Many of us in the journalism industry have been hesitant to embrace new technologies because of the sometimes negative impact on our jobs.  Television stations have cut jobs or permanetly eliminated positions after company executives found ways to have computers perform tasks instead.  Many photographer positions have been cut over the years with the development of lighter, easier to use cameras that could be operated by reporters.  And now, with camera and video phones in everyone’s back pocket, there are more and more “public” journalists.

All of these changes have had me and many others concerned about the direction of the industry, but after seeing images from the protests in Iran, I think my opinion is changing somewhat.

If it weren’t for camera phones and the Internet, the world might not be witness to the violent events that have followed the presidential election in Iran.  Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are the vehicles for freedom of speech for the Iranian demonstrators.  The photos and videos are powerful.  If you haven’t checked them out yet, you should.

I also find it encouraging that computer engineers from across the globe are doing what they can to break down the electronic walls put up by the repressive Iranian government.   I hope the violence will stop, but if it doesn’t I hope the Iranian people will always have a way of telling their stories to the world.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been convicted of crimes in North Korea and sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp.  The United States reportedly will “engage in all possible channels” to win their release.  In the meantime, this article gives us a glimpse of what the young women will endure while they serve out their time.

American journalist Roxana Saberi has been released from an Iranian prison.  She is with her family and soon will be heading home.  It is certainly cause for celebration.  And it is my hope that the publicity generated by her case will continue to shed light on the imprisonment of other journalist in Iran and other countries.  This article from The Huffington Post explores the issue.

This is in response to Jackie’s blog “13.1 reasons to freak out”.  I also ran the Vancouver Half Marathon on Sunday.  Over the past three months I’ve been asking myself, “Why did I let Jackie talk me into doing this?”  After I ran the Chicago Marathon last October I thought I was done with long races for a while.  Well, I am happy to report the day after the race I am now thinking to myself, “I am so happy Jackie pressured me into running.”  It was a great run, beautiful course and awesome weather.  Even though I ran a few minutes slower than my last half marathon, I am proud of myself for participating.

And I can’t sign off without having a little fun at Jackie’s expense.  In her blog she wrote extensively about “the hill” and her desire to check it out before the race.  Well, I was with Jackie and her fiance on Saturday during their “recon” mission.  We drove through Stanley Park just to look at the daunting Prospect Point and Jackie missed the whole thing!  She was on the phone getting a restaurant recommendation and didn’t even notice.  But we both noticed it the next day, tackling the incline at about 8 miles into the run!  Phew… glad that’s over.

I am so lucky to travel to and from work each day without the fear of being killed because of my job.  It seems crazy to me that someone would be threatened simply for using their voice.  In Afghanistan, a woman by the name of Humaira Habib, started Radio Sahar at the age of 19.  The radio station carries women’s community programming related to women’s rights.  Humaira has been threatened by authorities in Herat where the station broadcasts and has seen female colleagues murdered for becoming journalist.  Despite such a violent environment Radio Sahar presses on, broadcasting to 700,000 people each week.  Go Humaira!– and all female journalists in Afghanistan.  Thank you for your bravery and your VOICE!

I learned about Humaira in an article in “World Pulse” magazine.  You can read about her and other global issues facing women at their website.

I’ve just returned from a trip to the other Washington.  I enjoyed all the standard D.C. sites and attractions– visiting monuments, parks, historic homes and museums and walking about 10 miles each day!

One of the must-sees on my list was the new Newseum, a museum devoted to journalists and journalism.  But you don’t have to be a part of the profession to appreciate the exhibits.

Some of the highlights include the Berlin Wall gallery with a three-story guard tower and eight sections of the original wall, an interactive newsroom, a Pulitzer Prize photographs gallery, a journalists memorial devoted to reporters who have died while covering the news and a September 11th gallery.  I had no idea the 9/11 exhibit would have such a profound affect on me.  I thought I had heard all of the stories and seen all of the footage, but just reading the timeline and looking at a piece of the Twin Towers had me choked up.

One of the most simple yet amazing exhibits was the “Today’s Front Pages Gallery”.  Each day the museum staff prints the front pages from a newspaper in each of the 50 states and several countries from around the globe.  It was incredibly fascinating to see what “made the news” in different parts of the world.  In another section of the Newseum, you could even read a newspaper dating back to the American Revolution and beyond.  It is shocking how much language and news styles have changes since then and a stark reminder of how much the news business continues to evolve and change.

And while the museum may be devoted to journalism and its impact on the world, it’s also a reflection of all of our lives.  Journalism is, after all, the documentation of events that will eventually become history.

A few days ago I was watching “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO and to my surprise his first guest was Joe the Plumber.  This guy is still around?  Apparently he has a new book, a new website and is on a campaign for America.  I’ll give it to him… he held his own with Maher but isn’t Joe’s 15 minutes of fame over yet?  Maybe he should hook-up with another instant celebrity, Octupulets mom, Nadya Suleman and go into hiding.

Today I read an article about 27 year old Aaron Schock, a Republican congressman who began his political career at the age of 19.  Too bad it took a celebrity website/tv station for many people, including me, to discover him.

I lived in Laredo, Texas for four years, leaving the area about ten years ago.  At the time, the city had its share of drug-related problems but nothing on the violent scale that is griping the city now.  I remember Laredo as a friendly place with a small town feel despite it being one of the largest land ports in the country.  I crossed the border a couple of times each week, sometimes with friends, other times by myself, with no apprehension whatsoever.  But now feuding drug cartels have basically shut down the border, keeping Americans from going to Mexico for business, or to shop and eat in the mercado.  Friends of mine from Nuevo Laredo have shut down their stores and businesses in recent years because no one will cross the border.

This report from CNN is worth the read and the video is definitely worth watching.  It demonstrates how Mexico’s problems are becoming our problems.  Sadly, the situation isn’t any better in El Paso, Texas, another border city that I called home for many years.

Recently many news organizations have been striving to offer more good news to listeners, viewers and readers.  Some news agencies are getting it right, others are just annoying in their coverage.

Running a report that 91.9% of Americans are working, instead of reporting the 8.1% unemployment rate for February 2009 is just plain stupid.  I find that kind of coverage condescending in its tone.

On the other hand… NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams started a new series this past week, called “Making a Difference.”  It is a well produced, well written and well told feature.  NBC asked people to email good news stories and their inbox has been inundated ever since.  Each night Williams reads a few emails and then runs one story.  Some of this week’s stories include “A One-man Stimulus”, about a pharmacist who gave all of his employees $700 to spend in the community and for charity; and “A Free Ride Gets Cancer Patients Through Hard Times”, about a man who lost his wife to cancer and is now using her retirement funds to offer free rides to the hospital for chemotherapy patients.

I have thoroughly enjoyed these stories.  Albeit short, they’re just enough to boost my spirits and leave me with a feeling that despite the headlines, not all is bad in the world.