Blogging Black Miami

Vanessa Woodard Byers came to meet with our class today. She started bloggingblackmiami.com for "a South Florida experience from a black perspective." She has spent a lot of time in the Liberty City area and was able to answer questions about stories we are working on, as well as give us story ideas and some valuable contact information.

It seems easy to meet people in Liberty City who are willing to answer questions and give their information if you need to ask anything more. There is no newspaper covering this area, and the neighborhood seems excited to start getting their own little piece of the paper. I haven't met anyone who seemed worried or annoyed that it was a group of white people doing the job.

South Florida Times

We're now officially in with the South Florida Times. A reporter and a photographer came to campus today to sit in on our class and take some pictures. It would have been nice to have more time to talk to them and get their feedback on what we have been doing and what we should be doing, but I think we have a pretty good start with the beginning of some good stories covering current issues in Liberty City as well as some profiles and community information.

JOU 3343 goes to Liberty City

Dr. Preston Marshall, Ken Knight, Bobby Flam, and Dr. Carlton Fisher met with Professor Resiner's reporting class and discussed the city's issues over deep-fried dinner at Jumbo's restaurant last week. Excitement was expressed by these community leaders who hope the Liberty City Link will bring a fresh news perspective to the underrepresented neighborhood they've been fighting to change.

Marshall Davis, directorof the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, was also present and discussed the efforts of the Center in giving their young people options in the community besides violence and crime.

FIU journalism students take notes for the start-up venture, Liberty City Link, a student-run newspaper in cooperation with the South Florida Times that aspires to cover more of Liberty City than drive-bys and drug dealers.

Journalism Students will gain real experience in reporting, writing and starting a newspaper from the ground up as well as meet important people in the media industry of South Florida.

Martin Luther King Parade in Liberty City

Liberty City locals watch from the fenced-in sidewalk of NW 54th St. as the 33rd annual Martin Luther King Parade begins.

Folding tables and barbeques were aplenty at the Martin Luther King Parade in Liberty City this year. Meat on sticks, roasted corn, arepas and hot sausages: fresh food sizzled and smoked along the sidewalks and throughout King Park, where the parade ended and the afternoon activities were scheduled.