Archive for the ‘Internet’ Category
Washington DC Bound
9:30 am By Maegan La Mala · Blogs|Media|Politics|social networking|Washington DC · No Comments
20 May 2012Mala will be in Washington DC for the next two days, as I was selected by Latinos in Social Media (#LATISM) to receive a scholarship to participate in their first Top Blogueras Retreat.
The retreat, sponsored graciously by such outstanding corporations including Johnson & Johnson, Univision, McDonald’s, Mary Kay, Southwest Airlines, Procter and Gamble, Comcast, Fleishman Hillard, Disney/Babble, Macys, Porter Novelli, and Consumer Reports, will include opportunities for bloggers like me, to be mentored. The retreat, organized in partnership with Latina Bloggers Connect, will include a visit to the White House and meeting with such influential advocacy organizations as National Council of la Raza (NCLR).
If all of this sounds like it’s the antithesis of what I’ve been about for my blogging career, it kind of is and that’s precisely why I am going. As a political mami media maker (not a mom blogger, not even just a blogger) I have covered everything from the Latin Grammy Awards, to the presidential debates, to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Our team coverage has included live blogs of Netroots Nation, The Allied Media Conference, and reviews of films, musical acts, congressional votes and always with big uncensored mouths, always unsponsored, unbought. I am attending this blogeura retreat because as I wrote last year on the 6th anniversary of VivirLatino, the Latino blog landscape has changed and continues to change. Many of my media making and rabble rousing friends have stopped because of shift in the accepted definition of “blogger”. Those of us who found ourselves courted in the pre-Obama era, have felt the walls of the non-profit industrial complex and corporate personhood closing in on us. It’s been a struggle for us to continue. So who are considered the top voices and who is not? What are those voices saying and what does that say about the future of truly independent media?
I and by extension, VivirLatino has had a complicated relationship with non-profits, lawmakers, and companies who want parroting instead of critical analysis. I will be the first to admit that I am a bad capitalist and my personal and business finances are essentially one and the same because blogging is more of an extension of who I am than a separate money making venture. This has led to a less than sustainable career but a career/life none the less and for that reason, with many years of experience under my belt, I claim my position on top shamelessly.
Please follow me here on VivirLatino and on twitter accounts : @vivirlatino and @mamitamala as I look at all these issues. And I want to hear what all of you think about the direction of Latin@ blogging and online media.
For more information about the First-Ever Latina Blogger Retreat, visit http://blogueras.latism.org/
Behind the University of Puerto Rico Student Strikes
1:19 pm By BiancaLaureano · Education|Internet|Media|Puerto Rico|youth · 1 Comment
27 Jun 2011As Maegan and I get back into the swing of being back in our respective casitas, here’s a new video that came my wan from Al Jazeera English. They have just posted this video which is a “extra” of Fault Lines. Reporter Zeina Awad discusses how police interaction and violence towards Puerto Rican student protestors heightened when there was less traditional media/press present. Awad shares her experiences being present during demonstrations and police tactics in arresting and isolating some student protestors.
After being at the Allied Media Conference and working online for years, the idea that certain institutions, organizations, and governments think that “press” and “media” are only valid in certain ways is laughable. We knew of these abuses the moment they occurred because of “non-traditional” press and media. Perhaps these are reasons why so many of those institutions/governments/organizations are so against an open internet….
The video is below and in English with no transcript (sorry!)
Fault Lines currently has a story about Puerto Rico and the economy that may be of interest as well.
VL At The Cine: East WillyB
6:39 pm By BiancaLaureano · Arts|Culture|Internet|Media|New York City|Uncategorized · Comments Off
14 Apr 2011
Often when we share what films we’ve reviewed and seen it requires VL readers to dish out some money to get to the theater or wait to rent (or find other ways) to see the film. This is the first time we are reviewing media that is FREE, that you can interact with online and whenever you have access.
East WillyB is a Latino centric web series created by Latinos, produced by Latinos, and casting Latinos. Created over coffee in Brooklny, creators Julia Ahamuda Grob and Yamin Sagel sat down and discussed what they wanted to create, who they wanted to reach, an what messages they wanted to send. Reaching the “new generation of Latinos” who are wired and plugged in, educated, and tired of one-dimensional stereotypes in the media was their focus. They began working on the scripts and character development and created East WillyB. This is a series that will be featured on the web and have various webisodes uploaded each week (so you don’t have to wait a full 7 days to get the next episode!). Each webisode is less than 5 minutes and has a multiplatform appraoch (i.e. animation, comedy, drama, etc.).
Telefono : Suena for More Than Just Calls in POC Communities
9:09 am By Maegan La Mala · Internet|social networking|Tech|Twitter · 3 Comments
14 Jul 2010Last week a report released from the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Center revealed that it was African-American and Latino communities were using their cell phones for more than just calling.
Not only are our communities more likely than whites to have cell phones but we are also more likely than whites to use it to access the internet. From the official summary of the report:
African-Americans and Latinos continue to outpace whites in their use of data applications on handheld devices.
Continuing a trend we first identified in 2009, minority Americans lead the way when it comes to mobile access—especially mobile access using handheld devices. Nearly two-thirds of African-Americans (64%) and Latinos (63%) are wireless internet users, and minority Americans are significantly more likely to own a cell phone than their white counterparts (87% of blacks and Hispanics own a cell phone, compared with 80% of whites). Additionally, black and Latino cell phone owners take advantage of a much wider array of their phones’ data functions compared to white cell phone owners. It is important to note that our data for Hispanics represents English-speaking Hispanics only, as our survey did not provide a Spanish-language option.
Free Musica!
29 Jan 2010My homeboy Brian tweeted a link to 150 FREE Amazon.com MP3 downloads! It really works, and I’ve downloaded songs via Amazon.com before for free. Prior to downloading, if this is your first time, you’ll have to get the Amazon.com Downloader utility which is FREE too and quick to install. Many are samplers, which I personally enjoy because you get several songs from specific genres that you don’t hear on the radio. Some albums by specific artist only have a song or two available for free. Many have the “preview” feature if you want to hear parts of the song before downloading. Yet, becuase I’ve already downloaded the songs and albums I wanted, I’ll share what albums are available that VivirLatino readers may enjoy. They include (but are not limited to):
-Nacional Records Sampler 2009: The Sounds of Latin American Music
-Vanguard Visionaries Series Sampler
-Far Out Recordings-Brazilian Music Sampler
-Tango & Folklore Music of Argentina: Espa World Music
-Atração Presents: Music From Brazil
-Blood & Fire Amazon Compilation
-Hanuman by Rodrigo & Gabriela (only 1 song but a GOOD song)
-Definitive Jux Sampler [Explicit]
-Culpa de la Luna by Rupa & the April Fishes (only 1 song)
There are several other selections from various parts of the world such as Scandanavia, Israel, Turkey, Nigeria, the Middle East, Croatia, Bulgaria, US country music, and tons of Christmas music. Go directly to the Amazon.com listing of free downloads.
VivirLatino’s la Mala Speaking at Organizing 2.0 in NYC This Saturday
10:35 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Events|Immigration|Internet|media justice|New York City · 2 Comments
1 Dec 2009
Before I was a blogger, I was a young activist. The transition from being “in the trenches” so to speak, to blogging hasn’t been an easy one and a large part of it is due to my status as a single mami. I needed to (and still do) be realistic as to my capacities. Pero deep down I still want to be down on the ground and in the calles. So part of my goal as a blogger has been to make connections between this online media work and what is happening on the ground. Which is why I’m very excited to be participating this weekend in the Organizing 2.0 Conference.
Is online organizing really ‘organizing’? That’s a challenging question for those of us from a labor or community organizing background. That said, online organizing has received a lot of positive attention recently in connection with the presidential elections. What does this mean for our organizations? What skills do we need to share to make the most of no-longer-new online tools for our campaigns in New York?
I’m on a panel on with some of my blogamigos. The panel is People of color/immigrant/non English online organizing (how’s that for a catch-all?). On the panel with me are Liza Sabater from Culture Kitchen/Daily Gotham and Jackie Mahendra from America’s Voice. Not on my panel pero equally una amiga in the struggle is Rachel LaBruyere from Reform Immigration for America who is heading a workshop on mobile phone activism.
The conference is relatively affordable, so if you are in the NYC area this Saturday come through, learn, support, and represent.
Those Crazy Gringos Videos
6:56 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Blogs|Immigration|Internet|Linking Latinos|Media|media justice|Politics|U.S.-Mexico Border · 4 Comments
23 Sep 2009Seems like racist white people in the media are getting alot of attention this week from various organizations and websites and some of that negative attention is well deserved. But negative, reactive pressure against some of these crazy gringos is only as effective as the values and goals behind them.
Our first video link is the latest edition of News with Nezua : Crazy Old White Guys.
News With Nezua | Crazy Old White Guys from nezua on Vimeo.
I already told you about the Basta Dobbs campaign. America’s Voice launched their own campaign aimed against Lou Dobbs. They are seeking donations to help buy ad space countering Lou Dobbs and his hate speech. (full disclosure: they have purchased ad space on VL).
Every weeknight, CNN airs one full hour of Hate TV — it’s called, “Lou Dobb’s Tonight.”
Have You Contributed to Our 30 Days of Latino Heritage Site Yet?
10:58 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Culture|history|Internet|Latin America|Politics|VivirLatino · Comments Off
17 Sep 2009Don’t forget you can send in your links, images, quotes and videos regarding Latino heritage here.
There will be more videos coming soon pero trying to make videos with a toddler is no easy task. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
xoxo
Mala
Contribute to Our 30 Days of Latino Heritage Tumblr
8:54 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Culture|history|holidays|Internet|Latin America|Linking Latinos|Politics · Comments Off
16 Sep 2009As part of the 30 Days of Latino Heritage Series that I announced yesterday, I started a tumblr site of the same name.
There I will collect images, quotes, audio, video etc related to Latinidad and I invite you to do that same! If you would like to submit something, please visit the submission page or email latinoheritagemonth@tumblr.com to submit posts. All submissions are subject to my approval.
Gracias!!!
Hola!
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by Mamita Mala Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse Latin@ diaspora.
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- Washington DC Bound
- By Land & By Sea Drawing Attention to Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera
- Welcome to NY Secure Communities
- DOJ Puts Sheriff Arpaio on Notice. Who Will Put the DOJ on Notice?
- VL at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival: Babygirl
- 45th Precinct Residents to File Complaint Against Abusive NYPD Officers
- Monday Musica : Maga Bo – Quilombo do Futuro
- NYC : Confronting Police Violence in the Courts – May 19, 1-3pm – Justice Committee Workshop
- Passage of NYS DREAM Fund No Dream Come True
- No Surprise in the S-Comm Task Force Sham
A Reminder : Nasty Comments will be Deleted
8:31 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Internet|VivirLatino · Comments Off
16 Sep 2009If your idea of disagreeing with a post is insulting or name calling, your comments will be deleted. And yes obviously it’s a subjective call, pero that’s the joy in this being my blog