My first unofficial blog was on Myspace two years ago. That lasted for all of a month at best. But now anyone of consequence in 2009 has a blog that relates to their jobs and interests. Hell, they even make movies about these things now that star Meryl Streep.

Since I am also putting the finishing touches on a new online reporting class that will be offered next year–it will combine my expertise in both written and video journalism–I need to have a track history of posting my thoughts online. When I put together UofL’s first weROCK iMovie festival a year ago, I was quoted in some publications as saying “video is the new vernacular for students.” And it definitely is. I will be talking a lot about the marriage of video and the internet, video and news, video and journalism.

Here’s me taking a virtual ride at Streaming Media East in May, 2008.

I spoke at the conference about engaging students in the streaming media age. They expect all their info to be delivered to the mobile devices which truly are revolutionizing several industries.

It’s an exciting time. Northwestern (my alma-mater), NYU and Columbia have programs exploring where the new media will lead us in the new decade. For my part, it means integrating traditional news writing with video, flash and other emerging tools.

So with that I end my first post so I can finally say I did this–I’ve been meaning to start this blog since the Spring!

As of reports today, 64 people were killed (27 journalists) in the Maguindanao political massacre.

Because of this, the Committee to Protect Journalists announces that the Philippines as the most dangerous country for journalists.

Being from the Philippines, this news is not something I am proud of. This is not how I want my country to be known for, but there is no point in hiding it from the world. Change never comes from being silent.

Photo courtesy of Patricia Evangelista Read her column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

   A lot was achieved at work today. It’s getting close to the month end, so there a lot of reporting to do. And, as it is getting close to the end of the year, my stats spreadsheet needs updating for next year. Fingers crossed I have got it right. I really should document the damn thing, but I just never remember. It has grown from a single sheet of weekly numbers, to a 8 sheet workbook. I’m quite proud of it really. No one else has a clue how it works, they are just grateful it does. If I sat down and took it to pieces, I’m sure I could make it a lot easier. Some of the formulae I think could be simplified, and I’m sure I could tidy up the look-up tables, but at the end of the day, it works !

   I started work on the panto programme tonight. Hardest thing was getting the picture in black and white. For some reason my copy of Photoshop Elements 2 is playing up. I have a strong suspicion, that the twain drivers have corrupted, as a few times tonight, the thing has hung up when initialising. I think I may have to reinstall it at some point.

Shashank Bengali (image from his Twitter account)

I’m sad to see that Shashank Bengali, the Nairobi-based McClatchy correspondent, will be leaving Africa to move back to the US. Shashank’s reporting has been unlike other journalists with a stint on the continent; he is the one major-paper reporter whose work has never made me roll my eyes back and wonder whether they ever left the capital. Shashank kept a blog of his journeys in Africa, but as he ends his time in Nairobi, so too comes the end of the blog. McClatchy has no plans of replacing him in Nairobi, but as he says in his send off post:

So our Africa bureau is going dark. Other American newspapers, too, are closing bureaus on the continent or leaving postings unfilled. It is the unfortunate reality of the moment. But while nothing can quite replace independent, unbiased reporting by professional journalists, we must be honest that there’s no shortage of news out of Africa. Just glance at the blogroll to the right, or head over to Twitter, where a vibrant community of Africans and foreigners are reporting and debating everything from economics to soccer results to ICC cases.

On a lighter note, I wonder what will become of Shashank’s Obamarama catalog? I hope that he’ll continue to post any photos folks send his way.

Here are just a few of my favorite posts of his:

• The upcoming Kenya election?
• The trouble with Abu Sharati (or why it’s hard to report from Darfur)
• On the MSF advert “Boy“
• Refugee resettlement is serious business
• Speaking the language of development

A preview I wrote for LA based holy water drunk, Brothers Grimm acolyte, backstreet cabaret rocker Dorian Wood. Never heard of him before either but then I checked out his music and would encourage you to do the same. Unfortunately I think I’m gonna miss his show here.

Sat down at a cafe with Lea Rinaldi whose dreamy documentary Behind Jim Jarmusch is playing this week. She shot it during filming of The Limits of Control and manages to capture a unique look at Jarmusch and crew. It’s supposed to be included as a special feature on the American DVD release, and I’m still confused about other screenings but she won’t write me back. Okay, so when we met she was wiping tears and explained her grandmother was dying, so I’ll cut her some slack. She was very nice and three hours yapping didn’t feel like three hours at all. But yeah, boyfriend, go figure…

French Revolution exhibition at the historical Carnavalet museum. Would have been a lot better if I was an academic specializing in history, or at least had read about in in any depth. And maybe if I understood a little French. While I may have been too ignorant to appreciate the actual exhibition I certainly enjoyed the experience of attempting to convince museum staff that I was actually press and there was a pass waiting for me.

At the beginning of summer I clicked through to a forum debating the development of DSLRs beginning to include HD video recording. A group of Oregonians had utilized a Nikon D90 to shoot a feature length movie and I mentioned this to my editor who encouraged me to dig around and build a story. Sent out some e-mails to the filmmakers, a camera reviewer/photographer and a favorite indie director of mine. My editor liked the facts and color commentary I had collected when he finally got around to reading the draft, just not how I had written it.

He proposed a redirection and focus but I was well in the midst of getting ready to move. One evening I brought my notes up to a cafe by my parents’ (where I lived for a month before disembarking) to try and make sense of it all and failed miserably. Flew across the world and got my bearings before making another stab at it, which essentially meant rewriting the fucker, double-checking for new developments in the field and seeing if anything new was going on with the film.

The second copy went ignored for a while until my editor had the time to go over it. Together we worked out some clarifications and then he posted it, telling me I was holding the top slot of the front page overnight. Why? That answer remains a mystery, but any and all zombies awake at indecent hours had the opportunity to see me in all my glory underneath and Apple ad.

The Scottish parliament is too review legislation regarding taxation on holiday homes in rural Scotland after it was highlighted as both a danger to the survival of Scotland’s rural communities, and a solution with regards to rural project funding.

Last week, a relatively small number of msps gathered in Hollyrood’s main chamber to hear and discuss the committee report. An in depth investigation into issue facing people- especially younger generations- when trying to find residence in rural communities of Scotland. In ay cases, communities in which they grew up in.

Other points of concern highlighted by the report were the availability of land itself, especially land suitable for housing projects; and affordability of housing that is being built in and around rural communities for younger Scots. Landowners and Housing developers came under scrutiny for this as it is believed by those who conducted the report that it is landowners holding onto suitable land with hopes of gaining even larger profits upon selling in the future and housing developers favouring and creating luxurious holiday homes intended for the wealthy and retired whilst ignoring demand for affordable, and even rent controlled housing from younger generations.

According to the committee there is need for a ‘cultural shift’ and a change I attitudes to a very real issue facing many young Scots and the rural communities of Scotland. If rural communities are to survive; ‘fresh blood’ must be able to find find housing ad create homes and pre- mentioned communities, or we as a country risk losing them and part of our heritage and culture, so to speak. For this to happen issues with affordability and all round accessibility must be taken into consideration by the Scottish Parliament whom the committee hold accountable.

However, did hear speculation over whether or not such investigations were necessary and questions were held over whether or not the committee were simply ‘pushing against an open door’. The representative of the SNP made clear that the government understood and were aware of such problems facing rural communities and the accessibility of housing for young people arguing that gears have already been set in motion to aid them.

As part of a ‘revival campaign’ for rural Scotland, the government have been successful in bringing in thirteen thousand new, and affordable homes for rent in a number of Scotland’s rural towns and villages. To date; over one hundred and forty six million has been invested in the campaign, though the government accept that new sources of funding is needed, especially in the current economic climate.

Auch sie befinden sich im herbstlichen Krieg mit der Tabellenkalkulation, um ein Budget auf die Beine zu stellen?

Vielleicht hilft Ihnen ja diese Blog weiter. Die renommierte Software “Professional Planner” gibt es als Vollversion (!) gratis zum Download. Es handelt sich dabei um ein Softwaretool, das sich seit Jahren bewährt hat und auch über Schnittstellen zu anderen Herstellern verfügt.

Hier der Link

Ich wünsche viel Erfolg beim Testen! Anschauen kostet (fast) nichts und vielleicht kann der eine oder die andere das Tool sinnvoll einsetzen

FIRST I HAVE TO GRIPE- WHY ISN’T THERE AN ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICE FOR VICTIMS  OF DOMESTIC ABUSE?

I don’t know how Kenya can say it is serious about dealing with the vice when its the no. 1 crime affecting over 80% of women, yet it’s virtually impossible to find out where to get help, or how to report an incident of domestic abuse.

Here’s what I know about what to do- let me know what you think as I’d love to  produce a poster and plaster a checklist on every single police station in Kenya

1. CALL THE POLICE 999 (landline) 112 (Cell)

You can try to call the police Kenya Police emergency no is 999 (landline) or 112 (mobile phone).

PUT THESE NUMBERS IN YOUR CELL NOW

You can also try your local station – Kenya Police Stations Hotlines are listed here

2. REPORT AT NEAREST POLICE STATION OR SUB STATION/COMMUNITY STATION

When you get there tell them you want to report a crime.

I’ve no idea if the Gender Desk or Childrens Desks actually work but generally you go to the one guy who has the OB or Observation Book. He gives your case a number, asks you a few questions and you should keep a receipt of that report.

The officer taking your report will not volunteer information – you have to ask. These guys are qualified but if you are confused ask to see the OCS (Officer in Charge of Station – who generally is quite professional)

Well if you’ve been injured you need a P3 form from the Police station – you can download P3 Forms and Abstract Forms from the Police website here in advance

LOSS OF PROPERTY

Note The Abstract form is issued by the Police whenever a person reports loss of property.

It is filled giving details of the lost property. The Officer Commanding Police Station(OCS), must sign and rubber-stamp the filled form and an official receipt issued.

NB. Once this form is filled,it must be taken to the nearest Police Station for necessary assistance.

IN THE CASE OF PERSONAL INJURY

You must get the P3 Form - the Medical Examination Report

The Kenya Police Medical Examination form, popularly known as P3, is provided free of charge at our police stations. It is used to request for medical examination by a Medical Officer of Health, in order to determine the nature and extent of bodily injury sustained by a complainant(s) in assault cases.

Part I of the form must be filled by the Police Officer requesting medical examination.

Part II must befilled by a Medical Officer or Practitioner carrying out the examination giving medical details.

Section B of this form should be completed in all cases of assault, including sexual while section C is completed in cases alleged sexual offeces ony.

This form is a government document and must be returned to the police for use in adducing evidence in court.

Once the P3 form is filled in at the police station, the complainant is escorted by a police officer to a medical officer or practitioner for examination.

The form becomes an exhibit once produced in court.

MAKE A STATEMENT

Accompanying your initial Abstract should be a full statement from you of what happened. This can be done later the same day or next day AT THE POLICE STATION

Any abuse, injury or damage to property is a criminal case. It is different from a civil case (but you can also pursue a civil case in parallel – I’m not  a lawyer but would appreciate guidance on this).

If you need someone to be arrested you must tell the police immediately. Kenyan law classifies any assault, injury or damage to property as violation of the penal code.

The police will arrest the offender and charge them, hold them til processed (finger prints etc), set a bail if it’s a bailable offense, is and give them a date in court usually within 2 weeks. From what I’ve been told, the Government prosecutor will take charge in criminal cases. Ie. the Victim is represented by Govt Prosecutor. The person charged gets to plead, after which there’s a mention then a hearing.

Having someone charged for domestic abuse is a process and no wonder most women drop or don’t bother to even report domestic abuse cases.

(BTW I think we have a domestic abuse law in Kenya – it’s either assault or some other crime.)

And intoxication shall not constitute a defence to any criminal charge. Women or men who charge their spouses with domestic violence are actually charging them with Assault and there’s a 5 year jail sentence for that.

Most men know that women will not go so far as reporting the case – but the truth is that once it’s reported you can drop it if you decide. If you don’t you have nothing but the possibility of further assault.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just walk away?

NO!!!

Forgetting about what it does to us, me, you or any victim, to our bodies,  just think for a moment about what it does to our minds, our spirit and how it messes up our children, sisters, parents, friends for life to see us take the beatings.

Why you should report spouse abuse

• Having the incident on record in case it happens again in future
• You can use the case to leverage a mediated approach in exchange for dropping criminal charges which carry hefty penalties.
• Reduced probability of further abuses – Men don’t like having a record
• Doing what’s right for you and your kids/dependents family friends etc.

Disadvantages of reporting a spouse abuse case

• Dealing with the Police can be time consuming – these guys are experts in the runaround (most women drop cases which might explain why the police don’t take them seriously in the first place)
• Responsibility if the abuser goes to jail (most women are too kind to mean men)
• Ending a relationship - most people end relationships once it’s gotten so bad that police are involved. Some think it’s better to deal with problems before they become violent. You can get help and counseling (see below)
• Your case can become public – some people and especially relatives find this embarrassing and shameful

The Center for Gender Violence at Nairobi Womens Hospital in Hurlingham

Kenyatta Hospital

Nairobi Place – for counseling and treatment of alcoholism and other substance abuse addictions

For men who are abused or who can’t get access to traditional help the SAFE website may provide options

For women, children and men – we need a site like Narika in Asia which is a volunteer run a help line that one can can call to find out what to do, get counseling, access information like where’s the closest shelter, share stories and generally get help.

You can download most Kenyan laws here

If you have any relevant resources to share leave a comment or tweet me @paulakahumbu

I recently had the opportunity to join the Royal Marines as they spent ten days on training exercises near Chepstow, Wales. For 24 hours, with nine other trainee journalism students from Cardiff School of Journalism, I was embedded on simulated operations and patrols with marines from 40 Commando.

I had seen journalists reporting from the front line, filming crouched down behind a mound of earth as bullets flew overhead. But this would be the first time I would experience first hand life with the military. The closest I had come to gun fire was courtesy of 007.

In the preceding weeks, a friend and fellow student at JOMEC, had been filled with excitement and anticipation about getting his hands dirty with war reporting for the first time. If there had been an opportunity to head to Kabul or Baghdad, he would have been there. For me, becoming a political journalist, sat in the comfort and grandeur of a Whitehall reception room, taking a briefing from the Prime Minister, seemed a much more sensible option.

But, after 24 hours having gained an insight into what journalism on the front line could be like, I sat on the minibus back to Cardiff re-evaluating my options as a journalist. I thought, perhaps I would prefer to swap a cup of English Breakfast for a wet, and the potential wrath of a spin doctor for the threat of enemy fire.

I also felt for the first time a much closer connection with the military. I spoke to army squaddies younger than me who had done service in Afghanistan, and who recounted to me stories of comrades who had died or been badly injured. Of course, I had heard this before, but now, there was no media glass between. What they said was more a tangible reality.

This is just the introduction to a series of blog entries which I have written about my experience with the marines. In the following posts which I will be posting over the next few days, I have considered some wider issues about the media and the military. Pieced together they are really a monster blog (a blogathon perhaps). But for reading ease I have split them into shorter posts.

Nick Balee, a senior at Tulane University, says he has the right vision for the future of the city of New Orleans and doesn’t think his age should work against him.

Under current SEC regulations, companies are required to disclose material information or information that an investor should posses in order to decide whether to buy a company’s stock.  But these companies do not routinely include climate-related risks in their filings, nor is the information consistent when it is provided at all.

The California Public Employees Retirement System, which manages $202 billion of assets, and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, which manages $130 billion of assets, are among 20 investors and groups that petitioned the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to issue guidance telling companies to include risks related to climate change in their quarterly and annual filings.

“The SEC should strengthen and enforce its current requirements so investors’ decisions fully account for climate change’s financial effects,” Calpers Chief Executive Anne Stausboll said in a statement.

The initiative hopes to make the most out of the Obama administration’s renewed emphasis on environmental protection, climate change rhetoric and plans to propose an emissions reduction target at the December climate change conference in Copenhagen.

SEC Commissioner Elisse Walter, one of five members who makes decisions on federal securities rules, has said she believes that climate change is a very serious issue and this is the time for the SEC to issue so-called ‘interpretive guidance’ on this topic.

“This (petition) will be taken seriously and be one more piece of influence on the commission, to perhaps get bit more instructive on considering these issues,” said David Martin, a former SEC director of corporation finance — the division in charge of overseeing corporate disclosures. Martin is now in private practice at law firm Covington & Burling.

BloggingTips—one of my favorite sites for blogging and SEO advice—rolled out a couple posts today on how to stay inspired with the handful of sap-your-motivation-to-work holidays that are coming up. I thought those posts were great starters, but they came up short on specifics and I thought I’d offer my two cents on what I use to stay creative and motivated (though I’m not immune to the occasional dry spell).

I pull most of my blogging ideas from five different sources that vary in their chronological frequency. I’ll go in descending order of frequency for the first four and save the “out of left field” one for last:

1. Twitter (right now)

Most of the stuff I pull from Twitter goes into category No. 3—at least if I feel inspired enough to blog about whatever I’ve seen. Sometimes I’ll blog right away, but usually I’m at work (my real job) so it gets saved for later. If I have any “can’t lose” thoughts, I’ll jot them down in an e-mail, subsequent Tweet or blog draft and come back to them later.

2. Google Reader (today/last week or so)

I’m probably as guilty of anyone of letting Google Reader fester for weeks at a time every now and then, but I try to keep up with it as best as possible. Since I subscribe to a ton of feeds, I skim using list view and “Option 3″ (or 4) anything that I can’t get to right away. I don’t know how anyone survives—creatively, organizationally or otherwise—without an RSS reader of some sort.

3. Instapaper (last week/last few weeks)

I just recently discovered Instapaper, but it’s grown on me quick. It’s a great tool for when I’m otherwise swamped, but still incidentally picking up bits and pieces from The Stream. A simple click of my “Read Later” bookmarklet drops whatever item I’m interested in into my Instapaper queue and I get to it the next time I have a few free minutes.

4. Publish 2/Delicious (months/years ago)

These are long-term storage devices and I use both because I really do value the links I collect. (Specifically, I use the Publish 2 bookmarklet and duplicate most all of my links into Delicious, just in case.) When stuff goes in here, I’m thinking either, “Good read, worth passing along, but I’m not inspired enough to write just yet,” or, “I know I’ll need this five months from now, so into the file cabinet it goes.” Every so often when I’m feeling uninspired, I’ll click through my tags and see what jumps out.

5. Anything that isn’t the Internet (any time frame)

Some of my favorite posts that I’ve written have come from things that have nothing to do with journalism or blogging (re: “Star Trek” and “Lost“). I like them because they feel the most creative—here I am sitting around watching a “Star Trek” preview and I think, “Ooh—this is sorta like journalism!” (which also marks an odd feat in branding myself a “Star Trek” and journalism geek in the exact same moment). They also break up the “expected-ness” of my blog.