Month: April 2014

Giving back by getting out: IC Charity Miles hosts first 5K

Tal Aizen knows firsthand the impact an organization like the Wounded Warrior Project can have. Soon after joining the Israeli army last year, a back injury left him in a wheelchair for six months.

“I was lucky. I got sort of fixed,” Aizen said. “These guys are missing legs. They need the help.”

Aizen was released from the hospital last July, and thanks to a back surgery he can once again walk and run. The Wounded Warrior Project is one of more than two-dozen charities on the Charity Miles smartphone app, which tracks a user’s distance to determine the amount of money a sponsor will donate to a cause. Biking earns 10 cents per mile, while running and walking earns 25 cents per mile.

“I wish I could go back to my job there [in Israel],” Aizen said. “I miss the guys there. I miss everything. The running deal is sort of helping me overcome it all.”

A personal story also inspired Gene Gurkoff, the founder of Charity Miles. He ran marathons for nine years to raise money for Parkinson’s research in honor of his grandfather, who has the disease.

“I always wanted companies to sponsor me but I could never get them to do that because I’m just an amateur athlete,” Gurkoff said. “But I figured if I could get enough people together then we could all become sponsored athletes, just like the pros, but for charity.”

IC Charity Miles is one of the first college campus organizations to base their mission around the app since it was founded two years ago. It held its first 5K event Sunday on the trails of the South Hill Natural Lands.

“I just think it’s amazing what [IC Charity Miles Co-Presidents] Rachel and Kelly have done to step up and lead the charge at Ithaca,” Gurkoff said.

Giving Back While On-the-Go

The trend of ‘mobile philanthropy’ has been increasing rapidly in recent years. In the U.S., one in three people use a mobile device as their primary source for accessing the Internet. And globally, PayPal reported the total value of mobile donations through their service in December 2012 was 242 percent larger than in December 2011. Dozens of apps like Charity Miles can be downloaded to support non-profits while on the move.

Some have criticized movements on mobile devices and social media as a form of ‘slacktivism’ – slacker activism – that may be easy to take part in, but ultimately disconnects people from the cause and real volunteer service. But for ICCM founder and co-president Rachel Gray, the app also promotes awareness.

“It does have the big name charities, like for Alzheimer’s or Leukaemia and Lymphoma, but there are so many charities I had never heard of, like Red White and Blue,” Gray said. “You’re donating your time to this charity through running, and you’re getting fit while doing it, but at the same time I think it’s a way to spark interest.”

Gray points out that users can watch short videos each time they choose a different charity to find out more about what they are supporting, and then become more involved if it is something they are passionate about.

Running… Low On Battery

The app is not without some minor drawbacks, however. The GPS-tracking feature drains battery power faster than normal usage, which can be a problem for longer walks and runs. And, unfortunately, those without smartphones currently cannot take part in the fundraising. Still, IC Charity Miles members like Marissa Fortman think it is important to support the cause.

“The whole data plan thing is [expensive], but if you have it and you’re going to be walking or running around, it’s so easy to just turn it on and do it,” she said. Fortman stood as one of the volunteers directing 5K participants at each quarter mile mark.

Gray said the group plans to expand efforts in the Ithaca College community in the future. Their goal is to hold a 5K at least once a semester, and are already thinking about hosting a “Turkey Trot” for the fall and branching off to form a running club for students to join.

IC Charity Miles meets Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. in Friends 304.

Harassment: Highlighted this week, happening every week

Today marks the end of the International Anti-Street Harassment Week, but the struggle continues for many who, for one ‘reason’ or another, are targeted and bullied. Whether it be through words, intimidation, or physical violence, this type of unacceptable behavior happens every day.

The week, sponsored by StopStreetHarassment.org, was created to bring these issues more directly into the public eye, as well as share potential solutions to prevent abuse and keep everyone accountable.

One example of abuse they cite on their website: a 2013 study of 93,000 LGBQT individuals in the European Union found that half avoided public spaces sometimes because of street harassment and most reported high levels of fear in locations like restaurants, public transportation, streets, parking lots, and parks.

April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month — sexual assault is a large component that harassment can quickly lead to.

Earlier this week I took part in a tweetchat to bring further awareness and collaborate on ways we can spur a dialogue that will foster a safer environment. Check out my interaction here.

What instances of harassment have you been witness or victim to? Share your insight below, along with any advice you have for how to stand up to harassment.

Important points in today’s ‘State of the Media’

Journalism, and more broadly media in general, have undergone tremendous changes in the last decade, which Pew Research has captured in its release of the State of the News Media 2014 report. Technology has dramatically shifted the landscape of the news industry, namely the platforms on which information is disseminated. The earlier stages of this shift certainly evoked a bleak outlook for journalism: newspapers once thought resolute for so many previous decades suddenly perished in a matter of short years. There was much room for cynicism.

Since then, however, the prognosis has improved drastically. Digital pioneers and newfound platforms have not only begun to fill the void of these out-of-print entities, they are yielding real economic gains and employment opportunities.

Thirty of the largest digital-only news organizations account for about 3,000 jobs and one area of investment is global coverage

Vice Media has 35 overseas bureaus; The Huffington Post hopes to grow to 15 countries from 11 this year; BuzzFeed hired a foreign editor to oversee its expansion into places like Mumbai, Mexico City, Berlin and Tokyo. The two-year-old business-oriented Quartz has reporters in London, Bangkok and Hong Kong, and its editorial staff speaks 19 languages. This comes amid pullbacks in global coverage from mainstream media.

This is good news. For a while it was thought that ‘churnalism’ was the wave of the future. Quality journalism is beneficial to society, but oftentimes, as with international or long-term investigative journalism, perhaps the most expensive. This aspect of the report shows that all hope is not lost for expanding journalistic horizons.

Of course, at least for me, and my interest in pursuing broadcast journalism, the impact on news television piqued my interest.

Local television, which reaches about nine in ten U.S. adults, experienced massive change in 2013, change that stayed under the radar of most

 Nearly 300 full-power local TV stations changed hands in 2013 at a price of more than $8 billion. The number of stations sold was up 205% over 2012 and the value up 367%, with big owners getting even bigger. If all the pending sales go through, Sinclair Broadcasting alone will own or provide service to 167 stations in 77 markets, reaching almost 40% of the U.S. population.

David Smith, the CEO of Sinclair, was even quoted saying he would like to have 80-90 percent of the viewing audience if he could get his hands on their broadcasting. The influence of these fewer and farther between owners, their money, and also the squeeze on resources for local TV stations to produce and share content, is unfortunately an area of concern that I will continue to watch closely.

What do you think? Is U.S. media headed in the right direction? Check out Pew’s State of the News Media 2014 report to see how your news consumption preferences are faring.