An Unforgettable Saturday

            Secretly planning a birthday party has never been so much fun until the Reid Group gathered together to plan Aliesha Hull’s 21^st .  For several weeks,  Aliesha has been constantly reminding us to mark our calendars on July 7^th, hinting  that we needed to know that was her birthday.  Despite how much hard work we’ve accomplished this week, Jacque Reid and I still managed to arrange a special unexpected party for Aleisha. Observing what Aliesha likes and dislikes were pretty easy, I knew she wasn’t a fan a birthday cake and constantly talked about how much she liked strawberry cheesecake.  A couple weeks after we arrived to New York, Aliesha took a trip to Junior’s and fell in love with their strawberry cheesecake, so getting a cake from their was the only way to go.

            On the week of her birthday,  I was communicating, discreetly, back and forth with the Reid Group and Ms. Reid about preparing for her surprise party on Saturday.  The goal was to act “nonchalant” the entire week about her birthday  to give the impression that we wouldn’t have time to celebrate.  Only if she knew,  that we had a big bug up our sleeve and she was going to get the best surprise of her life. Ms. Reid picked a very nice Moroccan lounge, called Katra for the venue.  Going to a Moroccan place would be a new experience for the entire Reid Group, so we were definitely excited to try something new.

            Early Saturday morning, the Reid Group and I met at 30 Rockefeller center, as usual, to get ready for our live shots.  Everyone except Aliesha, knew the big plans for tonight and our mission was to continue to keep it a secret. We headed to Union Square to find a story and use that location for our live shot practice. This was my first time there, and I instantly fell in love with all the shops, eateries and different vendors.  I volunteered to go second to do my live shot, and for some reason I wasn’t as nervous. I finally gained control of my nerves, I was comfortable with the information I was reporting, and applied the being “conversational” technique. The look on Ms. Reid face as I finished my shot was astonishing. Knowing that she was pleased at my performance showed how much growth and improvement I’ve gain so far. I felt accomplished and sense of pride,  because my Saturday kicked off on the right foot.  After everyone completed the live shots, Ms. Martin distracted Aliesha while Ms. Reid confirmed the birthday plans for tonight, we all agreed to dress cute and meet at 8:30 p.m.  As Aliesha made her way towards the group, Ms. Reid cleverly announced that we had a deadline tonight for the broadcast stories she assigned early this week. The feeling to know that Aliesha had no idea of what was going on was priceless.  We all departed from Union Square to get ready for tonight; I paired up with my buddy, Sequoyah Armour to get a card and gift.

            Meanwhile, Aliesha was back at the dorms with the rest of the Reid Group as Briana Scott and Chivone Smith convinced her that they were goin to sneak out for her 21^st. With a lot of persuading, Aliesha gave in and the plan finally kicked into action. The rest of the Reid Group decided to leave a hour early to be at the lounge first, so that we can officially surprise her.  With stalling from the masterminds, Scott and Smith, we were able to arrive at the lounge at a decent time to make sure everything was in order for tonight.  20 minutes later, Ms. Reid and Ms. Martin arrived and I receive a text that Aliesha was around the  corner.  We all hid in one spot and as soon as Aliesha step foot into the door, we all screamed “Surprise!!!!”  The look on her face was that of amazement. As she held back her tears, she thanked everyone for making her birthday something  unforgettable.

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

Friday July 6th: Monfongo

In the rugged streets of  Harlem,  you will find a variety eateries on every corner.  Since New York is the birthplace of cultural infusion, finding something appealing to the taste buds isn’t that hard. 

            Today, I was in the mood for some Puerto Rican cuisine.  When the Reid Group and I first arrived to New York, Briana Scott found this tiny hole in the wall, Puerto Rican place on 125^th and Amsterdam that sold fresh and delicious seafood.  She constantly bragged about how mouth-watering the food was. She ordered salmon and steamed vegetables. Right away, I wanted to find that restaurant and place my order. Seafood is my favorite thing to eat, so from the moment she mentioned the fresh fish, I was hooked. Sadly, Briana didn’t remember the name of the restaurant. The feeling of not having a clue of not having any information on this place, tortured me.  But I didn’t give up easily, because deep down I was still determined to find it. I asked around the neighborhood, City Tower’s residents and local businesses.  Everyone had no idea of what I was talking about so I resorted to Google and typed in the search domain, “Fresh Puerto Rican Restaurants” and still no luck. 

            At this point, I decided I was going to walk around 125^th and Amsterdam until I found it.  Around 10 minutes later, I stumbled across this restaurant called Seafood Boca Chica. It was located between a liquor store and barbershop and from the outside I could tell it was very small. I opened the glass door, and on the left side was covered a buffet filled with Puerto Rican dishes. Also in a chilled glass display was different kinds of seafood, from fresh tilapia, salmon, shrimp and many more. Although everything sounded so good, the item that really caught my eye was traditional Puerto Rican item called, Monfongo. Monfongo, is fried plantains, garlic, seasoning, and topped with any choice of fried meat. Actually, I never had it before but saw if for the first time on the Food Network Channel, Guy Fieri’s Diners, Dine-in and Dives episode in San Antonio.  Watching the makings of this dish had me craving for Monfongo for several months, so when I notice that Seafood Boca Chica had it on their menu, excited me even more.

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

Preparing For A Professional Career.

         While applying for different jobs or internships, it’s important to understand that the company’s first impression is based solely off a person’s resume and social network page. 

            “Be mindful of what you tweet, retweet, and the pictures you post because they never go away,” said the director of social media, Michael Clancy.  Many companies are now relying on social media to gather information about a person before they he/she is offered an interview.  Clancy manages NBC’s social network sites to find story ideas, locate sources, and get “meaningful feedback. However, many reader’s comments are not always positive and can sometimes be controversial. Also, as NBC employees, there are certain social media guidelines that the people have to follow. Clancy passed around a black and white copy of NBC News Social Guidelines, and on the left hand corner read “best practices.” These practices consisted of: using privacy, managing friends “carefully”, limiting opinions,  including the phrase “Retweets are not endorsements,” and using an appropriate profile picture. Social media is no longer for entertainment purpose but a innovative way for NBC to communicate with its readers.

          NBC’s human resource manager (HR), Millie Quiles, really impressed us with a not so typical resume workshop, by having a complimentary, catered lunch. Mrs. Quiles soft spoken voice and down-to-earth personality created a intimate atmosphere and made it comfortable to a ask any question about what to expect before and during an interview. Having the opportunity to speak with NBC's HR was amazing because it gave us an inside look on how the company determines who they will hire. She printed out a resume and cover letter guideline and showed us actual examples of what a good and bad resume looks like. Mrs Quiles explained how a person resume is his or her ticket to get their foot in the door of a company. Everything a person puts on their resume has to be the most impressive work and how they attribute to you accomplishments. The purpose of a resume is to stand out amongst everyone who is applying for the same position.

         A career in mass media comes with a lot of self-growth, but the beauty of working in this industry are the life lessons a person can use towards his or her professional development. 

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

Keeping Cool In New York

            From NBC employees , interns, and tourists, each individual person has a unique way to withstand the blistering heat on a sunny afternoon. Even though the temperature read 91 degrees, the scorching climate perceived the weather to be in the triple digits.

            The area outside of 30 Rockefeller Center is visitor’s attraction, where countless numbers of people are drenched in sweat, walking back and forth or simply cooling down in the pavilion . NBC’s front door greeter, C.J., suggested, “Stay inside and enjoy your activities in a facility with air conditioning.” Even tough his job requires him to assist people outside in high temperatures, he jokingly mentioned how he doesn’t mind getting a new tan.

            For some out-of-town visitors, the extreme conditions caused them to be extra cautious before engaging in different outdoor events. “This is our first time in New York for vacation. so drinking lots of water and wearing sunglasses, prepares us for a day of mass touring,” said, North Carolina, Ekcuban family.

The Ekcuban family enjoying a day full of sightseeing. 

            Not only is keeping your body hydrated an important factor, but having natural hair like the Ekcuban’s daughters, calls for principal measures.  One rocked dreadlocks and the other, a braided ponytail. In order for the Ekcuban’s to maintain moisture while walking for hours in the hot sun, is to apply olive oil to their hair. Healthy, hydrated hair is essential when enduring intense temperatures, but you can always throw on a hat.

            Ultimately, the most reliable resource for survival in this hot temperature, is water.  You can find plenty of vendors on every corner selling an ice, cold bottle of New York’s popular Poland Spring Water.  The key is to stay hydrated, and win the battle, survivor of the fittest in the torrid summer of New York City.

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

My 4th of July Adventure!

The subway was ridiculously packed!

I was so anxious to walk inside the museum.

There were people on every corner selling $5 9/11memorial souvenir books.

A variety of 9/11 books to choose from.

With a $5 donation you receive a pass to the museum.

A mural dedicated to police officials and firemen who lost their lives during the attack. This homeless man cleans it everyday while informing different bystanders of what happen during the attack.

A new tower under reconstruction.

A timeline of how the 9/11 attack happened.

Tower # 2 is now a fountain surrounded by engraved names of the victims who where killed.

A photo album of actual pictures during 9/11.

                                                                                                    

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

Monday July 2: Producing the Tom Joyner Morning Show

Pitching stories for Jacque Reid's segment, “Inside Her Story” on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) takes intense researching, persistence, and a humble spirit.

Observing previous members from the Reid Group, work on the morning show helped prepare me for my unexpected task to produce my first segment. I understood that this wasn't an easy job and will call for long days and late nights. 

This Monday, consisted of constant phone calls being made, accidentally dialing wrong numbers, and encounters from rude people hanging up the phone in my face. My adrenalin rushed as I continued to search for the right number; it was a strange feeling of excitement. At that moment I knew what the phrase, "hungry for more" meant because I was not giving up nor taking the word "no" for an answer. For example, while looking for contact information in Google White Pages and coming across the same name for one person, I would get out of my comfort zone and call every "John Doe" until I found the one I needed.  I truly felt like a real journalist using my research skills to find where he/she works, his/her PR, or any place that can lead me to that specific person.  A technique that worked for me was to remain unruffled and think optimistic. I never let any of my emotions or nerves get in the way of working under pressure.  I left plenty of voice-mails, sent several emails and moved on to the next person. If I wasn't able to get in contact with that person for my story, I immediately looked for a different one, instead of calling Ms. Reid with negative news. I strongly believe in my school's motto "I'll find away or make one," and so does Ms. Reid, so having a plan B, C, and D was a option.


I was able to book my guest for Friday in about a hour, but finding someone for Tuesday was still difficult. Calling back and forth, talking to lawyers, and receiving unsure answers impeded me from confirming an actual guest. So, I decided to look up one more story and came across an article that blew my mind. The article was about a 13 year old boy, named DaeQuan Morrison who published and sold his book to donate the proceeds to a cancer research center that cured his mother from breast cancer. What made this news story so amazing, was the fact that he was African-American. This eliminated the stereotypes that young African-Americans males aren't capable of doing something positive. There were multiple stories in this one story: "Breast Cancer Awareness for African-American women", "13 year old African-American scholar," and    "Family Coping with Cancer." I knew this story could impact so many listeners as much as it touched me and that's exactly what Ms. Reid looks for in her segment.


It took a while to find DaeQuan since he is underage, which also meant limited information about him would be on the internet. The only knowledge I had, was the publishing company he used, where he resides, and his mother name; Patricia Morrison. I called the publishing company but due to legal circumstances they were not able to give any information about the author, instead  "jot" down my contact and told me that they would forward it to him as soon as possible. I honestly think the receptionist pretended to do so. With no time to waste, I headed back to my most trustworthy source, Google White Pages. I typed in Patricia Morrison, location Queens, NY, and ran into two Patricia's. I dialed the first one, and a woman with a heavy African accent answered the phone. I cleared my throat and politely asked to speak with Patricia Morrison, the mother of DaeQuan.... and right before I could finish my sentence, she cuts me off and replied, "NO!!!!" "This is no Patricia, no mother to no DaeQuan, and I'm tired of people calling me asking for a DaeQuan, do not call back!" "You hear meh? I said no call back," followed by a loud click as she slammed the phone in my face. All I could do was  laugh because I assumed that other journalists were looking for the same person. So I gave the next Patricia a try, although I was little never because I didn't know what to expect this time.  The phone rang, rang, and ranged again. After 8 rings, I seriously didn't think he anyone would answer and my intentions was to disconnect the phone, right before I was interrupted by a small voice  that said, "Hello". It sounded like a young boy, so I asked, "May I speak with Patricia Morrison?" and he replied, "She's at work." Instantly my heart begin to pound fast, as I asked, "Am I speaking with DaeQuan?" and he said, "This is him." I was overwhelmed with so many emotions my because my hard work and determination payed off.  I immediately introduced myself, told him about the radio show, and how we needed him and his mother for our guest. He was extremely well spoken, and excited to be on the show.  First I informed him that I needed his mother permission, however she was at work, so I called back in about hour when she got off.  An hour passed ,and I eventually connected with the correct Patrica Morrison, she was so delighted to be interviewed by Ms. Reid and wanted to share her story about breast cancer. She was diagnosed after volunteering with a medical research study to find out why breast cancer is spreading rapidly in the African- American community.  "I believe that not enough African-American women are aware of how breast cancer is not just common for white woman but it's spreading like a wild-fire for us too," said Morrison.

After I my long conversation with Mrs. Morrison, I confirmed her as a guest and felt a sigh of sudden relief. My day was now completed and it was around 11:30 p.m. Finding a guest for Joyner is certainly an all-day task but the feeling of assuring that you booked a good one is priceless. 

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

 

Sunday July 1: BET Awards

            For the African-American community, the most anticipated award show in history, known as the BET Music Awards was celebrated today. 

            This year’s was a bit different with Samuel L. Jackson as the host. Traditionally, the BET Award’s host is a popular comedian, which ensures for a very entertaining show. When Jackson was announced as the 2012 host, many people were skeptical because of his hardcore and aggressive personality portrayed in many of his films. Sadly, I missed the opening performance because I had to take care of an important task that ran over to about 2 hours into the show. 

            I was preparing a list for potential guests for the Tom Joyner Morning Show for Tuesday and Friday. Finding a guest seems like an easy thing to do, but it requires plenty of research to obtain accurate sources and information. I’m constantly scrolling, looking, and reading various online articles until I come across one that’s attention grabbing because the key is find a topic that will be the most talked about story of all week.  Researching is a tedious job but when you’re determined to produce a great segment than the hard work pays off. The time was now 10:00 p.m. and Destinee Richardson and I accepted that we missed half of the BET Awards, so we quickly finalized our pitch ideas and emailed them to Ms. Reid. Richardson. We found 4 great solid topics (confidential) that impressed Ms. Reid. Deep inside, it felt good to know that we were capable of pitching great ideas for a popular syndicated radio show.

            I closed my laptop, grabbed my phone, and ran downstairs to the lobby to catch a few performances.  Everyone in the lobby agreed that I didn’t miss anything too spectacular; except for D’Angelo’s.  The only thing I was worried about missing, was the Whitney Houston’s tribute.  BET always does justice with musical legendaries tributes, so watching Houston’s was crucial.   Mariah Carey introduced the tribute with an emotional speech about their genuine relationship, while joking at very end. I could already tell this tribute will be a tearjerker. Monica amazed me with her talented vocals, by giving me chills, as she sung Houston’s legendary song from “The Preacher’s Wife,” entitled “I Love the Lord.  At this moment, everyone in lobby was in complete silence as tears were held back. Brandy tribute to Houston was remarkable, from the choreography, to her strong vocals, everything was perfect as she greatest hits: “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody. The beautiful Chaka Khan lighten up atmosphere with the song “I’m Every Woman” as we embraced the inner and outer beauty of Houston. But what stole the show was Houston's mother, Cissy Houston's traditional gospel song in honor of her daughter.  Cissy had everyone in the audience in tears, even hardcore rappers. She also touched many people from behind the television screen as many people fought back tears in the lobby. The tribute ended with the cast from Waiting to Exhale as they shared they personal memories of Houston. Honestly, the tribute was so emotional I felt like I was at Houston's funeral all over again.

        The 2012 BET Awards did an excellent job this year and I was impressed with the tribute to Whitney Houston. I'm glad that I was able to witness that because Houston's tribute wast the star of the awards.

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson