The ONLY active voice for American Arab Journalists.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Foods of Chicago Features Arab American recipes and writers

Gloria Baraks
Vice President/Marketing
G. Bradley Publishing, Inc.
112 W. Jefferson/Suite 122
St. Louis, MO 63122
Cell phone 314-651-9079
Office phone 314-966-8336
Fax 314-966-5110
E-mail marketing@gbradleypublishing.com
Web - gbradleypublishing.com



THE FOODS OF CHICAGO

A Delicious History

Chicago was built by immigrants, and in creating this urban behemoth these newcomers they got their hands dirty. First, they toiled to clear and rebuild the city from the charred remains of the Great Fire. They labored in the awesome and fearsome vast Union Stockyards and faced the fiery furnaces of the mighty steel mills. Many took pride in their workmanship raising and supporting the impressive Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893.

These immigrants came to a Lake Michigan shoreline paved not with gold, but with opportunity. They raised families, taught their children and built divinely inspired houses of worship. They opened the door for people of every nation and culture to come and share the intense drama of life in a growing city.

But even as they aspired to become fully American, these immigrants did not leave everything of their old worlds behind them. They brought memories, photographs, languages and faiths. They also brought Grandmas recipes, the cherished taste of home reminding them of the love and warmth of their roots. Indeed, they were defined by what they put on the table.

This publication is a companion piece to the television program The Foods of Chicago: A Delicious History, produced by WTTW11 Chicagos public television station. WTTW producer/writer Dan Protess and host Geoffrey Baer see the program and book as a celebration of Chicagos diversity. Dan summed it up perfectly when he said, I really cant think of a better window into Chicagos distinct communities than food.

The Foods of Chicago: A Delicious History is a wonderful blend. a book like no other. Much like a recipe that offers delightful combinations to entice the senses, this book is a delectable mixture of culinary delights and reflections on the rich cultural history of Chicagos diverse communities. You and your family will enjoy and cherish this book for years to come.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Afghan Chronicles Chicago Premiere Thursday, December 4

Afghan Chronicles Chicago Premiere Thursday, December 4, 6-8pm
International House at the University of Chicago
1414 E. 59th Street

In partnership with the Canadian Consulate of Chicago and the International House at the University of Chicago Free AdmissionReservations required. Click here to RSVP.Call 312 222 7871 for more information Join the Freedom Museum, Canadian Consulate of Chicago and the University of Chicago's Global Voices series for a screening of the riveting film Afghan Chronicles. This documentary explores the expanding role of media in Afghanistan and its contributions to the country’s efforts to rebuild after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Filmmaker Dominic Morissette will be on hand for a short discussion after the film.

Friday, November 14, 2008

MidEast Youth TV relaunches at www.MEYTV.com

We have been working extremely hard on improving Mideast Youth and its services. After launching the beta version of MEY TV, our video-sharing community, more than a year ago, we have come a long way! So we invite you to check our newly developed video platform here:Mideast Youth TV

The Internet has transformed the video medium into an increasingly powerful and interactive form of communication, and allowed for the circumvention of censors. Recognizing this power, Mideast Youth TV was created in order to provide a forum for worthy videos to be shown and distributed.

Through this space, we would like to recognize and support important documentaries, video op-eds, independent regional filmmaking, music, and more, while welcoming controversy.

Although the Internet abounds with video sharing sites, censorship of controversial content has become apparent in them, and we felt it was crucial to finally have a place we call our own, where we can showcase our videos and those of others without having to protest their wrongful removal.

In order to start publishing videos, you don't necessarily have to register! Our website supports Open ID. That means that if you have an AIM account, a WordPress.com account, or Yahoo, Blogger, Livejournal, or more, you can simply sign in with one of those accounts and start posting videos/comments. Once you log in you would notice many great features on the site and we hope that you will take good advantage of them.

We hope that you like what we did with the site and that our hard work has paid off. Don't forget to spread the word about it!

-- Esra'a Al ShafeiMideastYouth.com, Director

Monday, November 10, 2008

Jordanian film producer in Chicago Nov. 18

MEDIA CONTACT:
Natalie Campbell Lisa Xia
Phone: 312.744.2172 Phone: 312.744.9181
E-mail: Natalie.campbell@cityofchicago.org E-mail: lisa.xia@cityofchicago.org

First-ever Jordanian Independent Film, Captain Abu Raed, Debuts in Chicago Nov. 18
Guest Appearance by Film’s Writer, Director and Producer

(November 11, 2008) – The Chicago debut of Captain Abu Raed, the first-ever independent film to come out of Jordan, will be hosted by the Amman Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International during Arab American Heritage Month on Nov. 18, 2008. Already a winner of numerous awards at Sundance and other festivals, the film will be screened at Columbia College Chicago with a guest appearance and question and answer session by its renowned writer, director and producer, Amin Matalqa.

Winner of the 2008 Sundance Best Audience Award, the 2008 Helsinki International Film Fest Best Audience Award, the 2008 Seattle International Film Fest Best Director Award, and Jordan's entry for 2009 Oscar's Best Foreign Film Category, Captain Abu Raed is about an elderly airport janitor mistaken for a pilot by the children in his neighborhood. Seeing the grim realities that surround them all inspires him to play to the children's assumptions and try to make a difference in their lives.

The Amman Committee has facilitated the inaugural screening of this ground-breaking Jordanian film as part of its mission to support projects relating to urban affairs, education, culture, economic development, social services and fundraising. In addition, since the Sister Cities signing in June 2004, the Committee has dedicated itself to fostering meaningful social service and humanitarian exchanges, raising more than $100,000 in 2008 with the assistance of HRH Princess Ghida Talal and HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan for the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman.
The screening is free, and RSVPs are required. For additional information and to RSVP, contact Adrienne Tongate at Adrienne.Tongate@cityofchicago.org. More information about the film can be found at www.captainaburaed.com.

Event Details:
November 18
Columbia College Chicago1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor, Film Row Cinema. Reception at 7 pm and movie screening at 8 pm.

###

About CSCIP
The Chicago Sister Cities International Program, under the auspices of the City of Chicago, provides leadership to develop, manage, and coordinate comprehensive programs and projects with Chicago’s sister cities. It aims to increase international trade, promote economic development and support exchanges in the fields of culture, education, medicine, social services, environment, and technology with its sister cities for the benefit of the City of Chicago, its residents and businesses. For more information about the Chicago Sister Cities International Program, please call (312) 744-2172 or visit www.chicagosistercities.com.

Chicago’s Sister Cities include: Accra, Ghana (1989); Amman, Jordan (2004); Athens Greece (1997); Belgrade, Serbia (2005); Birmingham, England (1993); Busan, Republic of Korea (2007); Casablanca, Morocco (1982); Delhi, India (2001); Durban, South Africa (1997); Galway, Ireland (1997); Gothenburg, Sweden (1987); Hamburg, Germany (1994); Kyiv, Ukraine (1991); Lahore, Pakistan (2007); Lucerne, Switzerland (1998); Mexico City, Mexico (1991); Milan, Italy (1973); Moscow, Russia (1997); Osaka, Japan (1973); Paris, France (1996); Petach Tikva, Israel (1994); Prague, Czech Republic (1990); Shanghai, China (1985); Shenyang, China (1985); Toronto, Canada (1991); Vilnius, Lithuania (1993); and Warsaw, Poland (1960).



Lisa Xia
Chicago Sister Cities International
78 E. Washington St., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL, 60602

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Arab American newspapers increase significantly in past year

This is a mirror post from the al-Sahafiyeen Society of Professional Journalists Arab Journalism Blog at http://www.naaja-us.com/ and http://www.spj.org/blog/blogs/aaj/.

The National Arab American Journalists Association (http://www.naaja-us.com/) monitors the comings and goings of Arab American publications. We are proud to report that the number of Arab American publications (newspaper and magazines) have increased in the past year by the addition of 7 new publications.

The number increased from 81 to 88.

Here is the breakdown of the Sept. 2007 study:


Regional Breakdown of newspapers

Midwest – 29 – (6 States) IL., MI., IND, OH, MN, WI
South – 5 – (2 States) FL., GA.
East – 19 – (8 States) NY, NJ, MD, MA, VA, PA DC, CT
Northwest – 2 – (2 States) OR, WA
West – 26 – (4 States) CA, TX, AZ NV

(Including National Magazines – 11)


Here is the new update as of November 8, 2008:


Regional Breakdown of newspapers

Midwest – 30 – (6 States) IL., MI., IND, OH, MN, WI
South – 7 – (2 States) FL., GA.
East – 19 – (8 States) NY, NJ, MD, MA, VA, PA DC, CT
Northwest – 2 – (2 States) OR, WA
West – 30 – (5 States) CA, TX, AZ NV, CO

(Including National Magazines – 12)

It also represents an increase of one more US State, from 22 to 23, with the latest state offering an Arab American publication to be Colorado.

The complete breakdown of the statistics are on our web site at http://www.naaja-us.com/.

This is quite a contrast from October 2002, just over a year after Sept. 11 when the number of publications still publishing in the face of rising anti-Arab animosity after the terrorist attack dropping to an all-time low of about 57 newspapers and 8 magazines.

Chicago, for example, prior to Sept. 11, 2001, had seven Arab American publications. In the months after, all but one closed down and remains in publication although with new ownership as of 2006.

We also monitor the number of Arab American radio programs and cable TV programs and we have seen a slight increase in those areas also, although the print media continues to dominate Arab America journalism.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/
http://www.naaja-us.com/