Newseum honors slain journalists

Neighbors, press
greet the circus
page 8
News
Lifestyle
Entertainment
Sports
Viewpoints
On the Street
1–4
5–7
8–10
12
14–15
16
photo byMatt Nguyen
photo by Sebastian Swain
In this issue
Throngs greet
cherry blossoms
page 16
Volume 18 • Number 5 • April 2009 • This issue published online only
Arts bring awareness to sexual assault
Priscilla Ward
Young D.C.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This
month is dedicated to educating, advocating and preventing sexual violence. April 2, the D.C. Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) hosted Slam SAAM, a poetry
event, at Busboys and Poets. B & P is a bookstore and
restaurant in the Shaw neighborhood of D.C. As its
performance space, it has the Langston Room.
The annual poetry event was started on a na
tional level. “I think that art opens a door for us to
reach audiences, populations, and people that we
may not reach otherwise. It allows artists/poets to
use their crafts as a tool for promoting awareness
and raise their voices against this violence,” Melinda
Cole said. Cole is the Director of youth programs at
the DCRCC.
A diverse group of men and women packed the
Langston Room. Four poets bared the truth about
sexual violence. There were many survivors, while
others were advocating awareness. Some spoke from
their festered bitterness, others from their resilient
victory.
Jonathan Tucker, the winner of the poetry slam,
works as a volunteer at LevelTen and as a paralegal
employed by Cohen, Milstein, Housefield & Toll.
Tucker said, “The issue of sexual assault is not just
a women’s issue, this is a men’s issue as well, this is
a humanitarian issue.” Tucker added, “With poetry,
you can make a powerful statement, without saying
the issue directly. Poetry is away of getting around
legal loopholes. Historically poetry has been seen as
away to get important messages across.” In speaking to him, you realize Tucker is totally in touch with
Generation-Y lingo, mannerisms and music.
Rape is never the victim’s fault, neither do race,
sex and socioeconomic status have anything to do
with sexual violence. Sexual assault cases are prevalent across th e country, and Washington D.C. is no
exception. “Sexual Assault is one of the most underreported crimes, so even the data we have under-represents the prevalence,” Cole said.
inches wide and installed at sharp angle described in
news reports as “more like a ladder,” led to the All
High Stadium press box. Borelli was paralyzed from
the neck down and died 12 days later.
Once relatives gathered in the Knight Studio, the
ceremony began with an introduction by Ken Paulson,
president and chief operating officer of the Newseum.
He acknowledged the family members coming from
other countries, including Mexico and Iraq.
Since 2003, Iraq has been the deadliest country
for journalists. In fact, 13 journalists died in the last
year. In total, 151 have died since the war began.
Alberto Ibarguen, the Newseum chairman, reminded the audience that the journalists who risked
their lives were all still human and that “murder
strikes at the heart by silencing speech.”
In order to reduce these murders, Ibarguen explains that many organizations, including Reporters
Without Borders, work to expose corrupt government authorities around the world who have taken
part in some of these incidents as well. Many of these
murderers are not convicted and are not punished for
killing journalists. Reporters have been kept in jail
unjustly and, currently, 75 are in jail under the Castro
government.
After the remarks, Chris Wells, the senior vice
president of the Freedom Forum, began reading the
62 names. Relatives became teary-eyed and quiet as
a bell tolled after each name was called.
Charles L. Overby, chief executive officer of the
Newseum, provided closing remarks. He commented
on the bravery of the honored journalists. “I’m struck
by the ruthful irony that what I would say is these
journalists we honor today were at the wrong place
at the wrong time, but I think if you talk to them they
would say they were at the right place at the wrong
time… you and I might go the other way, but they
went toward danger,” Overby said.
He also spoke of the future of the museum’s
memorial. “The fact that we are situated right now
on Pennsylvania Avenue right in the middle of the
tourist district, right between the Capitol and White
See Memorial, page 3
Priscilla Ward, 18, is a homeschooled senior in the
District of Columbia.
Newseum honors slain journalists
Jade Earle
Young D.C.
March 30, the Newseum held a rededication
ceremony honoring 62 journalists who died performing their jobs in 2008. An additional 15 names of
those who died in previous years were also added.
All are now enrolled on a majestic memorial wall
currently holding 1,913 names.
The two-story glass wall features names of reporters, editors, broadcasters and photographers who
have died covering the news since 1837. Before the
ceremony began in the museum’s Knight Studio, family members mourned journalists who were killed in
other countries as well as in the United States.
Karen Borrelli, the widow of Tom Borrelli, a
Buffalo News sports reporter, remembered her first
date with her spouse. “Our first date was at a minor
league baseball game,” she laughed. Borelli was injured while covering a high school football game in
Buffalo, N.Y. He hit his head on a steel girder and fell
down a flight of steps. The 1920s-era stairs, only 22
Six-word jump header
Memorial, from page one
House and around the embassies tells us this memorial is going to be alive long after
we’re gone and it’s going to be important,” he said.
A panel discussion followed featuring war correspondent Donatella Lorch, Frank
Smyth from the Committee to Protect Journalists, National Public Radio “Weekend Edition”
host Scott Simon, who has covered eight wars, and Gregorio A. Meraz who is the Washington bureau chief of Mexico’s Televisa.
Journalists’ risks, protection and changing expectations were highlights in the discussion. Meraz said he believes that the government is responsible for the safety of a reporter
covering dangerous wars and events.
Lorch says that journalists often go abroad to gain credibility and prestige among their
editors as well as the public. Yet, she says that she enjoyed reporting because she “loved
learning about culture and giving info to other people.”
Even though the risks surrounding journalists are high, the panel of reporters agreed
that they love their job because they can learn, understand and dispense information to the
public.
Jade Earle, 18, is a senior at School Without Walls in the District of Columbia.
Photo above by Ben Schumin, coutesy of The
Schumin Web
Photo left by James P. Blair, courtesy of the
Newseum
Then and now–In 1996, the Journalists
Memorial, above, was created in
chromatic glass that changed colors
as the sun passed over it at Freedom
Park in Rosslyn, Va. When dedicated,
the spiral that evoked a torch held 934
names of journalists killed either on
assignment or defending press freedom.
More than half of them had died during
the preceeding decade.
The first death acknowledged was that
of American Revolution veteran James
M. Lingan (1751-1812), trampled by a
mob attacking the offices of a Baltimore
newspaper that had published an
editorial opposing the War of 1812.
Today, the two-story memorial, right, is
inside the Newseum at 555 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW, in the District of Columbia.
It now honors 1,913 journalists whose
names are etched on the glass panels.
The Newseum, a 250,000-square-foot
museum of the news, houses seven
levels of galleries, interactive learning
centers, two television studios and many
artifacts of journalists who died in the
line of duty.
Corrections
YDC publishes corrections of matters of substance. Thanks for bringing them to the
attention of the editors via snail mail or e-mail to newsroom@youngdc.org.C
News t Young D.C. t April 2009
Young D.C. is an independent newspaper written by and
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Co-Managing Editors
Fran Djoukeng
Jin-Ah Kim
Montgomery Blair HS (Md.)
Thos. Jefferson HS for Science
and Technology (Va.)
Entertainment Editors
Copy Editor
Sebastian Swain (D.C.)
Sareum Kim
Centreville HS (Va.)
News Editor
Priscilla Ward
Brinda Gupta
Homeschooling (D.C.)
Thos. Jefferson HS for Science
and Technology (Va.)
Layout Manager
Gautier Lemyze-Young
Lifestyle Editor
Centennial HS (Md.)
Courtney Stein
St. Pius X HS (Tex.)
Reporters: Faith Ajayi, McKinley Tech (D.C.); Melissa Belk, The
King’s College (N.Y.); Archie Brown, Temple University (Pa.);
Christina Chang, Wootton (Md.); Flora Cheng, (D.C.); Mohammad
Diallo, Friendship PCS (D.C.); Jade Earle, School Without Walls
(D.C.); Allie Frith, South Lakes HS (Va.); Jessica Gelfarb, Walt
Whitman HS (Md.); Melanie Kates, McKinley Tech (D.C.); Becky
Koretz, Woodrow Wilson SHS (D.C.); Billie McCain, Salisbury
University (Md.); Armani McMillan, Forestville Military Academy
(Md.); Matt Nguyen, McKinley Tech (D.C.); Caitlin Peterson, John
S. Burke Catholic HS (N.Y.); Lindsey Rennie, Mount de Sales
Academy (Md.); Diamond Riley, University of Virginia (Va.);
Emma Safford, The Lab School of Washington (D.C.); Megan
Ternes, Charlotte Catholic (N.C.); Jonathan Ward, St. Albans (D.C.);
Maya Wells, Morgan State University (Md). Hafie Yillah, St. John’s
College HS (D.C.); MaBinti Yillah, University of Maryland
Artists: Steven Anderson, Homeschooling (Md.); Casey Drogin,
Einstein (Md.)
Board of Directors: George Curry, Tom Donlan, Hector EricksenMendoza, Rich Foster, Mary Hanley, Judy Hines, Sean Jensen,
Cynthia Farrell Johnson, Rosamond King, Carol Knopes (chairman),
Carol Lange, Kathleen Reilly Mannix, Sarah Menke-Fish, Bob
Neuman, Michael Phelps, Reginald Ragland, Phil Reid
Young D.C. is supported by The Bureau of National Affairs, The
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Foundation and sponsors of Cartoons & Cocktails, an auction of
editorial art held last Oct. 23 at the National Press Club which also
benefited the Friedheim Library at the National Press Club and its
programs, and Cartoonists Rights Network International. Sponsors
included BNA, C-SPAN, Congressional Quarterly, D’Orazio
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Letters to the Editor are welcome and sometimes published, either whole or
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April 2009 t Young D.C. t News
Memorial, from page one
April 2009 t Young D.C. t News
April 2009 t Young D.C. t Lifestyle
Seven-word header
10-word header
Lindsey Rennie
Young D.C.
303 words
Lindsey Rennie, 15, is a
sophomore at Mount de Sales
Academy in Catonsville, Md.
LifeStyle
Lifestyle t Young D.C. t April 2009
Cyberian Tyger
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T
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hese gener
thank t
ous
C
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ntinuin orga
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The Bureau of National Affairs
Children’s Charities
Foundation
Foundation for the National
Capital Region
The Freedom Forum
Congressional Quarterly
The Herb Block Foundation
The Examiner and
The Washington Examiner
Fund of the Community
Judy and Taylor Hines
Carol Knopes
April 2009 t Young D.C. t Lifestyle
Scholarship Beat
Seven-word header
550 words
Sebastian Swain and Lindsey Rennie
Young D.C.
Sebastian Swain, 17, is a junior at the Lab School of Washington in the
District of Columbia.
Lindsey Rennie, 15, is a sophomore at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Md.
Eight-word header
Priscilla Ward
Young D.C.
234 words
Priscilla Ward, 18, a homeschooled
senior in the District of Columbia.
Need help now?
Readers can find answers to frequently asked questions about
the education rights of homeless students in D.C. by visiting
Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program:
http://seo.dc.gov/seo/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=561725&PM=1
YDC was unable to find a web page with information for homeless students on the Maryland Public Schools web site, but
readers can download a directory of people responsible for
students services in each county through this URL :
http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/
rdonlyres/7781E259-BE94-4A99-B6CF-36CE11898994/17366/
Directors_contact_list_071508.pdf
Contact information for offices that help homeless students
throughout the state was easiest to find on the Virginia web
site. Telephone numbers, e-mail address and office address of
the homeless education liaison person for each jurisdiction in
Virginia can be downloaded by visiting:
http://web.wm.edu/hope/virginia/liaison_listing.pdf
Young D.C. t April 2009
Capital Hill neighbors greet circus performers
March 17, Capital Hill neighbors launch their St.
Patrick’s Day celebration by greeting the Ringling
Bros. Barnum & Bailey “Over the Top” circus
elephants, animal handlers and performers at Fourth
Street and South Capital Street.
“Over the Top” played the Verizon Center in D.C.
March 19-22, 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore
March 25-April 1, and the Patriot Center in Fairfax
April 8-19. Circus fans can catch the Ringling
Bros. Barnum & Bailey “Zing Zang Zoom” show
in Philadelphia May 13-25. “Over the Top” plays
Hershey, Pa., May 20-25.
Photos by Sebastian Swain
April 2009 t Young D.C.
Entertainment
1,117 words
MySpace tutorial, left to right, Wilson Cruz as Nathan, Drew Barrymore
as Mary, Leonardo Nam as Joshua and Rod Keller as Bruce in New Line
Cinema’s romantic comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You,” a Warner
Bros. Pictures release.
Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema
©MMVIII IFP Blackswan GmbH & Co. KG
™NEW LINE PRODUCTIONS, INC. All Rights Reserved
Matt Nguyen
Young D.C.
Matt Nguyen, 17, is a junior at McKinley HS of Science and
Technology in Washington, D.C.
Entertainment t Young D.C. t April 2009
Six-word header
428 words
Megan Ternes
Young D.C.
Megan Ternes, 18, is a senior at Charlotte Catholic
HS in Charlotte, NC.
3301 New Mexico Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
202.966.7144
www.foxhallgallery.com
April 2009 t Young D.C.
Eight-word header
Sports
Young D.C. t April 2009
209 words
Has an amateur athlete in your sport
been profiled in YDC lately?
YDC is recruiting sports
reporters and looking
for profile prospects.
Send us an e-mail:
newsroom@youngdc.org
297 words
Tommy Lasorda
photo courtesy of JI&CC
archery•badminton•baseball
•basketball•
bobsledding•bowling•boxing
• canoeing•
cross country•cycling•fencing•
football•golf•hockey
•judo•lacrosse•rowing
•skating•skiing•swimming•tennis
•track and field•volleyball
•water polo•
weightlifting•wrestling
Nine-word
April 2009 t Young D.C.
Humor
Casey Drogin, 16, is a junior at Einstein HS in Kensington, Md.
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Casey’s Corner
Viewpoints
Young D.C. t April 2009
Casey Drogin, 16, is a junior at Einstein HS in Kensington, Md.
What’s your topic for YDC to tackle?
10-word header
Mohammad Diallo
Young D.C.
In March I was awarded the Al Neuharth Free
Spirit Scholarship, which awards students who possess an interest in journalism and demonstrate a true
“free spirit.” The judging panel selects one male and
one female from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
(my hometown). I didn’t expect to win. I wasn’t even
notified about the scholarship until a mere week before the winners conference. There I visited the monuments, met prominent journalists and built strong relationships with the other 101 Free Spirit scholars. The
Free Spirit Scholarship and Journalism Conference
has made me into a better journalist, a better Washingtonian and a better person.
During the conference the other Free Spirit scholars and myself partook in workshops and discussions
related to journalism. For example, Carol Knopes, Director of Educational Programs at the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, taught us the critical, analytical side of journalism. Yet Knopes is also
one cut-throat, hysterically funny lady. She lectured us
on the strategies and rules of news coverage–as well as
how to avoid the taboos of journalism and what to do
when faced with the “off the record” dilemma.
Another preeminent moment was meeting Ms.
Betty Baye, a columnist and editorial writer for The
The editors would love to hear about things that
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Send your Viewpoints idea to
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About Viewpoints
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Young D.C., Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to create opportunities for young people
from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and economic
backgrounds to work together to develop a responsible,
independent media voice. Its program encourages teens
to examine new territory in the region’s fragmented society to produce this newspaper. In the process, its editors, reporters, photographers, cartoonists, illustrators
and interns develop skills for college and career.
Courier-Journal. Baye is a witty, multifaceted and
humorous humanist; she is a true testament of “never
forgetting where you come from.” Through her lecture
she taught us to be compassionate, to have empathy
and love for justice. She told us that journalists have
the power to “tell stories of people who can’t for themselves.” Her words have influenced me to be humanistic and have a passion and curiosity for journalism.
Although we spent most of our time in workshops
and discussions, the Free Spirits and I also traveled
around Washington, D.C. Like most native Washingtonians, I wasn’t astonished to see the same landmarks
I see daily on the Metro. However, as we toured D.C.
I observed these landmarks with a different outlook.
On our first tour, we paid a visit to the Marine Corps
War Memorial where our tour guide gave us two challenges. Our first challenge was to observe the statue
and explain its position. Our second was to examine
the landmarks and monuments that make up the D.C.
skyline and explain their symbolization. In the first
challenge, I scrutinized every detail of the statues. I
noticed the intensity of every soldiers face. By observing the statue as a whole, I noticed that the memorial
exhibits not only war, but also triumph and peace. As
part of the second challenge I gazed at the Kennedy
Center, the Washington Monument and Capitol Hill,
contemplating the historical events that took place at
each historic location. I realized that every monument
and landmark refers to all of the aspects of our country–from our political system, to our culture, to our
influences from abroad.
Thus, the Free Spirit conference improved my
journalism skills and gave me a deeper admiration for
D.C. But most importantly, the conference taught me
how, through journalism, I can be a better person.
Mohammad Diallo, 17, is a senior at Friendship PCS Collegiate Academy in the District
of Columbia.
April 2009 t Young D.C. t Viewpoints
YDC asks teens–
Promethean interactive whiteboard
photo courtesy of Activeeducation
Soapbox
On the Street
Young D.C. t April 2009
April 4, 2009, people surround
the tidal basin experiencing the
peak of the cherry blossoms.
photos by Matt Nguyen
Matt Nguyen, 17, is a junior at McKinley HS of Science and Technology in the District of Columbia.