New York

The N-Word: It Represents Hatred
Radio Rookie Veralyn Williams explores the complexities of a contested term by discussing the limits of the N-word. Who can use it? How has its meaning changed over time?
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Saying Good Bye To Food
By the time he was a senior in high school, Radio Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh weighed 500 pounds. So he decided to have weight loss surgery. He tells the story of his surgery and its aftermath in the WNYC documentary "Saying Good Bye to Food."
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Berlin Philharmoniker Visits New York
During the Berlin Philharmoniker’s 17 day stint in New York this month, the orchestra is working with several of the city’s high brow cultural institutions, Carnegie Hall, MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Department of Education. Reporter Veralyn Williams spent the last 3 weeks following a group of high school students as they prepare to perform this weekend with members of the Berlin Philharmoniker. They’re created an original work inspired by Stravinsky’s "The Rite of Spring".
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Students Speak Out
Radio Rookie Rocky Tayeh reports on the City Council's latest effort to improve education in NYC – a hearing held especially for students to testify about the state of their schools.
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Subways
The New York City subway system is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Midwood Radio Rookie Samr "Rocky" Tayeh reports on what subways mean to teenagers in the city.
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Meeting the Republicans
Eighteen year-old Radio Rookie Shakima Swain - a first time voter - finds out what it means to be a Republican at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.
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Father's Day in My Family
A couple years ago on her first Mother's Day, Harlem Radio Rookie Janelle Lewis shared with WNYC listeners her first experience with motherhood... She even shared the sounds of herself giving birth to her daughter Jandora. For Father's Day, 24 year old Janelle contemplates how different these two holidays are in her household.
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Midwood Commentaries
Midwood is a neighborhood that has a growing Muslim immigrant community. Three Muslim boys from the Midwood workshop, two Pakistani and one Palestinian, reflect on what it's like for them living in America.
midwood workshop
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Rookie on the US War in Iraq
Midwood Rookie Michael Lewis comments on the war in Iraq. He had opposed it all along -- until he saw something on TV that made him stop and think.
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Advice to the Mayor
Bushwick Rookie Jesus Gonzalez (with reporting help from Hunts Point Rookie Janesse Nieves) advises Mayor Bloomberg on how to improve New York City schools. His report draws a response from former public advocate Mark Green.
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My First Mother's Day
On May 12, 2002 Janelle Lewis' commentary about giving birth to her first daughter Jandora aired as part of a Mother's Day Special on WNYC’s Radio Lab. Right after Janelle gives birth, she calls out to her mom for the tape-recorder.
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SPECIAL PROJECTS

Rookies React to 9/11
The Rookies share their thoughts about the World Trade Center tragedy of September 11th

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9/11 and My Family
On September 11th, WNYC's Radio Rookie Karla Saavedra spent the day worrying about the safety of her father, who worked in a restaurant near the World Trade Center. Karla reports on the economic impact of September 11th for WNYC's special Six Months documentary.
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World Trade Center Montage
On October 13, 2001, a montage of the Radio Rookies commentaries about the World Trade Center tragedy and its aftermath aired on WNYC.
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Rookie Special on AIDS
Fifteen-year old Harlem Radio Rookie, Antoine Bazilio interviews Desmond, a 13 year old boy from Botswana who was born with HIV and lost both his parents to the virus. Desmond was in New York for the United Nations AIDS conference in 2001.
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Rookies on WNYC's On The Media

Harlem Radio Rookie Marc Delgado reports on his experience testing the U.S. Army's latest recruitment tool - a video game called "America's Army".
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Hunts Point Radio Rookie Janesse Nieves speaks about her "Media Diet".
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