Fullerton, Calif. | January 2019
‘First days in America’
We are finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation. This #nextgenradio project is created in partnership with California State University, Fullerton, where six talented student journalists are participating in a week-long state-of-the-art training program.
In this project, six immigrants talk about how their first days in America shaped their lives today.
Finding love and fulfilling a dream:
An Ethiopian man’s life after escaping war
Mehari Woldesessie said he’d be dead if he stayed behind in his home country. About 30 years ago, he escaped a civil war in Ethiopia with a dream to open a restaurant. Now he owns one in Anaheim.
by CAITLIN BARTUSICK
Mothers Across Borders:
The high cost of building a better financial future
What is the cost of going overseas to provide for your family? An Indonesian mother left behind her newborn son for America, where she faced ongoing accounts of exploitation — from labor trafficking to sweatshops in L.A. Despite working tirelessly for her son, he now considers her a stranger.
by ADITI MAYER
A doctor’s journey to love and acceptance
Vikas Satyananda found solace in the U.S. after making the difficult decision to leave everything he had in his home country of India behind to find his soul mate and pursue a career in medicine.
by JULIUS CHOI
‘Am I going to make it here?’
An Iranian woman’s search for success in America
Adjusting to a new place can be a challenge for anyone, let alone a new country. In this story, Hedieh Khajavi shares how she felt being immersed in American culture but, keeping Iran close to her heart.
by MADELINE GRAY
Prejudice leads to teaching legacy for Vietnamese professor
Immigrant professor Huong Nguyen mentors the next generation of teachers. Overcoming prejudice in the United States and surviving times of war shaped her teaching legacy and helped her create a community of empathetic educators.
by DOMINIC TORRES
Syrians Find Refuge in OC’s Little Arabia
Nidal Hajomar fled Syria with his family when civil war broke out. They relocated to Southern California and opened Aleppo’s Kitchen in hopes of creating a space where other Syrian refugees could find refuge. Now, Hajomar’s restaurant has become a staple within the Little Arabia community in Orange County.
by LESLIE CANO
Finding love and fulfilling a dream: An Ethiopian man’s life after escaping war
Mehari Woldesessie said he’d be dead if he stayed behind in his home country. About 30 years ago, he escaped a civil war in Ethiopia with a dream to open a restaurant. Now he owns one in Anaheim.
by CAITLIN BARTUSICK
Mothers Across Borders:
The high cost of building a better financial future
by ADITI MAYER
A doctor’s journey to love and acceptance
Vikas Satyananda found solace in the U.S. after making the difficult decision to leave everything he had in his home country of India behind to find his soul mate and pursue a career in medicine.
by JULIUS CHOI
‘Am I going to make it here?’:
An Iranian woman’s search for success in America
Adjusting to a new place can be a challenge for anyone, let alone a new country. In this story, Hedieh Khajavi shares how she felt being immersed in American culture but, keeping Iran close to her heart.
by MADELINE GRAY
Prejudice leads to teaching legacy for Vietnamese professor
Immigrant professor Huong Nguyen mentors the next generation of teachers. Overcoming prejudice in the United States and surviving times of war shaped her teaching legacy and helped her create a community of empathetic educators.
by DOMINIC TORRES
Syrians find refuge in OC’s Little Arabia
Nidal Hajomar fled Syria with his family when civil war broke out. They relocated to Southern California and opened Aleppo’s Kitchen in hopes of creating a space where other Syrian refugees could find refuge. Now, Hajomar’s restaurant has become a staple within the Little Arabia community in Orange County.
by LESLIE CANO
Our Reflections
From Sights to Sounds: Exercises in Audio Reporting
As a storyteller, I was forced to question: How can I convey major ideas, without losing depth and nuance within my subject’s story?
My NextGenRadio survival guide
Here are five critical things I learned during the span of the intensive one-week workshop:
I Could Get Used To This
As a documentary journalist it was not easy to step away from the camera, but when I decided to report in my normal elements and record with a camera, the mentors were fine with it.
What I learned from Next Generation Radio
I knew that it was not going to be easy so I focused on preparation. Looking back, this is what life is all about: adapting to change.
Reflection on being a part of NextGen Radio
So many new things to learn. It was my first time doing a non-narrative piece, so I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out.
What I Learned From Next Generation Radio
My goal was to hone in on my multimedia skills and create a story that I was proud of.
California State University, Fullerton
College of Communications
7055 Folsom Boulevard, 2600 Nutwood Ave., CP-450, Fullerton, CA 92831
STUDENTS TALK