Data Interpretation Exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Data Interpretation Exercise - Essay Example Patients AP and JC have impaired glucose tolerance since the glucose level during fasting is above 6.1mmol/l while during the 2 hour OGTT it ranges from 7.0 to 11.1 mol/l. Finally, patient JL has both impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes since the glucose level before OGTT test are above 7.8mmol/L and the glucose level is above 11.1mol/l during the test. The major symptoms for diabetes mellitus are increased thirst and urine volume, tiredness and fatigue, high levels of glycosuria, unexplained weight gain, blurred vision and recurrent infections (Nathan, 1993; Elliott and Meyer, 2007).The major complications associated with diabetes mellitus are diabetic neuropathy (affecting peripheral nerves, motor and sensory nerves), diabetic nephrophathy, vascular complications and retinopathy (Nathan, 1993). Other long term complications are a predilection towards specific infections such as monilial skin disease and rhonocerebral mycomycosis, cognitive impairment and periarticular thickenin g of skin causing reduced mobility (Wheat, 1980). 3. What is diabetic ketoacidosis? How and why may it arise in diabetic patients? How may it be effectively treated? Diabetic ketoacidosis is a health condition which occurs mainly in patients with Type 1 diabetes. It occurs due to accumulation of ketones in the blood making it acidic. It is common in type 1 diabetic patients whose pancreas is unable to produce insulin hormone which is needed in glucose utilization. As a result, glucose accumulates in blood stream to levels that are greater than 22mmol/l. Because glucose is not available for cells, fats are broken down to generate energy thus releasing ketones which accumulate in blood making it acidic. Accumulation of ketones affects levels of sugar, body electrolytes and enzymes that control metabolic processes. Diabetic ketoacidosis may also occur under condition such as urinary infections, during stressful conditions or trauma and when insufficient insulin is administered. The sym ptoms for this condition are rapid weight loss, abdominal pain mostly in children, nausea, dehydration due to frequent urination, vomiting, high blood pressure, presence of ketones in urine and depleted levels of Na and Ka as these electrolytes are lost together with urine. Mild conditions are treated by supplying fluid supplements and injecting of insulin every 3 hours until ketones disappear from urine. On the other hand, moderate to severe cases are treated through patient hospitalization and supplying fluids and electrolytes. The electrolytes should also be checked frequently until they are balanced. The patient should also be monitored

International Gaming Research Paper The Philippines

International Gaming The Philippines - Research Paper Example International Gaming Research Paper – The Philippines Since 1990, Manila has experienced explosive growth in casino development from major players such as Hyatt Hotels and Casinos, Tropicana Casino, The Belle Grand Manila Bay, and the Pharaoh Hotel; to name only a few. Casino development has occurred not only as a product of de-regulation in this industry, but by using government prowess and marketing to lure foreign investment into the country. Unlike many other Asian nations, the government regulatory environment designed to control casino gambling and development is much more liberal, as the government of The Philippines is an electoral system similar to the democratic structure of the United States. This liberal system designed to foster commercial development and support has contributed to rapid expansion of the casino gaming industry in the country. There are difficulties in this industry in the Philippines, however, associated with fragmented regulatory systems designed to control gaming operations. House Representative Danilo Su arez, frustrated with the fragmentation of existing regulatory bodies, was able to foster House support for the creation of a National Gaming Commission that would serve as the singular body to control casino licensing and building cohesion with the disjointed legal systems that currently monitor gaming. It was only recently that Manila achieved an organized system of regulatory authorities that have ensured reasonable provisions are developed to control casino operations, thereby providing gamblers with just gaming systems. There are also social impacts of the gaming industry in The Philippines that cause problems with ensuring further development of more casino resorts in the country. The Philippines is a collectivist nation, meaning that citizens maintain strong connections to group membership and family membership, whereby some of the most fundamental values of society are kinship and education. In 2008, officials and student picketers from the Angeles University Foundation held a picketing protest outside of a proposed site for a new casino, which would be built directly next to the Angeles University (Casino City 1). This protest was so massive in magnitude that it even led to a restraining order against the casino operator, Emaja Internet Gaming. This illustrates that there is much inconsistency in social values about the potential benefits of gaming, which could serve to act as negative public relations that could impede tourist revenues. Furthermore, in 2012, a $2 billion entertainment complex known as Universal Entertainment was under investigation for bribery allegations, including 16 different members of the regulatory Commission alleged to be involved in taking $5 million in payments in receipt of regulatory favors (Casino City 1). This has very large-scale implications for a country that is having difficulty in creating cohesive regulatory structures when even members of government seem to continue to be impelled to take active involvement in bri bery. For a nation that is attempting to boost its reputation as a hot spot for tourism, situations such as these continue to provide negative publicity that could erode a competitive marketing position internationally. The Philippines is also creating new regulatory bodies for the control of Internet

SWOT Analysis and Literature Review of HSBC Bank

SWOT Analysis and Literature Review of HSBC Bank SWOT Analysis A scan of the internal and external environment is an important part of the strategic planning process. Environmental factors internal to the firm usually can be classified as strengths (S) or weaknesses (W), and those external to the firm can be classified as opportunities (O) or threats (T). Such an analysis of the strategic environment is referred to as a SWOT analysis. The SWOT analysis provides information that is helpful in matching the firms resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in which it operates. As such, it is instrumental in strategy formulation and selection. The following diagram shows how a SWOT analysis fits into an environmental scan: SWOT Analysis Framework Environmental Scan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  / Internal Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  External Analysis /   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  / Strengths  Ã‚  Ã‚  Weaknesses  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Opportunities  Ã‚  Ã‚  Threats | SWOT Matrix Strengths A firms strengths are its resources and capabilities that can be used as a basis for developing a competitive advantage. Examples of such strengths include: patents strong brand names good reputation among customers cost advantages from proprietary know-how exclusive access to high grade natural resources favorable access to distribution networks Weaknesses The absence of certain strengths may be viewed as a weakness. For example, each of the following may be considered weaknesses: lack of patent protection a weak brand name poor reputation among customers high cost structure lack of access to the best natural resources lack of access to key distribution channels In some cases, a weakness may be the flip side of a strength. Take the case in which a firm has a large amount of manufacturing capacity. While this capacity may be considered a strength that competitors do not share, it also may be a considered a weakness if the large investment in manufacturing capacity prevents the firm from reacting quickly to changes in the strategic environment. Opportunities The external environmental analysis may reveal certain new opportunities for profit and growth. Some examples of such opportunities include: an unfulfilled customer need arrival of new technologies loosening of regulations removal of international trade barriers Threats Changes in the external environmental also may present threats to the firm. Some examples of such threats include: shifts in consumer tastes away from the firms products emergence of substitute products new regulations increased trade barriers The SWOT Matrix A firm should not necessarily pursue the more lucrative opportunities. Rather, it may have a better chance at developing a competitive advantage by identifying a fit between the firms strengths and upcoming opportunities. In some cases, the firm can overcome a weakness in order to prepare itself to pursue a compelling opportunity. To develop strategies that take into account the SWOT profile, a matrix of these factors can be constructed. The SWOT matrix (also known as a TOWS Matrix) is shown below: SWOT / TOWS Matrix Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities S-O strategies W-O strategies Threats S-T strategies W-T strategies S-O strategies pursue opportunities that are a good fit to the companys strengths. W-O strategies overcome weaknesses to pursue opportunities. S-T strategies identify ways that the firm can use its strengths to reduce its vulnerability to external threats. W-T strategies establish a defensive plan to prevent the firms weaknesses from making it highly susceptible to external threats. HSBC HSBC is a global financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. As of 2010, it is the worlds 6th largest banking and financial services group and the worlds 8th largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine. It has around 8,000 offices in 87 countries and territories across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America and around 100 million customers. As of 30 June 2010 it had total assets of $2.418 trillion, of which roughly half were in Europe, a quarter in the Americas and a quarter in Asia. HSBC Holdings plc was founded in London in 1991 by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to act as a new group holding company and to enable the acquisition of UK-based Midland Bank. The origins of the bank lie in Hong Kong and Shanghai, where branches were first opened in 1865. Today HSBC remains the largest bank in Hong Kong, where the Group Chief Executive is currently based, and recent expansion in mainland China, where it is now the largest international bank, has returned it to that part of its roots. Its primary listing is on the London Stock Exchange and it is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (where it is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index), New York Stock Exchange, Euronext Paris and Bermuda Stock Exchange. As of August 2010, it was the largest company listed on the London Stock Exchange, with a market capitalisation of  £115.8 billion. History HSBC (acronym origin: the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) was founded in the former British colony Hong Kong (in March 1865) and Shanghai (one month later) by Scotsman Sir Thomas Sutherland (1834-1922). HSBC Holdings plc established in 1990 became the parent company to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in preparation for its purchase of Midland Bank in the United Kingdom and restructuring of ownership domicile for the impending transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China. HSBC Holdings acquisition of Midland Bank gave HSBC Group a substantial market presence in the United Kingdom which was completed in 1992. As part of the takeover conditions for the purchase of Midland Bank, HSBC Holdings plc was required to relocate its world headquarters from Hong Kong to London in 1993. Major acquisitions in South America started with the purchase of Banco Bamerindus of Brazil for $1bn in March 1997 and the acquisition of Roberts SA de Inversiones of Argentina for $600m in May 1997. In May 1999 HSBC embarked on a major acquisition in the United States with the purchase of Republic National Bank of New York for $10.3bn. Expansion into Continental Europe took place in April 2000 with the acquisition of Credit Commercial de France, a large French bank for  £6.6bn. In July 2001 HSBC bought Demirbank, an insolvent Turkish bank. Then in August 2002 HSBC acquired Grupo Financiero Bital, SA de CV, Mexicos third largest retail bank for $1.1bn. The new headquarters of HSBC Holdings at 8 Canada Square, London officially opened in April 2003. Then in September 2003 HSBC bought Polski Kredyt Bank SA of Poland for $7.8m. In June 2004 HSBC expanded into China buying 19.9% of the Bank of Communications of Shanghai. In the United Kingdom HSBC acquired Marks Spencer Retail Financial Services Holdings Ltd for  £763m in December 2004. Acquisitions in 2005 included Metris Inc, a US credit card issuer for $1.6bn in August and 70.1% of Dar Es Salaam Investment Bank of Iraq in October. In April 2006 HSBC bought the 90 branches in Argentina of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro for $155m. In December 2007 HSBC acquired The Chinese Bank in Taiwan. In May 2008 HSBC acquired ILFS Investment, an Indian retail broking firm. SWOT Analysis of HSBC Strengths The bank is well capitalised and this has enabled it to perform relatively well against other banks in recent economic events. The level of capitalisation means that, going forward, the bank is unlikely to need to borrow from the UK government: this will enable it to retain more autonomy. The bank has a strong presence in emerging markets, putting it in a good position to take advantage of future growth in those economies. The banks global presence in Europe, Asia and South America helps to spread risk and offers significant economies of scale. Despite rebranding relatively recently (1999), the HSBC brand has become well-established and is considered particularly valuable within the industry. Weaknesses HSBC associates itself strongly with investment in the small business sector, but the current economic situation has led to increased risks, potentially compromising the activity levels in this area of the operation. The bank was involved with sub-prime markets in the US and has had to write off large figures lent to high-risk borrowers. Despite falls in the UK interest rate, HSBC has increased its mortgage rates. This may be perceived negatively by borrowers and potential borrowers, adds pressure to an already depressed housing market and could ultimately lead to more defaulting as borrowers struggle with higher repayments. A redundancy programme announced recently may affect morale among staff, leading to decreased production and loyalty. HSBCs branding emphasises its global presence, and this may be seen negatively by some customers in its implication of homogenisation and lack of personalisation. Opportunities HSBCs high level of capitalisation places it in a strong position to acquire assets Banks finding trading conditions particularly difficult at present may be available at low cost HSBC also has adequate capital to purchase stronger banks such as Bank Ekonomi in Indonesia, in which it has purchased a stake to continue its Asian expansion despite challenging economic times. HSBCs generally strong position presents the opportunity to outperform competitors during the economic downturn and to build a reputation for being one of the safer banks for depositors, helping to increase resources for lending. Negative press coverage of competitors such as HBOS may encourage customers to choose HSBC instead. Threats Trust in banks has decreased due to financial losses suffered by investors, who may be more inclined to invest elsewhere. Financial losses affecting banks and investors on a global scale have resulted in less credit being available to customers. In the UK this is coupled with increases in living costs resulting in less money being saved. The falling property market has created a rise in numbers of homeowners with negative equity. If a property is worth less than was borrowed to finance its purchase, there is little likelihood that the bank will recoup all its losses if owners default. Claims have been made that HSBC has understated losses resulting from US sub-prime markets, and this could undermine confidence in the bank. Literature Review Article 1: HSBC moves private bank boss Chris Meares to Asia The head of HSBCs private banking business has become the latest of the banks senior managers to move from London to Hong Kong. By Harry Wilson Published: 6:00AM BST 22 Oct 2010 Chris Meares, chief executive of global private banking at HSBC, will move out to Hong Kong as part of a reshuffle of the divisions management, though the businesss will remain headquartered in London. Mr Meares move to Hong Kong follows that of HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan at the start of the year. Since then several senior HSBC managers have moved out to Hong Kong, while Stuart Gulliver, who will takeover as chief executive from Mr Geoghegan in January will also move from London to Hong Kong. Mr Gulliver, who currently runs HSBCs global investment banking business as well as its European operations, has spent much of his career in Asia. Speaking recently, he refused to confirm whether HSBCs headquarters would remain in London, with speculation growing that the bank could return to its historic home. In September, Mr Gulliver said he was genuinely concerned that the Government-appointed Independent Banking Commission could recommend the separation of retail and investment banking businesses. Hong Kong is keen to promote itself as an alternative to London and the senior officials from the city have been visiting the UK to promote the advantages of moving business there. Standard Chartered, which has large Asian operations, is also seen as another bank that could move its headquarters out of London and its chief executive, Peter Sands, has made clear his concerns over the increasing amount of regulation in Europe and the UK. HSBCs decision to move of its private banking head to Asia in large part reflects the opportunities the bank sees in capturing a larger slice of Asias growing wealth. In a statement yesterday, HSBC said Mr Meares, along with the other management changes in its private bank was part of a strategy to take advantage of the entrepreneurial wealth creation taking place in emerging markets. Analysis Of Article This article is regarding transfer of chief executive of global private banking,Mr Chris Meares, who is being replaced by Michael Geoghegan at the start of this year. Since the transfer of Mr Meares several more managers of HSBC have moved out of Hong Kong. Mr Stuart Gulliver who is taking over Mr Geoghegan is also moving out of Hong Kong Mr Gulliver, currently running HSBC Investment Banking and European Operation, has spent much time in Asia. He recently, while talking to media, refused to confirm that if the business is moving its headquarters to its native home that is Hong Kong. In September Mr. Gulliver expressed genuine concern over Independent Banking Commission appointed by government to recommend separate banking for Retail banking and Investment Banking. Hong Kong section of HSBC is much interested in promotion itself as an alternate to London. Official of Hong Kong are visiting UK to convey advantages of moving to Hong Kong. Standard Chartered, having large Asian operation is also seeking to move its headquarters out of London and their chief executive too. HSBCs idea of moving its private banking head to Asia reflects the opportunities that the bank is seeing to capture Asias growing wealth. Conclusion Positive Point:- It will help to increase profits for the company. Will help to gain wealth of Asia. Will provide employment Will help to further improvement of the company. Efficient and Effective working of management. Negative Points:- Very risk Can lead to losses Can also lead to demoralisation of other managers. Article 2 : HSBC, Deutsche Bank Complete 1st Yuan-Denominated IRS In HK OCTOBER 22, 2010, 6:01 A.M. ET HONG KONG (Dow Jones)HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC) and Deutsche Bank AG (DB) completed the first yuan-denominated interest rate swap deal in Hong Kong, the U.K. lender said Friday, in another sign of growing activity in the offshore yuan market. The IRS deal, which was completed Thursday, will be delivered in two years and is based on the three-month Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate of 3.37%, HSBC said. HSBC declined to disclose the size of the deal, though a local broker said the deal was valued around CNY5 million. The new deal came amid Chinas efforts to boost yuan circulation in Hong Kong and to internationalize the currency. The market for yuan-denominated instruments outside mainland China has begun taking off as China experiments with loosening its controls on the currency, which isnt freely convertible. Yuan IRS products in Hong Kong had earlier been denominated in the U.S. dollar and were non-deliverable. Analysis HSBC and Deutsche Bank AG completed first Yuan-denominated interest swap rate deal (IRS) which is another sign of growing activity in the offshore yuan market. This deal was completed on Thursday and will be delivering in two years and based on three month shanghai Interbank offered rate of 3.37%. HSBC denied to disclose size of the deal but a local broker estimated this deal for about CNY5 Millions. This deal came after chinas efforts to boost yuan circulation in Hong Kong ant to internationalize the currency. The market for yuan denominated instruments outside china has started to take off as China is experimenting with loosening its control on the currency, which isnt freely convertible. Yuan IRS products in Hong Kong had earlier been denominated in the U.S. dollar and were non-deliverable Conclusion Positive Point:- Growing activity in offshore of Yuan market. Boost yuan denominated instruments outside china. China loosening its control on the currency of yuan. Internationalize the currency. Promote IRS products. Negative Points:- Delivering in two years. Big market of US to compete with,which can result in losses BIBLOGRAPHY http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8079081/HSBC-moves-private-bank-boss-Chris-Meares-to-Asia.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20101022-704524.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSBC http://www.microfinancefocus.com/news/tag/hsbc .

I Am Tolstoy, But Not A Tolstoyian :: essays research papers

In 1828, somewhere in the countryside north of Moscow, Leo Tolstoy was born into the Russian nobility. Count Tolstoy, although acquainted with the finer things that life had to offer, new that the Romantic view of the world was false early in his life. His mother left this world when he was two, and his father undoubtedly told horrific stories of the chaotic Napoleonic Wars. This, coupled with the consecutive deaths of not only his father, but his favorite aunts and grandmother, all before his twenty-first birthday, a three year stint in the military during the Crimean war, and the works of masters such as Rousseau, Voltaire, Hegel, Darwin, Dickens, Gogol, and the New Testament contributed to the literary genius which is Tolstoy. As a realist, Tolstoy was committed to truthfully representing reality in literature. As a founder of a socio-religious movement, aptly named Tolstoyism, his goal was to enlighten the masses. The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a prime example of the merger of these two ideals. At first glance this is a simple tale of a "most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible" man’s life and death (1208). But upon closer scrutiny, we see that this is a stylized account of the Count’s own life. Much like Ivan, the Count married a younger wife, not so much out of love, as out of convenience. After a few years of marital bliss, problems arose. Both men tried to separate home and work, with the disastrous results of neglecting their wives. Although ideally matched socially, these two couple’s argued about everything from work and politics, to the children not eating their food fast, or slow enough. When Ivan dies, his wife wraps up his affairs, as best she can. Tolstoy, however, made out his will well before his death in 1910, and interestingly enough, leaves his wife of over 50 years relatively little of his possessions. Another similarity between the Count and the Judge is their deaths. Ivan’s "floating kidney," or "appendicitis," depending on the doctor, caused him great pain and discomfort for the last couple years of his life. Towards the end, he refused to see any doctors, and finally had a revelation. Tolstoy died the death of an eighty-two year old

Kerala Essay

Kerala, the ‘God’s Own Country’, lies in the extreme Southern part of India. It has an area of 38863 sq. km and a population of 3. 18 crores. Kochi, or more familiarly, Cochin is a city of many parts. Around for a long, long time, Kochi played a pivotal role in the development of shipping and trade in the region. Kochi’s prime location on the west coast, its fine bay and protected harbor made it popular with seafarers and merchant ships who made frequent stops to stock up on spices, coffee and wood enroute to the rich markets of Europe and West Asia. And so down the ages, Kochi prospered as a busy port city and commercial centre. Its seafront is still extremely relevant to Cochin and to India: it houses a Naval Base and one of India’s busiest ports. It’s twin city, Ernakulam, is an important railhead and industrial centre. Kerala – God’s own Country tagline has been used because of its location, landscaping and its surroundings. It is the amalgamation of lush and tropical Malabar Coast on the west along with verdant backwaters in the centre ranging from Cochin to Kollam and Nilgiri mountain range covered with tea plantations in the east. Kerala†¦ The God’s own country Kerala, meaning â€Å"land of coconut trees†, is one of the relatively well kept secrets of all the exotic destinations in the world. However, Kerala’s popularity has increased over recent years. National Geographic† travel magazine lists Kerala among the fifty must see locations in the world. Not surpirisingly, the State Tourism Department promotes Kerala’s natural beauty, breathtaking lush landscape and tropical beaches as â€Å"God’s own country†. The result has been a signifiant influx of tourists and foreign visitors. The Sanskrit saying â€Å"athithi devo bhava†( treat your guest like God, with respect and honour) is ingrained in the collective ethos of the people of Kerala.

Mass Media and New York

Racism and Ethnic Bias in the Media Is a Serious Problem Mass Media  ,  2010 â€Å"Journalists who think they know communities of color end up writing stereotypical stories. † In the following viewpoint from her interview with Lena-Snomeka Gomes, Elizabeth Llorente states that unequal and inaccurate representations of minorities still persist in the media, and media professionals who are minorities continue to face prejudice in the industry. In Llorente's view, reporters of color often feel unwelcome when entering white communities. In addition, she claims other journalists continue to draw upon harmful ethnic and religious stereotypes.Diversity and opportunities for minorities in newsrooms also are lacking, she contends, compounding these problems. Llorente is an award-winning senior reporter for  The Record  in Bergen, New Jersey. A former newswriter, Gomes is a program support specialist at the Homeless Children's Network in San Francisco. As you read, consider the following questions: 1. According to Llorente, why is covering one's own ethnic community not necessarily easier? 2. What barriers do reporters face when reporting on immigrants, in the author's view? 3. Why are there still very few minorities in newsrooms, in Llorente's opinion?Elizabeth Llorente, senior reporter for  The Record  in Bergen, New Jersey, was recently honored with the Career Achievement Award from the Let's Do It Better Workshop on Race and Ethnicity at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Llorente was honored for her more than 10 years of reporting on the nation's changing demographics. Her series, â€Å"Diverse and Divided,† documented the racial tensions and political struggles between Hispanic immigrants and African Americans in Patterson, N. J. Llorente spoke with  NewsWatch  about the nuances of reporting on race and ethnicity.Lena-Snomeka Gomes: What are some of the major barriers journalists face, especially journalists of colo r when writing about race and ethnicity? Elizabeth Llorente: Well it depends on what they look like. For example, I know that some of the African American reporters that I have worked with have spoken about feelings of being unwelcome, especially when they're covering white areas. And there are also other reporters who feel different because they stand out from the time they walk into a room. People make assumptions about them. I have been told that it's hard to tell what my race is.Is this positive or negative? Maybe it helps when I'm doing a story about tension and whites are part of the tension. Sometimes, I suspect, they open up more because they don't know that I am Hispanic. Perhaps, they would not have been as candid had they known. However, it's not necessarily easier to cover stories in your own ethnic community or communities similar to yours. If you criticize people and they didn't like it, they are usually less forgiving. They take it personal and see you as a traitor, e specially when the stories involve a politically charged group.Do you think journalists of color are resistant to writing about race and ethnicity because they don't want to be typecast so to speak? There are people who believe that and I don't blame them. Sometimes that's all the papers will let them do, and the papers don't value their work. In that regard, it's a thankless job. When you come back with a great story, they don't see the skill and the talent it took to report and write that story. They think, of course, you wrote well because you're one of them. They automatically assume it was easy for you to get the story.They may even question your objectivity. But, when [Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist] Rick Bragg went to the South to write about the life he knew, no one said, of course its easy for him because he's from the South. No, they said, wow he's a great writer. Do you think stories about race and ethnicity still face being calendared for special events or has there b een more sustained coverage and focus? It's gotten much better. Stories used to be covered for Black History Month or Cinco de Mayo, but now beats have been created around race and ethnicity.Beat reporters have to write all year. Reporters are interested in writing about race and ethnicity. They want to cover these issues. Now the next level journalism needs to go to is to spread the responsibility of covering race and ethnicity among all reporters, in all sections of the paper, business section, education, transportation, and municipal. Coverage has to be more comprehensive. It cannot be reserved for certain reporters, because race and ethnicity is such a huge area. Immigration Stories How do stories about immigration differ from other stories about race and ethnicity?If you're writing about second or third generation Cubans, you're writing about Americans, a minority group that has some stake here. With immigrants, you're writing about people who are newer, who don't necessarily f eel American. They are still transitioning into this national culture. They are rebuilding their identities. For example, they may not have a sense of (their) civil rights here or of American racism. What skills do journalists have to master in order to report fairly and accurately on immigrant communities? First of all, you need to have a completely open mind.This is especially important when you're covering immigrant communities. So many of us think that we know the immigrant groups, but many of us only know the stereotypes. Too often we set out to write stories that end up marginalizing people in harmful ways because the stories tend to exacerbate those stereotypes. Or we ignore the stories that do not conform to the stereotypes. For example, if we're going to write about Hispanic communities, instead of looking for Hispanics in the suburbs, we tend to go where we can most readily find them, in Miami, Spanish Harlem, and in the Barrio.We keep telling the same stories and giving i t the same frame, because it's an easy thing to do when you're on a deadline. The result is an ok story. But immigration stories are diverse. They are not only in enclaves, but also in places we never thought about finding them in, such as in once exclusively white suburbs and rural America. Perhaps Hispanics in the barrio is a valuable story, but that is no longer the Hispanic story. It is a Hispanic story. Okay, once you find (immigrant communities) how do you communicate with them? It's tough.Not knowing the language can be difficult. But the key is to start out with the attitude of not settling for less. Start out speaking with the leaders, but only as a vehicle to reach the other people who are not always in the papers. Too many of us stop with the leaders and that is not enough. Ask them to introduce you or ask them if you can use their name to open up a few doors for you to speak with others in the community. However, covering immigrant communities doesn't mean encountering a language barrier. Many people have a basic knowledge of English.You can still conduct an interview with someone who only speaks survival English. But, you will also run into a lot of people who don't speak English. If you make the effort, if you're patient, if you speak slower and are conscious of the words you use, if you make sure they understand what you are asking them, if you tune in, you'll make the connection. Finally, if language is a barrier and you're not comfortable, find someone who is bilingual to help you interpret. How can journalists write balanced stories if they operate from the stereotypes?Ask the person you're interviewing to break down those stereotypes. You can tell the person that there is a particular stereotype and ask them if it is true or not. Journalists have the unique role and power to help break the stereotypes down. What does receiving the Career Achievement Award mean to you? I was hoping that it would mean that I could retire and go sailing and wri te my novels from a log cabin. After I checked my retirement savings, I realized, that ain't gonna happen for a long time. Its nice to get awards, but when you get one it's usually for a certain story or project.This is like a wonderful embrace that says, you know, you hit the ball out of the park again and again. You set a standard in this business. At a career level, you have done great work. It's just a nice sweeping kiss and hug to me. The Culture of Journalism Tell me some of the successes Let's Do It Better has had and some of the ways in which it has impacted the culture of journalism. I think one wonderful thing they did, under Sig Gissler (original founder), was that they targeted the gatekeepers. His model approach was to go directly to the top management.Gissler wanted to show them good reporting that reached a higher level and how stories about race were more nuanced. He wanted them to read the stories and then to talk to the folks who wrote them so they could learn how to do these types of stories. Did the top respond? Yes! I saw conversions. People who started out cynically were changed by the last day. They were beginning to look at race and ethnicity stories critically. They were going to raise their standard. They left the workshops believing that their news organizations needed more diverse voices.Why, are there still so few people of color in newsrooms today? Too many employers are prejudiced. Too many minorities are still being hired under a cloud of doubt. I don't think many minorities are hired with the notion that they will be star reporters. They are not nurtured. Then when minority journalists leave it's seen as a betrayal, but when whites leave, it's considered a good career move. I have worked with many white reporters who have had many opportunities in training and promotions, and nobody says they're ungrateful s. o. b. ‘s when they leave.Can we keep doing it better? Of course. There are still so many stories we are not gettin g that are out there. Journalists who think they know communities of color end up writing stereotypical stories and they use photos to make people look exotic. In fact, we need to pay more attention to photojournalism. A story can be fair and balanced, but if that picture projects the exotic stereotype, the story loses its value. Don't bypass a photo of a person because they don't look ‘ethnic enough. ‘ Take a picture of the blonde Mexican or the Muslim women wearing Levi jeans.Further Readings Books * Bonnie M. Anderson  News Flash: Journalism, Infotainment, and the Bottom-Line Business of Broadcast News. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004. * Ben Bagdikian  The New Media Monopoly. Boston: Beacon Press, 2004. * Michael A. Banks  Blogging Heroes: Interviews with 30 of the World's Top Bloggers. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, 2008. * Pablo J. Boczkowski  Digitizing the News: Innovation in Online Newspapers. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004. * L. Brent Bozell  Weapons of Mass Distortion: The Coming Meltdown of the Liberal Media. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2005. Asa Briggs and Peter Burke  A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet. 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Polity, 2005. * Thomas de Zengotita  Mediated: How the Media Shapes Our World and the Way We Live in It. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2005. * David Edwards and David Cromwell  Guardians of Power: The Myth of the Liberal Media. London: Pluto Press, 2006. * Robert Erikson and Kent Tedin  American Public Opinion: Its Origins, Content, and Impact. Updated 7th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2007. * Dan Gilmore  We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People.Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly, 2006. * Tom Goldstein  Journalism and Truth: Strange Bedfellows. Chicago: Northwestern University Press, 2007. * Doris A. Graber  Media Power in Politics. 5th ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2007. * Neil Henry  American Carnival: Journalism under Siege in an Age of N ew Media. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2007. * Henry Jenkins  Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: NYU Press, 2006. * Steven Johnson  Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Popular Culture Is Making Us Smarter. New York: Riverhead Trade, 2005. Lawrence Lessig  Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. New York: Penguin, 2004. * Charles M. Madigan, ed. 30: The Collapse of the American Newspaper. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2007. * David W. Moore  The Opinion Makers: An Insider Exposes the Truth Behind the Polls. New York: Beacon Press, 2008. * Patrick R. Parsons  Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2008. * Neil Postman  Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. 20th anniversary ed.New York: Penguin Books, 2005. * Metta Spencer  Two Aspirins and a Comedy: How Television Can Enhance Health and Society. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2006. Periodicals * Dennis AuBuchon â€Å"Free Speech and the Fairness Doctrine,†Ã‚  American Chronicle, March 19, 2009. * Greg Beato â€Å"The Spin We Love to Hate: Do We Really Want News Without a Point of View? †Ã‚  Reason, December 2008. * Jeffrey Chester â€Å"Time for a Digital Fairness Doctrine,†Ã‚  AlterNet, October 19, 2004. * Edward W. Gillespie â€Å"Media Realism: How the GOP Should Handle Increasingly Biased Journalists,†Ã‚  National Review, April 6, 2009. Nicole Hemmer â€Å"Liberals, Too, Should Reject the Fairness Doctrine,†Ã‚  Christian Science Monitor, November 25, 2008. * R. Court Kirkwood â€Å"What Did or Didn't Happen at Duke,†Ã‚  New American, September 18, 2006. * Richard Perez-Pena â€Å"Online Watchdog Sniffs for Media Bias,†Ã‚  New York Times, October 15, 2008. * Eugene Robinson â€Å"(White) Women We Love,†Ã‚  Washington Post, June 10, 2005. * Joseph Somsel â€Å"Me gaphone Envy and the Fairness Doctrine,†Ã‚  American Thinker, March 19, 2009. * Adam Thierer â€Å"The Media Cornucopia,†Ã‚  City Journal, Spring 2007. * Evan Thomas â€Å"The Myth of Objectivity,†Ã‚  Newsweek, March 10, 2008.