LEGENDARY AFRICAN RESTAURANT BIGGIE'S PLANS TO CLOSE DOWN AFTER YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE.

This is our radio story on the legendary African restaurant that plans to shut down. Biggie decides to close down the restaurant due to competition from other African Restaurants. 

Fire Press Conference

FIRE ROCKS TENNIS COURT IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN DUBAI.

American University in Dubai- Two casualties were affected Thursday morning by a fire whose cause is still unknown in the AUD tennis court. Details of the victims are withheld by the Dubai Police and the school authority.

The incident took place in the AUD tennis court between the hours of 6 to 6:30 am this morning. Two students lost their lives, one of them has not yet been identified and the other victims’ identity is not disclosed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

"No evidence of tennis rackets or gym bags to show that there was someone there to play tennis", said Meedo Taha, Media City police chief constable.

The fire happened on a holiday as a result, it was only the security guard on duty that was there and unfortunately he was outside taking a cigarette break. The guard first noticed the fire around 6:15 am when he saw a large smoke cloud coming from the tennis court.

The guard and three other guards that were around the campus tried to put off the fire but they couldn’t. The fire fighters were not able to reach the fire place on time due to today being a public holiday. However, they tried their best to reach within the five minutes they were informed. Unfortunately, the casualties could not be saved.

"The victims’ family has been notified and they are correctly at the police station giving reports on their child’s whereabouts", said Mr Taha.

The family of the other student whose identity is still unidentified has not been contacted.

Three cigarette box were found in the tennis court. Although the security guard who was smoking swore that they are not his. The police are still investigating the case as there are five security cameras in the tennis court area but the trees blocked the cameras, there is only one camera that has the clear view and it is presently being examined.

The police found a substantial evidence of a big bag of midwa and pipes under the tree in the tennis court area which shows that the tennis court was being used as the scene of exchange of contraband items.

Three students were admitted into the school premises prior to 6:30 am and they were not seen anywhere close to the tennis court. Another student was admitted into the AUD dormitory which makes a total number of four students.

According to Mr Taha, the last time there was a fire in AUD was twelve years ago which happened on the football field and no casualties were lost.

"All AUD flags will be flying at a half mast for the next two weeks in remembrance of the two students who died this morning", said a member of the Senior Administration of AUD.

　

　

Audio Story

The importance of belly dance in Arab culture

Belly dance has been an ancient tradition in UAE as it attracts about 60% of tourists visiting the Desert Safari camps to watch the dance where it usually takes place.

To preview my audio story Click here

My Photo story

Click on the link please to view my photo story http://www.slideshare.net/Maryam_Rufai/photojournalism-11378226

HOW MUCH MONEY GOES TO CHARITY AND HOW MANY PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM THE CHARITY?

Charity is a type of volunteerism which basically is classified into an institution or an organization whose goal is to reach out to the less fortunate people thereby, creating a difference in their lives. There are various charity organizations that are well known for charity purposes. These organizations work on supporting and organizing awareness programs, first aid, protection and attention to social issues that would provide humanitarian aids to the needy, victims of disasters and accidents. These organizations are usually non-profitable organizations which deals with so many forms of charity such as medical aids, foundation aids, financial aids, prisoners aids, students aids, supporting the orphans, the disabled and poor families.

“Every year a million dirhams aid goes to orphanage homes within UAE”, said Ahmad Saeed. According to Mr Saeed, the manager of UAE Red Cresent, 51.624 orphans have been sponsered by the organization witin the country until the end of the year 2011.

“Volunteering work at UAE Red Cresents aims at supporting and assisting community at the social, cultural, and economic levels through secondary groups of the authority or individually”, said Amir Hassan leader of the volunteering department.

According to the finance department manager, Hibba Al Gamzi, the organization is implementing the second phase of the rehabilitation of the disabled in Palastine which is estimated to cost more than AED 20 million . Charity has had great impact in the lives of the disabled such as people that suffer from motor disabilities, intellectual or sensory disabilities. More than 450 people have benifited from the program of the disabled. Charity  also plays an important role in the lives of low income or poor families by giving them financial aid. “The value of humanitarian assistance to segments of beneficiary at the state level reached AED 29 million benefiting 18 thousand, 817 families”, said John Smith. There are various ways to donate for charity which include an online donation, donation via sms, donation via monthly deduction coupons, donation through schools and education sector, donation via direct deposit in bank accounts, donation in kind materials, and donation via collection boxes. Charities are built with some rules and regulations that bound the governing structure, the objectives,mission, vision, the financial inputs and outputs of the institution, as well as the working relationship with the volunteers and with the target recipients of the organization.

Charity awareness is impotant because with the increasing number of people in the world comes with the increasing number poverty thereby, creating hardships in the society. As a result, being aware of the life challenges creates a sense of charitable purpose in each person living in a community. This encourages people to reach out and create big difference in the lives of the disabled, poor and needy families, orphans and victims of disasters. Charity does not only make a difference in the lives of the needy people but also inspire and motivate a lot of people to have awareness of what is outside the world they are living in which is entirely different from that of the less fortunate.

My comments on the two videos

The Barbers's Tales 

http://www.monocle.com/sections/business/Web-Articles/Barbers-Tales/

In the Barber’s Tales, the video starts with a beautiful sound and a clear introduction. The reporter gives some information while she is not shown in the video, we just see the barbers’ shop and a couple of people with her voice in the background. A male reporter continues with the talking with the music in the background. The picture is very clear and it has a good quality. The voice was also loud and clear. The pacing of the pictures and voice were not too slow and not too fast. It can be understood by anyone. The video has an amazing transiton. There are interviews with barber’s and there is a subtitle for the Lavana barber who spoke in another language. The ending was very brief, it could have been more informing if the reporter played the music that is being played once in a week at the barbers’.

Linking Gaza to the Outside World 

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/06/16/world/1194840995653/linking-gaza-to-the-outside-world.html?ref=egypt

In Linking Gaza to the Outside World, the introduction is also clear. It starts with voice of the reporter giving 

and introduction and a man who is in an underground tunnel. Unlike in the Barbers’ Tales video, linking Gaza video has more scenes than Barbers’ Tales. The quality of both the sound and picture are excellent. There are also interviews in the video. The pace of the sound and picture is clear and efficient. The voice was loud and clear. The video ended with an interview of one of the people living in the underground tunnel. The pacing is very good.

Introduction about myself

My name is Maryam Rufai. I'm from Nigeria  and i'm majoring in journalism. I look forward to becoming a successful journalist and I hope to achieve my goals before graduating from AUD. I hope by the end of the semester, this course would enhance my writing skills and also improve my reporting skills. I love my major so much.