Portugal's English news site

http://www.the-news.net/

I checked out Portugal's English online newspaper The Portugal newa. Somewhat interesting, not too much about America, but it covered the latest headlines in and around Portugal. even mentioned some upcoming celebrity appearances in the nation. the ads are also on the front page as well as on a specific page within the newspaper. Lots of classifieds in the newspaper as well, seems more directly related to the people, perhaps a younger audience.

Navajo Times

http://navajotimes.com/

I took a look at the newspaper the Navajo Times which is the paper fo the Navajo people. What many don't think about is that Native American people are one of the most discriminated against colored people in the United States. What I found most interesting about this paper was the comics section. The comics were not Bush comments or normal current events that we are normally prone to seeing in our area paper but rather current event issues that concern the Navajo people and Indians in general. I found this to be the most distinct difference between the Navajo Times and our Salem State's community paper of choice.

asia week

I visited Asian Week from the yahoo list that was given to us through class. I found it to be what I thought it might be. The only thing I think interesting to talk about is the fact they wrote a lot about how many asian people are fearful of retaliation in the wake of the VT massacre. I fully understand that unfortunate fear, considering the world we live in. I truly hope nothing happens, but I do understand why they might feel that way. But the online newspaper being called Asian Week, of course it is going to discuss many Asian issues. I did like it though considering I love their culture.

North Korea possibly shutting down nuclear plant

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/nationworld/ats-ap_top15apr17,0,6994233.story?coll=scn-newsnation-headlines

The story i read was from a Connecticutt newspaper which reported on the possibility of North Koreas shutting down its nuclear plant as their was much activity noticed by secret sources and South Korean spies. The author of the story was Bo-Mi Lim who had quite a feel for the feelings of the area. I think the story was reported with the local feel in tact due to many not knowing what is really going on in North Korea other than North Koreans. The story goes on to say the main spy agency of South Korea believes the peculiar movement around the plant could be North Korea agreeing finally to shut it down. I think all information coming out of North Korea is spy information due to their closed government and media ways.

Boston Globe features an articlw from LA Times on Darfur attcks

http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2007/04/11/some_200_chadians_feared_dead_in_attack_on_villages/

last week, attacks on Darfur continued with 200 Chadian villagers feared dead, The LA times reported on it last week, and the Boston Globe featured the exact article reported by Edmund Sanders. the article focuses on how tensions in darfur are spilling outside of the village and into Chad. Sanders does a very good job of painting a hectic scene where people in Chad were taken by surprise and many left without taking food or belongings and a child in the village describing bullets falling like rain, and ultimately killing a little girl as she walked away. Because of these vivid details, this is an effective attempt of reporting an international event.

Not too sure!

Honestly, I'm not quite sure whether to think a story about a foreign event was covered well from the local view point. I did not look up a specific story, but I immediately was thinking of all the stories that are coming out of Iraq. I know first hand from my brother being there for two tours that what we see on the news and what we read in the newspapers is not even close to what is really going on over there. My point it, I don't know what to believe when I read or see a news event. I know most stuff is not fabricated, but I do believe that most information is misconstrewed to the public and sometimes missing other much needed facts. I know the media is biased as well, which comes into play with how they portray their own stories.

Expanding Diversity

In reading the assigned articles this week, I came to an interesting conclusion, While we as a nation seem to have a small idea what diversity is, it is clearly rather narrow. Every day it seems there is a minority group making noise about the latest injustices done to their people. What about those not so well heard? Perhaps people with disabilities should be included more in discussions about diversity, perhaps companies should take more interest in hiring people of Arab descent, with the recent history of US-Middle East tension. Perhaps there should be a forum on radio or TV for senior citizens to be heard and widely at that. The major hurdle is, finding a way to get the message out there. The best way that I can see, is to be loud about it, the more forums you voice your opinions on the more you shall be heard. Thus, while diversity is important individually and in small groups, it is equally as important to remain diverse in the forums you choose, if the message is globally important, perhaps one could go on internationally known websites, and internationally known websites to promote their message

Reaching out to the world!

For my free blog, I would like to chat about something near and dear to my heart. Connecting the U.S. to the world. What I mean is, working for United Airlines has given me the opportunity to travel the world. Back in 2003 United began part of America's first major step in making relations with Vietnam. A country where not much more than 30 years ago we were having a terrible conflict with where, as a country we lost over 50,000 thousand men. This whole experience for me, just working for United and seeing how as a business they are reaching all over the world for us citizens to travel too has helped me start to think very serious about everything. One major thing I started to think about is, the fact that a well known extremely communist country is now realizing the opportunities to trading and openning relations with the rest of the world. If a country like Vietnam can do this, so can any other. And I don't mean that in a negative way, I loved and love Vietnam, I would actually move there. But I feel in most of the U.S. citizens eyes Vietnam might not be such a safe place. But it is, I felt more safe there than almost anywhere I have traveled to. The point of my blog, these two countries have now opened hundreds, if not thousands of opportunities for all of the citizens involved. I think this is very interesting stuff, very interesting, especially when you stop and think of all the different ways it can and will effect the world.

A diversity Blog

http://www.diversityjobs.com/blog

In this blog you will find posts on how to make the workplace more diverse and other stories of companies who have had success by doing so. One of the articles that interested me is one about Wal Mart being recognized for having many excecutive women among there company. It is a web site started in 2006 and looks to promote diversity in the workplace and also "Inclusion" which is one of those words we came across often in our class readings.

Portugal's website

http://www.portugal.gov.pt/Portal/EN/

i didn't really find any clear branding or slogans on the site, perhaps they're trying to steer clear of the sort of catchy advertising. I did find however, some interesting facts about studies and research being done in that country especially in the field of communication. Portugal is partnering with Carnegie-Mellon to explore such advancements in networking and information technology. In other research advancements, Portugal and MIT are partnering to expand the field of science as well. Significant government advancements are being made as well. The budget has been reduced by one-third in 06, and the social security system has been reformed. They are also helping with diplomacy in East Timor and sent out an engineering unit to Lebanon in an effort to keep peace in the middle east. All in all, I would surmise that Portugal is a future oriented, happy place to be right now, and their website promotes that message efficiently.

South Africa Website

www.gov.za

This is the web site for South Africa which has the slogan "putting people first". It seems they are branding themselves a happy place where people come before everything else. A lot of the web site was lists of services for people, organizations, and foreign nationals. They make it sound real inviting to come visit or even live.

"Branding" Vietnam

I went to an official site for the country of Vietnam. Vietnam is probably not what one would expect when it comes to how it really "brands" itself. This one site I read was really amazing. It wrote about how much money the country is producing and how. Surprisingly it also talked about how devoted and how important their education is. One article I read said they put on a huge ceremony in the capitol, (Hanoi) for 26 elite students throughout the country, I found it very unique. The picture I get is still a picture I get from the Vietnam in the past, a very proud nation, a heritage everyone should love. Very unique and amazing country, if you ever have the chance to visit, do your self a favor and do so.