Marcanti’s Salsa Night

Review by Romy Stell

AMSTERDAM – There is a new party in town! Amsterdam is known for its clubs and squares to spend your weekends. So when there was a fresh new party to attend last month, ‘Club Rumba’ in Marcanti was the place to go.

It’s the biggest salsa party the town has to offer. In the recently renovated house temple ‘Marcanti’ guests are welcomed in a big hall. Plenty of room to hang your coat. It will cost you though. That’s the first thing noticeable. It might look pretty, but they sure have high prices. A plus are the seats in that hallway. Very much appreciated by the salsa crowd, considering most of them take their dance shoes in a special bag, only to wear them on location. Having another party (a Russian theme night) in the other area, they harvest some looks of misunderstanding. Who changes their shoes in a discotheque?

On the floor

Entering the big room reserved for the salsa party, you can see that they made an effort to make it shine. Nice bar, some benches and a stage. The stage is taken over by Mauri, Amsterdam’s most popular salsa DJ. He always gets the crowd going. Must be his enthusiastic spirit. Immediately it’s time to enter the floor. When you’re asked, refusal is not an option. The flyer and website announced a big wooden floor, especially laid for the dancers and their sensitive shoes. It sure is a wooden floor, but big was quite an exaggeration. The cracks in it don’t really help as well. The girls in their high heels get stuck in them, which results in some bruises and stumbling. Most ladies find a gracious way out. Of course you want the floor to be packed, but not because it’s too small. Definitely a minus there.

As with every salsa party, there were some shows. Great names to begin with. However, the crowd didn’t give a lot of energy and that was clearly not helping the performers. The worst problem for the dancers was the floor though. Trying to smile while your heel got stuck during a triple spin is an achievement all together. Nonetheless, it were some spectacular shows.

If you want to check it out yourself, Marcanti is located on Jan van Galenstraat. Not really in the centre, but try to avoid arriving by car. Parking is very hard, if not impossible and expensive. The valet parking they offer on the website needs to be reserved and is obviously an even bigger expends account. Of course, this was the first party, so they might have noticed themselves. Next edition is Friday 11 December and every other second Friday of the month coming.

Feature story

Changing role of the journalist

It’s a whole new shiny ballgame

By: Romy Stell

“It’s all about the looks.” That is according to Sheila Man (41). Having been a journalist and editor in chief of an annex, she knows what she’s talking about. If we must believe MTNL journalist Jermain Lo (34) we’ll be waited on our every need. “Eventually personal interests will replace mass media.”

Since the internet took a steady hold in our society, media have been under heavy pressure. For years it has been speculated that papers will vanish and magazines won’t survive. It hasn’t come to that yet and a positive few feel it may never. It might just become for the elite. Fact is, that especially the written media can’t compete with the internet when it comes to fast reporting. But even a fast medium television has trouble keeping up with new innovations like twitter. Obviously these changes have a impact on the daily work of a journalist.

Internet

“When I started, I did a lot of investigative journalism. That’s all about the research. Back then we just used the ‘Almanak’. It was such a useful source, but I don’t think any of the students nowadays have even heard from that thick book!” Sheila smiles, while thinking about that. There was a time she didn’t think that Almanak of hers was replaceable. That doesn’t mean she got stuck though. “Internet is now my main source. As soon as we started using it, I got into it. I like it. It’s fast, easy and there is so much to exchange when it comes to information. It can work very inspiring.” Camjo journalist Jermain is also a big fan of the internet. “How could I not? I actually own several domain names online. It’s hard to keep all of them up to date and some are for future projects. Working online means you have to be fresh and fast all the time. Doing it right is very intense. So of course, new media have drastically changed the way we work. Just think about the way we do research. It makes us lazy, but everybody is getting more aware of the fact that online information might be less reliable. That is a good thing: any consumer should be critical on what they take in. Whatever it is, media or otherwise.”

Inflow

That s a true issue. As more fakes are exposed, users start to realise that everything they hear, see and read online, isn’t necessarily a fact. It’s so easy to change pictures, edit movies and cut quotes that it’s scary. What is real? Sheila: “I won’t lie. Every now and then I use the internet as a source without checking it. And for some silly things we’ve actually used some random texts from websites. Obviously not when it comes to important stories. But small sections and hollow subjects are very easily found. Wrong? Sure, but you try to fill 22 pages of text on your own in one week.” Usually she takes her job very serious. “Most of the time I like internet for up to date reasons to post a story. The week of this, a day of that. There are all these great reasons out there to make a story current. It has made my life much easier. For real information I always make a call. Very often young journalists don’t like calling people, but that’s the best way to get information. If you want to know what’s going on and you can’t be there, just pick up that phone.” Jermaine agrees. “I use internet as an inspiration for my work. All those weird research results are excellent to use in an item. Who takes the time to investigate how many immigrants can bike? Apparently people do, because you can find all the details on this online. As long as you remember not to take it to seriously and check it: you’re ok. If you can’t check it (I won’t be caught counting immigrants on bikes) take a minute to think about it.”

Process

So the new media affect some of the basics of the job: research and ideas. But what else has changed? Especially Jermain saw a lot happening during his career. “And I’ve only been a journalist for six years. I’m forced to do something what used to be done by four or five of us. It makes the individual more important, but it’s much harder to do it right.” When he started at MTNL he was a junior reporter. “I was working with a cameraman, a soundman, an editor and a redaction staff. Now it’s technically possible to do all those things yourself. And you’re asked to do so. It’s no longer dogmatic.” He had a head start though.“I was already working with websites and uploading my own materials and ideas online. MTNL was hardly at the beginning of these things. So when they found out I was ahead of them, they asked me to join their brainstorm sessions on how to use the website. Five years ago they didn’t even use CMS.” Jermain has seen many colleagues struggle. “The girl that was hired to maintain the website was asked to deliver content and the reporter that had to go out and produce a story had to edit her own pictures. It wasn’t easy for everybody.”

The written media underwent a very important change as well. “It has become more about the appearance and less about the content. Personally I feel that might not always be a good thing, but it has given the job new challenges. When I first started we worked with photographers, but now everybody owns a camera. The quality isn’t the same, but it’s cheaper, faster and easier. Now we look for people with a more multitasked spirit. We need you to work a camera, a computer and preferably some layout skills.”

Looks

Fast, furious and fabulous. That’s what the consumer seems to want. News on the spot, strong opinions and in a beautiful cover. So those layout skills can’t be missed. “It’s all about the looks. When I started with the Saturday quire of the newspaper, it was very grey. Not a lot of colour, no recognisable features. Long texts, no pictures, boring layout with a tiny font. I couldn’t imagine a lot of people reading these stories. So when I finally got a say in it, I immediately changed all of that. Now it has a big picture for the cover, every week. It can be anything, as long as it represents one of the main articles. We have a few little sections where we have ‘ordinary people’ doing the talking and someone famous o a current subject. Very popular is our photo of the week. People love seeing personal things in their readings. When you can relate or recognize, it’s just much more attractive. The big stories changed as well. No more than two pages long, at least one big photo, but preferably several. We like working with different types of fonts, colours and boxes. Everybody likes reading little boxes with information.” With tv it’s the same thing. Jermain: “Editing needs to be snappy, but can’t be corny. It has to be fast, without losing content. You want to tell a story in the shortest time possible. That makes your work all about picking a few quotes, some beautiful images and a voice-over to cover the rest. You’ll lose viewers if it takes too long. The audience today is easily bored.”

Pulp versus Personal

He continues: “Mass media is all around. For a great deal of people it is turning into pulp. Media bring the same news as every other website, there are too many pictures, videos and other options available. You can see the audience backing away. And that’s where we’re heading at. People are interested in people. How does it affect others? But also, does a story from the other side of the world have consequences for me? You can already see all the digital broadcasters having more and more personalised channels. Very specific target groups with their own interests. Bringing big news on a local, personal level.” Sheila can only agree. “There is always an interest in personal surroundings. That is why local media will never die.”

Immigrants in the media

Widespread bias

Immigrants. How does that word sound to you? To many it has a negative ring to it. Some of those say this feeling is created by the media. Others think it’s defined by politics. And there are those who feel it’s their personal experience. It might be a combination of all three. What has more influence to a significance then the use of words in our daily lives?

Bias in the media is impossible to exclude, because media are produced by people. People cannot help forming an opinion based on what they have experienced, learned, read and seen. Or what they have been exposed to due to their culture and environment. Media take a big part in all of that. All the hours you spend watching TV, listening to the radio or reading anything: somebody else thought of it.  And where did they come up with that?

One of the key reasons why bias is so widely spread is because of generalisations. It’s impossible to know everything from everyone. That’s why we rely on numbers to give us a general perspective. So Antillean people have a higher rate on jail population. Does that make all of them criminals? Should you watch your back around them? And those same Antilleans along with people from Surinam are the two main immigrant groups with weight issues. Are all of them fat? And what about those who have some of that blood mixed into their system? Have you noticed that in Dutch media immigrants are always Moroccan, Turkish, Surinamese, Antillean or from the East of Europe? Unless you count the refugees of course. For some reason the Asian population is usually left out of the equation. Are they no longer immigrants? Or is there another reason why the focus had shifted?

News sells when it’s hard. Negative news is known to be thirteen times more effective than positive news. It’s what sticks. Maybe that’s the reason minorities have a hard time getting a positive vibe in the media. It’s easy to feed them to the public: they’ll love ‘m for breakfast.

Interview Institutions

LED: future in sight

Peter Merton is a salesman of LED lighting. Did he choose the right business now that EU has decided to get rid of all the glow lamps? And are we really in for a life altering, money saving, world changing experience? “I don’t know if they can do all that, but their pretty good at what they do.”

He never intended to go into the lighting business, but he’s happy where he is. “This is not the career I envisioned myself in: this is the type that happens to you. And it suits my quite well, actually. I got here in the extension of the firm ‘VoorUwPlezier’ which takes care of all kinds of demands from the public. This was a niche. ” They have been selling LED for a couple of years now. “In the beginning it was a bit more expensive and people were curious, but not too sure. Nowadays they know it from our traffic lights, or from their work floor, so it’s a bit closer to home. Plus our concept is unique with a quality unknown elsewhere in the market. We really do have great alternatives for your old fashioned lighting.”

What about those complaints that it wouldn’t be cosy? “There are all kinds of colours in lights available today. It’s possible to create any kind of atmosphere. Did you know that all the discotheques are choosing LED over regular lighting?” He continues: “Personally I’m very enthusiastic about these lamps. Not just because I sell them and I make a profit doing so. They really give beautiful light and it saves you a lot of money. Sure, it’s an investment at first, but their lifespan is much longer so you’ll get you money worth. And of course it’s good for the environment. That never hurts.” Those are the three main reasons he took a chance on this business. “I’m an entrepreneur: so I want to make a living out of it. I like that I get to help reduce CO2 levels and work on a better climate for all of us. It’s a great formula, if you ask me. Keep in mind that with these lights you use up to 90% less wattage than the average light bulb. You’ll soon notice that on your utility bill and the environment benefits instantly.”

Peter definitely foresees a glorious future for these lamps. “I absolutely believe in the quality of LED lights. It’s going to make a difference.” He’s not counting his blessing yet though. Do you think that with the new EU legislation prohibiting regular lighting business will soon be booming? “We’ll see,” is his modest answer. But when the questions rises what the downside of these lights is, he’s straight to the point. “There is none!”

Scoop

Dutch organisation ‘Dierenhulp’ sterilizes 250 animals

Within three months of efforts, the freshly started organization Dierenhulp Curaçao has rapidly increased their number of sterilized dogs and cats. They attracted extra vets and sponsors for their free services and are looking for more ways to expand. Nathalja Overwijk, who is in charge of the department says to be proud and happy by this realization.

“We now have two extra veterinarians active for our organization. This is great: it doesn’t only mean extra capacity, it’s also extra support for our cause. We really want to make a change in the situation on this island. And it’s quite a big number of animals in such a short period of time.” Dierenhulp has been active on the island since this summer, providing free neutering for cats and dogs for the people who can’t afford it themselves. “We’ve been in the media a little less, but the phone keeps ringing. I’m glad to see that the public understands how important these sterilizations are to cut back animal suffering. And just as vitally important: it’s the target group that finds us. We we’re very afraid that they would be hard to reach, but there has not been an empty operating table yet. I hope we will get more support from local sponsors and quickly see the results on the street. I know I’ve seen it on many animal owners faces: we’re doing a good thing.”

Missing children miraclessly find way back home

By: Romy Stell

STAFFORDSHIRE- Brother Hans (8) and sister Gretel (7) who had been reported missing for two weeks, safely made it back to their hometown. The two claim to have been abandoned in the dark unhabited  areas of the National Woods near the Trent by their father, who was influenced to do so by his wife. Child Support Services investigates the case. The youngsters are weakened by starvation and stress but found their way home on own strength.

The children reported their arrival at the school they attend. Teacher Miss Fairy was the one to report the missing. “We did not hear from the parents why the students didn’t show for school on Wednesday the 19^th so I stopped by the house to see if they we’re ok. I was told they were at a family member and to mind my own business. In school we had noticed some struggles in the family and I decided not to take any chances. These children are obligated to go to school, you know.” Soon after, it hit the news that the siblings had disappeared.

Lost

In the two weeks of their vanishing, the children have been to a great ordeal. The police report states the father abandoned the two near the river at least three miles from their village. He had tried it once before, but the siblings overheard the conversation on their dumping and armed themselves with pebbles. They used the white little rocks to mark their path home. The second time came before they could prepare and all the two had were some slices of bread. Unfortunately, the forest inhabitants were hungry and the tracks could not be traced by the time the children attempted to. So they were not just lost, by then they were hungry themselves. After more than two weeks of no signs of live, the two found their way back by following paths near the riverside.

Delusional

One of the caretakers who took the siblings in, gave a brief statement. “So far the children seem to be exhausted, dehydrated and, though they, especially the girl, absolutely show signs of starvation, are on a strange sugarhigh. We are not sure how to explain this yet. Furthermore they are suffering from delusions, which might be a result of the high sugar level in their blood. Interesting enough the poor things have the exact same story. A strange old woman, a witch as they characterize her, locked them up in a house of gingerbread and chocolate. The boy was kept into a small cage and fed with all kind of candy. Gretel was forced to work as her servant. Hans claims to have tricked the elderly woman to free him, before as he says, she got a chance to eat him. Poor Gretel was worried they would get punished for acting in ‘self protection’ and leaving the witch to burn in her own stove. Little Hans did not want to say anything about that. It’s clear that these children have suffered a great deal and need rest and peace. It’s likely their brain has shut the horrible details out and the kids created their own storyline. I hope we will ever find out what exactly happened, but that’s up to Child Support Services.”

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