RamblingDyna

The National Ethnic Media Expo is over. My company (Inquirer.net) won best media kit. I met some talented journalists outside of California and re-united with my journalism professor. Now it's time to put the business cards away and enjoy some real fried chicken from Atlanta! On my last night in Atlanta, I went to Mary Mac’s Tea Room in midtown for dinner. Political dignitaries and celebrities (President Bill Clinton and actor Richard Gere) have frequented this 60+ year old landmark. I’ve eaten at so called soul food joints in San Francisco, of various price levels, even the ones that get rave reviews but I was never impressed. Either the chicken was too greasy, overcooked, or bland, or the heavy breading/crust was too hard or dense. The first thing that caught my attention of Mary Mac’s was the wall to wall framed photographs, black/ white, and colored. It looked like a museum full of history of the popular faces that dined at this very simple and hospitable restau...

My company, Inquirer.net, a 24/7 Philippine online news site, beat 80 other media and marketing organizations at a national ethnic media event in Atlanta recently. Click on title link for my complete news story. P.S. I just signed up on www.condron.us, an online blog channel surfing site which posts the latest blogs. Instead of sifting through blog posts, blog entries are shown for a couple of seconds consecutively. Like a remote control, just click on the post to capture and read in its entirety.

The last day of the National Ethnic Media Expo was the day where publishers and media folks display their work and network. There were approximately 80 tables showcasing newspapers, magazines, and brochures of the various ethnic publications. Television and radio were also present, as well as online where my company was the minority. This is my first attendance and my company’s fourth. I heard this year was a smaller turnout compared to past expos, especially last year’s New York, which had the largest attendance. But it’s still encouraging that know that tight economy did not quell or discourage editorial passion. I didn’t think I would know anyone at this national event. Was I surprised when I saw my college journalism professor, Juan Gonzales, present a video that chronicled 200 year history of Latino papers in the U.S. His table was located across from my company's table, Inquirer.net, and my boss pointed me out to him as one of his former students. When he ca...

I took a picture with CNN's 360 anchor Anderson Cooper! Well ...I took a picture with a poster of him reporting in the field but it’s good enoug h for me. Anyway, he’s based in New York City and he ne ver re turns my call. :o) I did witness, w ith about 50 other ethnic journalists, Dr . Sanjay Gupta, CN N’s Chief Medical Correspondent and Brain Surgeon, do a taping at CNN's Atlanta headqu arters. The free ($12 value) two ho ur tour was part of my two day ticket to the National Ethnic Media Expo and Awards event at the Hyatt Hotel. Thousands of ethnic news organizations reach out to over 60 million ethnic Americans acc o rding t o a recent poll conducted by Ne w America Media (NAM), the main organizer of the annual event. Even as print newspapers continue to shut down or shrink its staff, it's great to know that ethnic newspapers continue to survive. I hear time and time again from ethnic journalists from California to Michigan that the Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese...

My company, Inquirer.net, had a booth at two Asian festivals last month in celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month. We baked in record temperature weather in San Francisco Civic Center –Little Saigon and the next day in Sacramento, Old Sacramento district. You can read my complete festival news stories on: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view/20090522-206481/20000-join-Sacramentos-Pacific-Festival http://globalnation.inquirer.net/features/features/view/20090525-207041/Filipinos_join_San_Francisco_Asian_Festival I attended similar cultural events before for fun. Professionally, I managed and worked the Sega of America booth at professional trade shows such as the Licensing Show in New York. Totally (first time typing and saying "totally") two different scenes, environments and subcultures. I definitely found the Asian festivals more fun so it didn’t feel like work. I interviewed two professional athletes, Mark Munoz (“Philippine Wrecking Machine”), an up and c...

Click on above title link for complete news story. See my video on INQUIRER.net VDO - Inquirer.net Video caption should read "Sad Day for Same-Sex Marriage Supporters" It was an eerie moment as I waited for a half hour behind a barricade with hundreds of other people including the media in front of the steps of the California Supreme Courthouse building in San Francisco. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting for 10am, when seven judges announce their decision of whether same-sex marriage is valid in California. About 30 community organizers and representatives had the opportunity to the be first ones to get the news as they lined up on the courtroom steps, cornered off from the masses . Around 10 minutes before the closing bell, they entered the building. 10:02, 10:03, 10:04. Not a word. The crowd and cameras started to get restless jostling for a closer look or ear. Then I saw one of the men who entered the building step out and did a thumbs down as he shaked his head. Within ...

I've been soooo busy these past two weeks that I neglected my blog. Like a plant without water and proper sunlight, my blog has laid dormant in the dark lone corner. Time to rejuvenate and give it a kick start! Ding dong...Bueller? Bueller? I'll start by summarizing why I've been away. Two weeks ago I played SF city tour guide host to my friend (and former Sega of Japan colleague) who visited me from Tokyo for four days. Half the time I was working so thank god she knew how to take public transportation by herself (Bay Area Rapid Traing (BART) and the MUNI cable car). Since s he stayed in the heart of Union Square, we walked through Chinatown all way to Northbeach. Strange, but for a Friday dinner night, Chinatown wasn't busy with the usual foot and car traffic. Northbeach was pretty oh hum as well. Yup, it's the effects of the poor economy. Last Tuesday , I was in downtown San Mateo for dinner and it was a ghost town. A sign that more people are making their...