Jesse Jackson Jr. has asked the Alabama Democratic Conference to endorse U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in the state’s presidential primary.

Black Media Outlets Return From Darfur
A 32-member press delegation made up of Black print, and broadcast organizations has returned from Darfur. Members say the conflict is much more complex than portrayed.

R.I.P. Yolanda Denise King
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s eldest child passed away late Tuesday at her home in Santa Monica California. The cause of death has not been determined but it could have been related to heart problems. Yolanda Denise King was 51.

by A.man.I
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey gave some sound advice to Howard University’s graduating class of 2007, according to Journal-isms.   Winfrey gave the commencement address, and received an honorary degree from the school, while stressing the importance of keeping integrity, and finding your calling.

She reflected on her life story, explaining how dissatisfied she was with being a news anchor at WJZ-TV in Baltimore in her early years. News executives felt she was too black, too big, and too emotional for the news business. Her bosses even wanted to change her name to “Suzy,” and let her host a talk show to run out her contract.

Now she’s worth more than a billion dollars, and tops the list of “celebrities” who give back.  Her mission to give back to Africa is well documented, and appreciated.

Lesson: Have faith in your dream, find your voice, and do it your way.