2008 Woodie Awards
Our Take
Majority opinions of The Red & Black's editorial board
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Opinions
Peabody privilege
University gains prestige from awards the Grady College community judgesThe Peabody Awards were announced Wednesday, and among the winners are some shows you've probably seen and enjoyed yourself: Tina Fey's "30 Rock," Bravo's "Project Runway" and the indomitable "Colbert Report." These shows were among the best 35 offerings in the world of broadcast this year. Most of the others were television documentaries or news programs.
How does this affect the University? The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is the institution in charge of awarding the Peabody prize annually, and it is one of the University's highest-profile newsmaking actions each year.
The Peabody Awards began in 1941 as the first ever awards for radio programming. They now encompass all of broadcast television, and also are considered the highest awards internationally for excellence in broadcasting.
One of the great things about the Peabodys is the selection committee is open to students at the University. Grady College students may apply to participate in the award process and are given tickets to the award ceremony in New York. This year's host will be NBC anchor Brian Williams. Past hosts include Jon Stewart, Katie Couric and Bob Costas.
It is a privilege to attend the parent university of Grady College, and a benefit, especially for those students in the journalism school themselves. The Peabodys are one of our oldest and best traditions, and we take Bulldog pride in Grady for upholding this part of our legacy.
- Matt Brandenburgh for the editorial board
Misguided efforts
While camping out in Tate Plaza may be fun, it doesn't benefit the homelessThere's a difference between sympathy and empathy.
We applaud Habitat for Humanity for all the work it does to help the underprivileged. The sympathy and passion for the homeless it has and tries to pass on to others through events such as Habifest are things we all need to keep in mind in today's society.
All that said, something about walking through Tate Plaza to see some of the University's students sleeping in cardboard boxes to emulate homeless life rings false. It's the attempt at empathy that rubs us the wrong way.
If you want to help homeless people, volunteer to go out and give them food. Help them find a job.
If you want to raise student awareness of the homeless, bring them to classes. Have them tell their stories. That's a step above what most students do when they see the homeless while hopping from bar to bar - nothing.
If you want to emulate homeless life, give up all your amenities and luxuries and live among the homeless. Spend some time in Tent City, a place on the east side of town where many homeless live.
Don't sleep in front of Tate and expect the looks you get from passersby to be the same a homeless person gets. Expect those looks to be more like the ones you get when you have a bad hair day or spinach in your teeth.
- Phillip Kisubika for the editorial board
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Sara Fish
posted 4/03/08 @ 10:56 PM EST
Re: Kisubika's 'Misguided' Assessment
To Whom It May Concern:
Mr. Kisubika's brief but severely misguided assessment of UGA Habitat for Humanity's Habifest night in Tate Plaza points exactly to the reason why we hold such advocacy events on campus. (Continued…)
Lee Ellen Carter
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:04 AM EST
Re: Kisubika's "'Misguided' Efforts"
To Whom It May Concern:
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness around the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. (Continued…)
palace dweller
posted 4/04/08 @ 8:21 AM EST
You just look like a bunch of suburban kids living in boxes. Call it advocacy. But I would argue many would see it as a mockery. While you struggled in your box, so did everyone in tent city. (Continued…)
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