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scottsmith's comments:

on Internships 101

Obviously there are plenty of good stories about a successful personal path that includes an unpaid internship, but my main thought is about the class barrier that this constitutes to some fields.  Although the internships are supposed to be, and generally are, educational, there are not scholarships available like for college.  One has to be in a socio-economic position to go for these positions, which generally means a certain level of wealth and family support.

posted 3 years ago
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on Home from Haiti

With several good friends of mine already working in Port-au-Prince, I was dismayed that the looting was so prominent in the coverage for so long.  My friends were constantly reporting orderly lines and heroic levels of cooperation by Haitians, especially as the food and water was stuck at the airport. 

Only on one of the days did NPR's story include a quote way down at the end by the US head of an airborne division trying to get aid in, and he said according to everyone he talked to, violence in the city was lower than pre-earthquake levels.  This should have been the lead, as an example of amazing Haitian resilience and civility. 

-Scott

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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on Portraits of War

Sacco's work has been important to me.  I've spent short periods in Palestine and in ex-Yugoslavia, and when I found Sacco's work after those trips, I was so glad that someone was showing what it's like to try to get around, to make a phone call, to meet with someone, to get food, in the middle of a war zone or occupied land.  The first person perspective is essential, and tells the story in a truer way than is possible with attempted "objective" reporting.  Thanks, Joe.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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