Well, apparently, there’s a conference out there where you can scoop all the poop you desire.

Really, it’s quite the opportunity, just read the email they sent (listed below): “Led by seasoned journalists and politicians, the conference is open to all students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate university who are in some way focused on PR, journalism, or writing.”

Wait, what? “In some way focused on “PR, journalism, or writing”? That’s odd, I always considered PR and journalism entirely different beasts, opposing even.

Maybe that’s why neither of these controversial statements appear on the “Do the Write Thing” website, found here.  Instead, they’re written in the email blast.  Now, if Hagshama and the Office of the Prime Minister (the co-sponsors of this affair) want to host yet another PR-filled, highly subsidized pro-Israel ra ra session, zei gezunt, go in health. 

But come now, let’s be honest.  This is not about “addressing issues of [objectivity]” in the media, as written on their website.  It’s about lauding pro-Israel rhetoric to one’s heart’s content while enjoying free (or highly subsidized) room service.  And, sadly, as usual, it’s about silencing voices of dissent with a PR, echo-filled chamber, and nothing to do with journalism.

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Appendix A, The Email:

From: Michael Friedman (Hagshama) [mailto:no_reply@wzo.org.il] 
Sent: Friday, October 02, 2009 12:51 PM
Subject: Into Journalism and meeting Israeli Officials? Read this!!

<http://www.hagshama.org.il/en/images/usd_Hagshama2.jpg> 

Do the Write Thing (DTWT) 

Nov 8-10 at the UJC’s General Assembly (GA) in Washington DC

Focused on journalism, DTWT is a heavily subsidized three day conference at the GA that gives participants behind-the-scenes access to some of Israel’s and North America’s most influential politicians and journalists. Students are taught how to deconstruct negative press, identify bad press, and generate their own good press on behalf of Israel. Led by seasoned journalists and politicians, the conference is open to all students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate university who are in some way focused on PR, journalism, or writing. 

Expenses covered include: three nights in a five star hotel, materials, and most meals. You only need to pay for travel to Washington, DC. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet high-ranking officials and network with a “who’s who” of the Jewish world.

Applications, due Oct 10th, 2009, are now being accepted at
http://hagshama.org.il/en/dtwt/

Here’s the final verse:

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?
I learned that our government must be strong
It’s always right and never wrong
Our leaders are the finest men
So we elect them again and again
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

Today, as Illinois puts another Governor behind bars, these lyrics echo in my head.  Political corruption at it’s Chicago-style worst, Gov. Blagojevich sought to auction off Senator Obama’s seat in the U.S. Senate.  A fine one-up of his predecessor, Gov. Ryan, who sold truck driving licenses with no tests attached.

Of course, political corruption of a more local (city based) variety occurs every day across the USA.  This is a good reminder to the left that corruption doesn’t come inherently with the title “republican,” but instead, with power.  In my opinion, only a lively, free press and a commitment to investigative reporting can best confront corruption from power.

Which reminds me, I wonder how the corn & soybean industry (an old friend of Illinois politics) will fare under Obama’s White House?  And what of the local power abuses across the USA?

Also, I wonder how, with the rise of blogs, we can recreate the institutional support that more traditional news outlets can provide.  That is, powers that be will happily file unethical lawsuits (for example) to shut reporters up.  How can the blog movement support itself?

Of course, traditional news media had a lot more clout when behemoths like the Chicago Tribune weren’t filing for bankruptcy protection.  Just a few thoughts for Tuesday.  Have a delicious day!

It’s US and THEM: the strange, the odd, the eccentric world out there well beyond my well padded suburbs.  Spring Break 2006, my senior year of college, spent in the 9^th ward of New Orleans.  A forgotten place by many ‘til the “Girls Gone Wild” blew its top off.  Katrina and Rita highlight a world we own, a world we don’t have to know.  But now we get to watch, like some type of twisted reality television show.  “We” – me, an upper middle class white Jew from Chicago’s southern suburbs.  A student at an elite private Liberal Arts college, Wesleyan University, with resources, possibilities, access.  The privilege to choose my passions, what I see and what I ignore.

Common Ground, the once-Anarchist NGO taking volunteers for an experience of a lifetime.  “It’s worse than Iraq” an ex-military man gasps during our tour, as we drive along Clayborn, where the levees broke.  And everyone’s taking their picture, the click of a fabulous picture — whoa!  Did you see that car!  That house?!

Yesterday two more bodies were found.  Bodies.  THEM. 

I know the military man’s feelings, I’ve traveled a bit in the West Bank myself.  The 9^th Ward is pretty bleak.  Right here in the U. S. of A.  It turns out, WE still are racist.  The structures, MY structures of power grant me the privilege to show up, to take a break, to drink my bottled water and use any toilet as I damn well please.  And to choose when to get involved and when to sit this one out.

Take a story, any story.  “My family got out the day before it hit.  We thought that it was goin’ to be any old storm, happens all of the time, you see.  I return, finally two, three months later.  Water came up over my attic, though it settled a mere nine feet above the ground.  Volunteers carry out my beds, my chairs, my brother’s death certificate.  Garbage.  Now, my kid travels four hours everyday to get to school.  I get no social services, my schools are closed.  My grandchildren are spread out all over the USA.”

Tragedy through the eye of privilege: I marvel at the faith of humankind.  The touchy-feely loses its nausea when extreme loss greets hope, reclaims power. 

“I Will Rebuild!”

And I know that the tragedy here, emblazoned by the levee’s failure, was underscored, underwritten by racism.  We said “not here.”  We, the white, upper middle class with the capacity to accept 9^th ward refugees, but not the desire.  Too many black folks for us, we say.  But for those of us entirely unaffected by the storm, we can offer our sympathy.  White folks struggling across the river?  They mostly see savages—thieves, liabilities, THEM.

Travel: a time for self reflection.  See the anomalous and recall: I grew up in Flossmoor, fifteen minutes from Ford Heights.  Average annual income 20,000 dollars per family.  One hundred percent African American (according to the stats).  A Katrina of my very own.  And that time I was not a volunteer.  Instead, I was an AP high school student.  Instead I took AP Economics and family vacations.  I was told “stay away from there,” let it remain hidden, dangerous, invisible.  Let them be them, let us be us.

Afterward:

Today, in 2008, the lower ninth ward now has one open school, Martin Luther King Elementary.  Business booms in the economic districts and the blue tarps that covered every building for miles are now re-tiled roofs.