Hiking to the top of Beehive Mountain with entire family

 

By A Simon Kivamwo

Would you like hiking or biking?—this was the first thing our host, Professor Jonathan Rubin wanted to hear from me and a colleague of mine, Deusi Ngowi, last Friday. Both of us are currently attending a month-long USAID Tanzania Journalism Exchange Project at the University of Maine in the USA.

“Well, sure!”-- I responded, but very suspicious of the extent of the undertakings the host wants to engage us in. “We will definitely take part,” I responded before Deusi, in his popular shy-face but with straight forward stance said…”for my self, I am unable to bike since it has been so long without it. Probably hiking. That one I can do”.

This was an early encounter with our host, Prof. Jonathan a father of two- David and Hann, resident of Bangor.  As part of our programme, each of us—the nine Tanzanian journalists—is supposed to spend weekend with host individuals and families. The timetable for this arrangements was, therefore observed from Friday (10th July 2009) to Sunday (12th July 2009)

Back to my experience--Prof. Jonathan working hand in hand with his wife, Peggy, and sometimes consulting among each other were busy preparing us an evening meal. What a strange thing if one refers back home (Tanzania)?. Men are rarely seen in the kitchen at the presence of their wives.

Unbelievable, in between 15 to 25 minutes time, the menu was ready. Deusi and I, plus two neighbouring families led by one, Lee were all invited for the dinner. It then went on like that. Self-service style was the order of that evening. It went on and on until we were all satisfied. What a delicious food!.

The following day—Saturday morning—was the d-day. It was the day for hiking up to the top of Beehive-Acadia. “Here we go,” said the host as we boarded into his Maruti car—full equipped with everything needed for mountain hikers such as water, leather shoes, sticks, and of course, for Prof. Jonathan, could not feel happy doing it minus the company of princess—his pet.

Frankly, the hiking was not easy. In several ocassions along the rout, I had to seek for a support of grounded rocks that are scattered allover the way to the top.

There is time when I even contemplated about giving up and slow back down silently. But finally I felt not to give up—as it could become an embarrassment not only to me, but also to Deusi who, despite his silent fever that had attacked him for two days before, was still committed to see both of us making it to the summit.

“Come on guys, are you tired?,” Jonathan was repeatedly asking us as he majestically hiked up just as someone making it to the lecture room—unbelievable . “No sir, we are strong than ever” I replied.

Well, it went that way until we were at the top—520ft (158m) from the sea level. “We are done!,” said the energetic Professor. “Yes here we are,” echoed Mr Lee, the neighbour, who like the previous day, had joined Prof.Jonathan’s family to host us.

More interestingly, while our group took a long but fairly regarded as easy route, another group comprised of Mrs Jonathan and Mrs Lee plus their children, took another route, which is said to be more complicated and stiffer. To my surprise they were the first to reach to the peak.

Sunday was the day to say goodbye to the family. The professor and his wife took care of us in such a manner that both of Deusi and I left the family’s residence very satisfied and feeling that: “we were really at home”.

 

Online publication secures BDN sales

By A Simon Kivamwo

After overcoming internal competition that arose during the early days of its inception in 1997, the online department at Bangor Daily News (BDN) is assuming the role of keeping alive the readership of Maine’s leading newspaper. 

Both Jeff Tuttle-online editor and Josh Alves-marketing and revenue manager admit that keeping the organisation’s leadership high relies on the quality of the online publication.

The two asserted that due to a global economical crisis that has led to many individuals losing jobs, the likelihood of the same stopping subscription to the BDN was obvious.

“The first role was to overcome internal forces that kept on opposing to our smooth operation,” remarked Jeff, the online editor at BDN in meeting with a group of visiting Tanzanian journalists at the company’s headquarters early this week. 

According to Jeff, some people from within the organization, thought that allowing the online publication could definitely jeopardize the sales of the company’s print publication, which of course is the source of information to the online edition.

He said: “This was a purely internal competition. We struggled make the case clear to our colleagues that if BND wasn't going online, others would go and therefore, advertisers and readers would switch to those able to provide them with new media journalism services,”.  The message hit the target and “hardliners” started seeing the reality.

At last, he said, our colleagues (mostly from printing edition) came to realize that, online publication was so important than ever for the sake of facing the growing external competition.

Therefore we started embarking on a real full online publication whereby we no longer needed to wait until the sales of the print publications was over, said Jeff.

Being Maine’s most visited, the BDN online publication is up-dated thrice a day, remarked Josh Alves-marketing and revenue manager of the online publication.

The world of new media publication, coupled with the ongoing economic crisis, has to a great extent, affected the circulation of printing outlets (newspapers), said Josh in another separate meeting with the journalists who were accompanied by Prof. Paul Grosswiler and Mike Socolow-both from department of communication and journalism at the University of Maine, Orono. 

 “Some people have to cut their subscription to our print publication, but, however they are still accessing the product through our online publication,” he stated. 

Jeff has been working as online editor for about a year. Before that, he was the newspaper's special projects reporter.

The Bangor Daily News has been serving the people of Maine for well over one hundred years. Now in its fourth generation of ownership, the BDN is one of a few remaining privately owned newspapers in the country.

Established in 1889, the BDN was purchased by J. Norman Towle in 1895. Subsequent family members serving as publisher include Fred Jordan, Lillis Towle Jordan, Richard K. Warren and, today’s editor and publisher, Richard J. Warren ~ the great-grandson of J. Norman Towle.

Over its long history, the newspaper has grown from a business that once used hot lead and linotype machines, to a day of modern technology where flexography presses produce a clean and crisp printed product, showcasing timely editorial, compelling photography and superior graphics, and important marketing messages from area businesses.

The printed product also is made available to the general public via the news’ website, www.bangordailynews.com 

My First Impression in Maine

Hi

This is my second time of coming to America. However, it is my first time coming to Orono, Maine State, and likewise, first time coming to America under the leadership of H.E President Barack Obama.

I had quite different impressions.

For my visit to Orono, Maine State, which was, indeed, little or, to be frankly not known to me at all. I expected to find big population and, probably with high number of immigrants (both legal and illegal) like it is the case with other States such as Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta, Virginia, and the likes. 

This hasn't been the case with Orono, Maine. I found the city being one of the coolest places in the most of American States I ever visited, with a considerable low number of immigrants, if none at all, and in fact, the best place to live.

For the case of Obama's leadership, I have found that, He is indeed enjoying large support from Americans of all races contrary to what I expected. My thoughts was that, He (The President) might be facing hurdles in running the country because, people with hard line political stances might still be unhappy for him to become the President, considering the fact that he has a Kenyan origin. 

In general, after arriving here, my impression has been that Maine is the place with natural heritage and highly protected environment which is for the betterment of the Maine residents, American people and their visitors like ourselves (the Tanzanian journalists).

I applaud the entire team of Department of Communication and Journalism and USAID for inviting me to be one among the invited journalists as well as making this project a reality. God Bless You All!!

HIV/AIDS blog in Tanzania

Hello

This is a new blog that will be giving you a vast of HIV/AIDS and Health Communication on daily basis.

Most welcome and Enjoy!!

Adolph, The Moderator