tagged w/ Vanguard Journalism
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Noreen Moustafa is an associate producer for Vanguard.
I have had my cultural identity as an Egyptian-American shift in the eyes of others overnight many times before.
Growing up in Los Angeles, when people would find out that my family was Egyptian, they would gasp at the exoticism of it. Many couldn’t wrap their mind around the idea of a modern Egypt because their imagination had already been captured by the storied history of Ancient Egypt. I enjoyed their curiosity, never minding to answer questions about the pyramids, papyrus, or pharaohs.
But post-9/11, people no longer had questions about Cleopatra — instead they interrogated me about Al-Qaeda. At the time, I definitely knew more about King Tut than I did Osama bin Laden, so I admit the questions weren’t as cheerfully received (nor delivered, for that matter) as before.
And then, on January 25, I experienced the most personally powerful cultural shift yet, as I watched a purely popular uprising spring from the impossible dreams of Egypt’s youth and gain momentum. I can only imagine what sort of cultural transformation those very youth are undergoing right now as the world watches the Egyptian protests breathlessly, no one quite sure what will happen next.
I am 30 years old and Hosni Mubarak has been president since my very first visit to the country, when I was six months old. Since then I have travelled to Egypt almost every summer. Because of those frequent visits, I have been privy to the kind of anger, frustration, and desperation that surprised much of the world when the protests erupted in cities across Egypt last month.
That is not to say that I haven’t been completely astonished and awed by what’s transpired in the past 12 days! I have also been privy to the paralyzing fear and hopeless apathy that has kept most people from daring to imagine a different reality than the poverty, inequity, government corruption, and indignity that they knew.
After daring to express any grievances publicly, most would then tell you, “Alhamdillilah,” meaning “Thank God.” Many Egyptians are also very prideful and therefore, sometimes to the point of paranoia, worry endlessly about their perception abroad. When I started travelling with a camera, members of my family would encourage me to film at historical sites or museums. They suggested I go to the well-manicured gardens of the private country clubs, the Mediterranean shore, or at least the new shopping mall in town. “Why are you filming those toddlers begging?" they would exclaim. "Do you want people in the US to think that we are all homeless?” This kind of self-censorship was baffling to me. But it appears that in just under two weeks, through self-empowerment and self-organization, Egyptians have broken through the barrier of fear and apathy and are expressing themselves in ways they never have before.
During my last trip to Egypt, I interviewed a few domestic servants, to better understand this segment of society who is rarely given voice. It was the kind of story that I felt I could cover without too much interference from the meddling police, considering that my subjects’ world was mostly inside the home.
The women ranged in age from 14-67, each working inside homes cleaning, cooking, and providing childcare for middle class families for very meager wages. The younger ones typically lived with the families they worked for but would return to their home villages a few times a month to visit and share their salary with their parents. When pressed about what goals they had in life and whether or not they were happy, a smile would come over their face, and no words would be spoken. This was the quiet resignation that I was used to seeing in Egypt. The older ones had known decades of labor but were so grateful to the families that helped support them throughout the years. “Alhamdillilah,” they would say. In the end, the interviews were only compelling if you could read between the lines, recognize pain behind someone’s eyes, or at the very least, you could identify the universal desires of every human being that weren’t being met.
What has been a happy surprise for me is that with this latest cultural identity shift, I haven’t had too many questions from my American friends about the yearnings of the Egyptian protesters. It seems in this case, the exotic and different Egyptians have communicated with the rest of world with utter clarity, in a language we all can understand. Their message is succinct, without ideology, and well-defined: They are seeking their unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Eighty million people in the world have just found their voice. I also have faith that a veritable democracy will find its way to Egypt. I never expected Egyptians would be the ones to challenge us Americans and test our own commitment to the democratic principles we hold so dear. And as the world watches anxiously to see how this organic revolution plays out, I find myself saying, “Alhamdillilah.”
Watch Vanguard's Adam Yamaguchi report from Egypt in 2005.Noreen Moustafa is an associate producer for Vanguard.
I have had my cultural... more
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"They brought in the entire press core. The want to sanitize the story!" Sydney Schanberg says in The Killing Fields as the U.S Army brings in the international press score to report on the accidental bombing of Neak Leung.The statement gets to the heart of what The Killing Fields is about, culpability for horrors committed during the Cambodian conflict -- who tries to hide from that, and who stands up. It's a dramatized version of experiences documented by the film's three main characters and real-life journalists: Dith Pran, Sydney Schanberg and Jon Swain. It explores the rule of the Khmer Rouge, the damage caused to Cambodia, and the execution of many citizens.
"They brought in the entire press core. The want to sanitize the story!"... more
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In this scene from "Marijuana Wars, Part 1," Vanguard executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi embeds with MAVMIT, an elite task force that hikes into the California wilderness in search of marijuana grow sites operated by Mexican drug trafficking organizations.
California has become one of the leading producers of marijuana in the world--most of it produced by Mexican drug trafficking organizations. And the proceeds from marijuana have become a cash cow for traffickers, generating greater profits than cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined.
"Marijuana Wars Part 1" premieres Monday, November 22 at 9/8c on Current TV.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.In this scene from "Marijuana Wars, Part 1," Vanguard executive producer and... more
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To document the dangerous journey taken by migrants, Vanguard correspondent Christof Putzel first needed permission from the Mexican mafia that controls the business of border crossings. His "fixer" - the contact who helps a journalist manage logistics on the ground -- turned out to be the local priest, who lobbied his powerful parishioners to allow Christof and team safe access to the story.
In "Life And Death On The Border," Putzel travels to the U.S.-Mexico border to investigate one of the most contentious issues in America today: immigration. Meeting with "coyotes," the hired smugglers who offer to take immigrants across the border for a fee, Putzel learns the methods used to evade border patrol and the dangers they face on the journey. Arrest and deportation are inherent risks, but the lack of water and scorching temperatures of the desert crossing are far more deadly. Those who do make it safely across the border face tightening immigration laws and an increasingly hostile public. Putzel ultimately crosses the border with a migrant and coyote.
"Life And Death On The Border" premieres on Monday, November 15 at 9/8c on Current TV.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.To document the dangerous journey taken by migrants, Vanguard correspondent Christof... more
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In 2005, Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller traveled to a rehabilitation center in Tapachula, Mexico. She met dozens of migrants living with injuries sustained during attempts to reach the United States border, including Oscar, a young man who had lost both an arm and a leg. Each year, more than a million illegal immigrants make the dangerous 1500-mile trip through Central America to the United States. Many chance a ride on the free but treacherous freighter known as "El Tren de la Muerte," or "The Death Train." During the ride, migrants suffer falls, lose limbs, or die before they reach their destination.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.In 2005, Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller traveled to a rehabilitation center... more
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Crossing the border between Mexico and the United States is only the final step in the treacherous journey that more than a million illegal immigrants attempt each year. Every day hundreds of desperate Central Americans climb atop "El Tren de la Muerte," a freight train that offers a free--but potentially deadly -- ride through Mexico.
Correspondent Mariana van Zeller visits a shelter for those who've been maimed in falls from the train, and follows a group of young female El Salvadorans willing to risk everything they have to make it to America, where they hope to find jobs and send money back home to their families.
"The Death Train" premieres on Current TV on Monday, November 8 at 9/8c.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Crossing the border between Mexico and the United States is only the final step in the... more
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In this scene from Vanguard's 2007 award-winning documentary, "From Russia With Hate," correspondent Christof Putzel attends a National Socialist Organization rally in Moscow and speaks with their controversial, unofficial leader, Dmitry Ramyantsev.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.In this scene from Vanguard's 2007 award-winning documentary, "From Russia... more
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When can we tell gays in Uganda that "it gets better"?
It has been a year since Uganda's controversial anti-gay legislation was first introduced. As we reported in Vanguard’s documentary “Missionaries of Hate,” international pressure has made it unlikely that the proposed law will pass, but a lot of damage has already been done.
When can we tell gays in Uganda that "it gets better"?
It has been a year... more
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On the heels of receiving the 69th annual Peabody Award and the 2010 Television Academy Honor Award, Current TV's "Vanguard" will air a three-part special on the U.S.-Mexico border issue this fall. The documentary news program, which has been lauded for its groundbreaking and in-depth approach to some of the world's most important and under-reported stories, will provide a fresh and insightful perspective on one of the nation's most complex and controversial topics. The three-part special will launch on Monday, November 15 at 9/8c, with the second and third parts airing on consecutive Monday nights in prime time.
As seen in this election year and with the controversy over the new laws passed in Arizona, the security of the U.S.-Mexico border has emerged as one of our nation's most hotly-debated issues. "Vanguard" will introduce all the players in this human drama: from the migrants making the terrifying, dangerous and illegal border crossings to the coyotes who profit from them. Additional focus will be placed on the policemen and border patrol agents trying to hold back the tide of immigrants, to the Mexican drug cartels, whose violent clashes threaten to spill over the border.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.On the heels of receiving the 69th annual Peabody Award and the 2010 Television... more
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Todd battled addiction to prescription drugs for over a decade but shortly after filming for "The Oxycontin Express" ended, he decided to try to overcome his dependence on oxycodone. Vanguard checked in with Todd nearly 100 days since he last used oxy and learned about his progress.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV MONDAYS at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Todd battled addiction to prescription drugs for over a decade but shortly after... more
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After discovering that Todd is using oxycodone again, Maureen decides to confront her son about his drug use.
For more news video by Current TV visit http://current.com/vanguardAfter discovering that Todd is using oxycodone again, Maureen decides to confront her... more
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Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days of the country's civil war to see how one of the world's most powerful insurgencies, the Tamil Tigers, was finally defeated.
In this clip, Mariana digs deeper into the Tigers' use of suicide bombers and their designation as a terrorist group by the United States.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days... more
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Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days of the country's civil war to see how one of the world's most powerful insurgencies, the Tamil Tigers, was finally defeated.
In this clip, Mariana struggles to report a story from which independent media had been banned. But at a market filled with pro-military merchandise, she's able to speak directly to locals about the widespread support for the Sri Lankan army.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days... more
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Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days of the country's civil war to see how one of the world's most powerful insurgencies, the Tamil Tigers, was finally defeated.
In this clip, Mariana meets former child soldiers conscripted into the Tamil Tigers.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days... more
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Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days of the country's civil war to see how one of the world's most powerful insurgencies, the Tamil Tigers, was finally defeated.
In this clip, Mariana examines their most enduring legacy -- the invention of the suicide bomber vest, which the Tamil Tigers used to execute more suicide attacks Hamas and Hezbollah combined.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days... more
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Vanguard executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi returned from a week overseas to find his office nearly empty -- because Vanguard is in full production for a new series of episodes. Get an update from Adam about his upcoming story and what Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller are working on.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi returned from a week... more
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Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi goes to a Chongqing market, where alongside Chinese workers he carries massive bundles of clothing from the street up to a retail store.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi goes to a Chongqing market, where alongside... more
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Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi visits a young married couple in Chongqing as they settle into their first home. They discuss how owning property has become the indicator of real adulthood and success in China.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi visits a young married couple in Chongqing as... more
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Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi travels to Japan to investigate the growing integration of robots into everyday life -- from working as receptionists to providing comfort to the elderly.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi travels to Japan to investigate the growing... more
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Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi sits down with the director of Japan's Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro, and explores his lifelike robots in action.
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Vanguard correspondent Adam Yamaguchi sits down with the director of Japan's... more
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