Dr. Ian Smith shows how to make your own hand sanitizer with three ingredients

 

Screenshot: Rachel Ray Show

 

Right now, many people feel they are unprotected from the coronavirus because they can’t find hand sanitizer at their local stores. The shelves are empty.

No need to worry anymore. What did people do before someone invented a hand sanitizer and bottled it? Many people made their own with a few ingredients you probably have at home.

Rachel Ray invited Dr. Ian Smith to her show recently to show the public how to make a hand sanitizer with three ingredients. FYI, Dr. Smith says the right sanitizer should consist of at least 60% alcohol because alcohol kills the coronavirus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has added this video to its YouTube Channel.

Here’s what you need:

• Rubbing alcohol (99% alcohol)
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Essential Oil (Lavender, Rose, Orange, etc.)
• Funnel
• Small plastic spray bottle

 

WASH YOUR HANDS FOR 20-30 SECONDS

Dr. Smith recommends that the best prevention against the coronavirus is washing your hands. Wash the palms and top of your hands, and make sure you have a good lather.

Newsrooms need a Plan B to keep employees safe from the coronavirus but continue to keep the public informed

CBS News was caught off guard when two employees tested positive for the coronavirus. The New York Post reported CBS News managers had to think quick on how to get the news on the air, but also look out for the safety of the rest of their employees.

Broadcasting giant CBS ordered its staff in two Manhattan offices to work from home after two employees tested positive for coronavirus Wednesday, the network announced.

The network will be closing its main East Coast production hub — the CBS Broadcast Center, at 524 West 57th Street, and its nearby property at 555 West 57th Street — for disinfecting following the positive COVID-19 results.

All employees forced to work remotely for the next two days, according to a memo sent by CBS News President Suzan Zirinsky.

SET UP A PLAN B NOW, DECIDE WHO CAN WORK FROM HOME OR IN THE FIELD

News managers around the country should be taking precautions now to keep the newsroom functioning but also employees safe. As a reporter, I am always out and about and can take my own precautions, and as a freelancer, I write my stories from home or where ever I set up my laptop.

Journalists who work outside like photographers and reporters don’t have to go to the newsroom. As long as we have phones and laptops, we can work independently and report to the newsroom from wherever.

News managers cannot wait for the coronavirus to reach their newsrooms. Start planning who will work inside the newsroom and who can work from home. This will probably help parents who may have their children at home because some schools are closing down.

The goal is to keep employees safe, but also keep the gathering of news going. The public need us, but if we get sick, we can’t do our jobs.

Have a Plan B already? Let us know in the comments.

Anderson Cooper unleashes on Blagojevich who ignored 3,000 clemency cases when he was Governor

Screenshot: CNN

This had to be some of the best television I’ve seen in a long time. Former Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich thought he was going on CNN to show viewers that he was a changed man, a man who thought of criminal justice reform. He asked CNN anchor Anderson Cooper to join him in reforming the criminal justice system because of the over sentencing of Black and Latinos.

Cooper wasn’t having any of the former Governor’s talk. Cooper reminded Blagojevich that when he was Governor, he ignored 3,000 clemency petitions that landed on his desk. These were cases of many people of color behind bars.

Anderson Cooper is a legend. pic.twitter.com/4YYwmJVF2a

— Ian Sams (@IanSams) February 22, 2020

Cooper to Blagojevich:

Because when you were actually in power and actually Governor you could have helped thousand of people with clemency and you blew it off!

Politicians, even those who have done prison time, need to remember, a good journalist, is always prepared with the facts.

 

Rand Paul makes a run for it, dodging questions from NY1 Reporter asking about 9/11 Fund Blocking

Screenshot: @NY1

Here is how you interview a politician who doesn’t want to stop to answer questions on something he has done. NY1 reporter, Jeevan Vittal tried to get answers out of Senator Rand Paul who blocked the swift passage of a bill funding medical care for 9/11 first responders.

Paul got nasty, but Vittal did not give up and neither did his photographer.

Our @JVittalTV on Thursday questioned Kentucky Senator Rand Paul about his objection to an attempt to quickly pass a bill ensuring the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund never runs out of money. Here is video of their exchange. pic.twitter.com/Dxx3yEnGlp

— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) July 18, 2019

 

Vittal was calm, cool and professional. In the end, the Senator made himself look bad.

Should the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Department in Arkansas fire a deputy who shot a small dog on private property? Graphic video

Screenshot: Twitter @catiejwoodson

Let me just say this video is very hard to watch.  KARK-TV’s news director, Austin Kellerman   posted on LinkedIn about an Arkansas deputy who shot a small dog:

This disturbing video is sparking outrage on social media. What we know: a deputy in Central Arkansas shot a small dog Friday during what authorities labeled an aggressive animal call.

KFSM 5 News reported:

The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office received a call about an aggressive dog in the Shiloh Estates subdivision in Conway on Friday night and sent a deputy to the scene. During the incident, the deputy fired his weapon at the dog.

The “aggressive” dog the deputy feared and shot was a small chihuahua. Again this video is hard to watch.

Officer in Conway AR shot a innocent dog on private property without a warrant! just a stray dog wanting attention and barking like any other didn’t even kill the dog just left it to suffer. Total bullshit. Prayers to the owner who just lost their dog:( pic.twitter.com/lXYKk06ehG

— Catie (@catiejwoodson) January 5, 2019

Today the deputy is suspended with pay.  The Faulkner Sheriff’s Department is investigating. FYI, the homeowner attempted to get the officer’s name and badge number, but the deputy covered the number on his badge.

Screenshot: Twitter @catiejwoodson

Another officer showed up and told the homeowner that the deputy “had the right to protect himself” against the small dog. The Sheriff’s department issued a statement on its Facebook page, and it has gotten a lot of angry responses.

 

Screenshot: Facebook

None of this looks good for the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Department and people on Facebook and Twitter are letting the Sheriff know they’re not happy that a innocent dog was shot and the deputy just left her there to die.

Sheriff Ryals I’m a strong, emphatic supporter of law enforcement. That being said, after reviewing the video it’s appearent this is not a shooting of self defense or to protect the public from immenint danger. This was a result of someone losing their self control and acting with aggression to assert their dominance. Anything less than charges of animal cruelty and allowing this to be settled in a court of law will not allow true justice to be served.

Another said:

This officer is sick and should be fired before he can and will harm another human out of spite, obviously a very sick and twisted soul.

And yet another posted:

How about TRAINING the police officers better how to deal with animals. Although it does NOT seem he was ACTUALLY threatened by the dog….yes, it was more like he was being impulsive and spiteful. He should be fired… this is NOT the type of individual I would want walking around with a gun or with any sense that he is in charge of anything or anyone.

The dog called Reeses survived. It’s still confusing who owns the dog or who is taking care of her.  A GoFundMe account has been set up to pay for Reeses medical bills and care. Here’s hoping Reeses finally finds a forever family. The person who set up the GoFundMe claims Reeses was abandoned by a former neighbor.

This is Reese’s the Poor dog that was shot. pic.twitter.com/YpRg0HJt2c

— Catie (@catiejwoodson) January 5, 2019

Keep up with what the public has to say to the sheriff’s department on their Facebook page. Stay tuned.

Why would Geraldo Rivera post his “private” moment with Trump on Twitter today?

I opened my Twitter to find a smiling Geraldo Rivera posing with President Trump on midterm election day. Rivera claimed he had a “private” moment with the president in Cleveland, but it was so “private” he had to post it for the world to see on Twitter.

Screenshot: Rivera Twitter  

Photos like this send the wrong message. What did it say to the public?  His critics on Twitter believe the veteran journalist is bias and a supporter of the Republican Party. Rivera may disagree, but as the cliché goes “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

Rivera knows better. He allowed his ego to get in the way of his job as a journalist. He had to let everyone know he was hanging out with his buddy on midterm election day. It also doesn’t help that he works at Fox News that leans to the right.

I’ve said it before,  journalists should not be posing with any politicians even if they are friends. It is our job to make sure we have balanced coverage without bias every time we cover a story.

Rivera needs a refresher course on the SPJ Code of Ethics:

Act Independently: The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public. Journalists should avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

As journalists we can always learn from other’s mistakes. Rivera gave me another photo I can use to teach student journalists WHAT NOT TO DO on the job.

Check out my article, Why journalists should not be taking selfies with political candidates.  Also, it’s always a good idea to know the SPJ Code of Ethics. 

Support 15 of the best nonprofit news sites #NationalNonprofitDay

There are many nonprofit news sites that are flushing out wrongdoers, revealing scams, and giving a voice to many communities ignored by other media outlets. They count on donations to stay in business. On this National Nonprofit Day, please donate what it would cost you to buy a cup of coffee. Every amount, small or large, does make a difference. Here are 15 of my favorite sites. Check them out.

Centro de Periodismo Investigativo

The Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI) is a non-profit entity created in 2007 by journalist Omaya Sosa Pascual, former president of the Overseas Press Club, and journalist and lawyer Oscar J. Serrano, former president of the Association of Journalists of Puerto Rico. It promotes access to information for the people of Puerto Rico through three channels: investigative journalism, litigation and journalistic training. Donate

ProPublica

ProPublica is an American nonprofit organization based in New York City. It is a nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Founded in 2007. 501(c)(3).

Center for Investigative Reporting

The Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit news organization based in Emeryville, California, and has conducted investigative journalism since 1977

Honolulu Civil Beat

A news outlet in Hawaii dedicated to public affairs reporting. Its mission is to engage and educate the community on important public issues through in-depth reporting, explanatory and investigative journalism, analysis and commentary.

The Texas Tribune

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit media organization in Texas. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it aims to promote civic engagement through original, explanatory journalism and public events.  Donate

Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism is a nonprofit investigative news organization housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Donate

The Connecticut News Project, Inc.

In 2009, a small group of Connecticut residents, concerned about the decline in watchdog journalism, formed the Connecticut News Project, Inc. A few months later, after securing start-up funding and hiring some veteran journalists, CNP launched The Connecticut Mirror, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet with a very clear mission: Produce deep reporting on government policies and politics, to become an invaluable resource for anyone who lives, works or cares about Connecticut, and to hold our policymakers accountable for their decisions and actions.

Florida Bulldog

Investigative news is in peril in South Florida. Investigative reporting uncovers injustice, exposes corruption and holds those in public decision-making positions accountable for their actions.

The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting is an independent, nonprofit newsroom devoted to educating the public about crucial issues in the Midwest with a special focus on agribusiness and related topics such as government programs, environment and energy.

MinnPost

MinnPost is a nonprofit, nonpartisan enterprise whose mission is to provide high-quality journalism for people who care about Minnesota.

The Lens

The Lens aims to engage and empower the residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. It provides the information and analysis necessary to advocate for more accountable and just governance.

Chicago Defender

The Chicago Defender is the oldest and most respected African-American newspaper in Chicago. Founded in 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the Chicago Defender celebrated its 111th Anniversary in 2016. It was recognized nationally as the second most widely read and best African-American Newspaper by Nielson and Essence Survey 2014.

Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting 

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom based in Louisville, Ky. We produce investigative journalism that affects you, your neighborhood, your Commonwealth. Our mission is to protect society’s most vulnerable citizens, expose wrongdoing in the public and private sectors, increase transparency in government and hold leaders accountable. We promise to dig for the truth without fear or favor, cut through red tape and spark public conversation.

The Intercept

After NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden came forward with revelations of mass surveillance in 2013, journalists Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras, and Jeremy Scahill decided to found a new media organization dedicated to the kind of reporting those disclosures required: fearless, adversarial journalism. They called it The Intercept.

Institute for Nonprofit News

The Institute for Nonprofit News is a non-profit consortium of journalism organizations. The organization promotes nonprofit investigative and public service journalism through its association of member entities.  It was founded in 2009.

 

Cox Media Group plans to shutdown Mundo Hispánico, several journalists face losing their jobs

Update 4/27/2018
Cox Media Group posted a statement on the company website about plans to sell Mundo Hispanico. It was posted the day I posted this blog.

—–

Sources with Mundo Hispánico say they need to start looking for jobs, because the digital site faces a shutdown. They got the bad news in an email Monday morning from the President of the Cox Media Group (CMG) which owns Mundo Hispánico.

The announcement came from Kim Guthrie, President of Cox Media Group. Her email partly reads…

CMG is focused on overcoming the disruption in our industry and competing to win in the markets we serve. To achieve that, we are focusing our resources on businesses that have clear paths to profitability and long-term growth.

She goes on to say…

…After careful consideration, we’ve decided to sell or sunset both the Mundo Hispanico and Southern Kitchen businesses.

Her email mentioned CMG is looking for the right buyers.

…we will work to find the right owners for Mundo Hispanico and Southern Kitchen. If we are unable to find a buyer, we plan to close Southern Kitchen and the national Vertical portion of Mundo Hispanico by the end of the quarter.

You can read the rest of the email provided to me from a few sources.

Reporters in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Orlando, and one in North Carolina are expected to lose their jobs. There are also other journalists at the headquarters in Atlanta who will also be shown the door.

According to a source, the national correspondents for the digital site could be out of work by the end of June and the ones in Atlanta may get a few more months on the job.

📹Suscríbete a nuestro canal de YouTube:
🔴Mundo Hispánico: https://t.co/iL86N6N7TG pic.twitter.com/2udJzGPfKL

— MundoHispánico (@MundoHispanico) February 23, 2018

I hope a good media company buys Mundo Hispánico, because the digital site has a good following on social media. More than four million followers on Facebook. 

I have contacted CMG for a response. I’ll keep you posted.

If you have any job openings please send them my way.  Let’s help these people out before the possible shutdown.

Other sources:
Cox Media Group

Mundo Hispánico

Photos of Empowerment of Women and Girls in India and the U.S.

One photo can tell you the strength of a woman. Can you imagine what 300 can do?

More than 300 high-quality photos are being shared with the public. The images are of women and girls in two regions of the world: Bihar, India and Louisiana and Mississippi in the United States. It’s a positive look into their lives and what they are doing in their communities.

Screenshot: Images of Empowerment

The photos are available on an online photo database thanks to the partnership between the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, and The Verbatim Agency.

The collection gives a positive look into the lives of women and girls who are located in different parts of the world. What they have in common are their leadership qualities. They are in decision-making roles, accessing and providing quality reproductive health care and are actively involved in their communities.

All the photos were taken by two world-renowned women photographers, Nina Robinson and Paula Bronstein.

Each photo tells a story. Look at all 300 images. Go to >> Online Data Base

Screenshot: Images of Empowerment

 

FEEDBACK ON PROJECT

Christopher Cox, Director of Youth Programs for Teen Health Mississippi said,

It is inspiring to hear the stories of these young women and to see them in action by way of the Raise Her Voice collection

Aidan Sullivan, CEO, Verbatim added

The potential of imagery to provoke conversation and drive change is unquestionable.

 

SOURCES

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

To view and download the new Images of Empowerment photos, available under Creative Commons licensing: visit www.imagesofempowerment.org/Bihar for images from the Bihar region of India; visit www.imagesofempowerment.org/UnitedStates for images from Louisiana and Mississippi in the southern United States. To read the photo essay, Raising Her Voice, visit www.packard.org/2018/03/raising-her-voice.

You’re fired! The two words that changed my life for the better

Ten years ago today I was fired.

After almost fourteen years at KDFW-TV in Dallas, I was let go.

But guess what? I wasn’t devastated, hurt, sad or even afraid about my future. I didn’t think the world had ended.

The Fox station took my job, but not my talent, years of experience, many awards and my circle of trusted friends.

I knew I was going to be OK.

THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

If you ever get fired, remember you’ll be fine. Don’t blame yourself. I sure didn’t.

Don’t be embarrassed to tell people. It’s part of life.

Don’t be afraid to be judged. I never worried about what people thought of me losing my job.

Surround yourself with positive people you trust.

Stay positive and set goals.

Get out there and share your talent.

IT’S A NEW BEGINNING FOR SOMETHING BETTER

Getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to me. The opportunities I found and created have been endless.

I decided on four main goals: mentor, volunteer, consult and lead. Those goals have led me to jobs, opportunities and a paycheck. Here is some of what I have accomplished so far in ten years:

-I’m a successful freelance reporter/writer/producer. AARP was my first client.
-Served as Vice President of Online for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists better known as NAHJ. Volunteer position for four years. I sat on board for a total of six years.
-Currently serve as Vice President for the Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth Chapter
-Founder of Wise Latinas Linked, the largest Latina networking group on Facebook and LinkedIn with combined membership of 10,000 women.
-Founder of Latinas in Journalism, the largest Latina journalism group of 1,800 women on Facebook.
-Public speaker on Latina and journalism issues. My favorite is “Surviving the Unexpected.”
-I’m a media and diversity watchdog. I fight for the rights of all journalists and push for more diversity in newsrooms across the country.
-Learned how to build websites from scratch.
-Learned how to code. Yes I know CSS and HTML.
-Continue to mentor girls in high school.
-Continue to mentor dozens of journalists at different levels in their careers.
-Served as social media manager for three years for NAHJ while VP of Online.
-Social media columnist for Latina Style magazine, a national publication.
-Social media consultant for nonprofits.
-Video producer for nonprofits. Thanks Rafael McDonnell for my first job.
-Offered $10,000 scholarship to get my Masters in Journalism at the University of North Texas. I am in my first year.
-Traveled to Israel on a journalism fellowship with Fuente Latina, a nonprofit news site.
-Serve currently and in the past as moderator and panelist on numerous journalism and social media panels around the country.
-Nominated in 2015 for Lone Star Emmy for “Best TV Commentator.”
-News consultant. Thanks Charlie Haldeman for my first gig teaching reporters how to report.
-Awarded two national awards for “Social Networking Leader” in 2011 and 2013 by Latinos in Social Media also known as LATISM.

Gathering with Wise Latinas in Dallas

KEEP GOING

I keep thinking how much I would have missed in life, stuck in the same newsroom, covering another crime or telling viewers as I stood on the side of the road “It’s cold out here.”

Don’t get me wrong, TV news is important, but sometimes you need a shove out the door to find something better. Today I continue helping people and telling stories.

More importantly, I also got to see my son grow up and go to college. I don’t know how many journalists have missed seeing their kids grow up. I’m lucky my son and I have great memories of me picking him up from junior high and going to McDonalds to talk.

I may not make the six-figure salary I earned during my TV days in Dallas, but then I was never motivated by money. My experiences as a TV reporter and a fired reporter have been priceless.

Thank you to John Boos, the best husband in the world. Thank you to some of my former coworkers like Saul Garza, Todd Eastman, and many others who stood by my side. Thank you to Rafael Olmeda who was president of NAHJ at the time and defended me. Thanks to many NAHJ members and a gazillion friends and fans who have been my support system since my firing. You helped me survive. Gracias!

Freedom feels good! Happy Anniversary to me.

FYI if you want the back story on why I was fired, go to Unclebarky.com. It’s was unfair, but I’m still standing.