she-works:

Advice from Nina Totenberg, NPR

We want to hear from women: What’s your note to self – a piece of advice that’s helped you at work? Share your advice at http://she-works.tumblr.com

This is part of a special series from NPR on the Changing Lives of Women. Make your own digital sampler here. 

Before the age of computers and vinyl printers, sign painters worked by hand to illustrate storefronts, billboards and banners. Local craftsmen often developed a signature style that could distinguish a neighborhood, or even a city.

But technology made creating signs less expensive — and less expressive. Sign Painters, a new book and documentary written and directed by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, focuses on dozens of artists who are keeping the art alive.

Before Macon began working on the film, he said never thought much about sign painting.

“I had never really given any thought to the fact that this is someone’s job, and the fact that individuals across America were painting signs regionally that defined the way the United States looked,” Macon told NPR’s Neal Conan.

Once word got out about the project in the sign-painting community, they were flooded with personal stories. “We were totally inundated in the best way, and we ended up having more content than we could track down,” Macon said.

‘Sign Painters’: A Close-Up Focus On An Endangered Art

Video Credit: Faythe Levine & Sam Macon

That tasty cup of java from your favorite gourmet coffee shop began life on a farm thousands of miles away. Farmers who cater to the specialty coffee market compete on quality. And some use the higher prices their beans fetch to reinvest in their businesses and improve conditions for workers.

The Journey Of A Specialty Coffee Bean: From Cherry To Cup

Video Credits:
Produced by: Ben de la Cruz
Photographs by: David Gilkey
Correspondent: Allison Aubrey
Senior Producers: Alison Richards and Keith Jenkins
 

nprcodeswitch:

Mom Says: “Learn Chinese”: “By middle school, shame over my mom’s accented English made me ask her to stop volunteering to go on class field trips. She says she had been expecting the day to come when I found her embarrassing, whether it was because of language or just run-of-the-mill pre-teendom. Today, I still occasionally jump in and speak for her at places like doctor’s offices; fill out forms that she might not clearly understand or call the airlines on her behalf to change her flights.”

Photo Credit: Matt Stiles/NPR

Introducing Code Switch, a new blog on NPR covering race, ethnicity and culture. 

maggiestarbard:

NPR no more. #goodbye635 #nprlife

This just happened for NPR HQ! Don’t be too alarmed, we’re moving to a new building. -Emily

Photo Credit: Maggie Starbard

keithwj:

The Race Card Project from Michele Norris; now on NPR.

The Race Card Project is an occasional series with NPR Host/Special Correspondent Michele Norris where people can submit their thoughts on race and cultural identity in six words. Submit your own six word story on issues about cultural and racial identity at: www.theracecardproject.com.

Forty years ago, a caravan of more than 50 cars full of demonstrators pulled into Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. That day marked the beginning of a 71-day occupation led by members of the Oglala Lakota tribe and followers of the American Indian Movement, attempting to address long-standing grievances — not only with the U.S. government but also with tribal leaders.

Over those 71 days, Pine Ridge was effectively barricaded from the outside world. Electricity was turned off even though it was winter, and food and medical supplies were halted. Two Native Americans and one FBI agent died before the standoff ended.

A young Owen Luck got there on the fourth day. He had been a medic in the Vietnam War and was a fledgling photojournalist. “I had very little experience, and this would be considered my first shoot,” he says.

Forty years later, we chatted on the phone about the photos he took at Pine Ridge while serving as a medic and what he sees in them today.

A Photographer Remembers Wounded Knee, 40 Years Later

Photo Credit: Owen Luck

Come intern with us!

We’re looking for a couple awesome picture and multimedia editing interns for Summer 2013. The deadline is March 29. Music and science multimedia internships are also available. If you have any questions, ask away! -Emily (Summer 2011 intern)

NPR: Want to spend election night at NPR HQ in DC?

npr:

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be at NPR on election night? Here’s your chance to find out.

On Tuesday, November 6, NPR’s social media desk will host around two dozen of you at NPR headquarters in Washington DC. We’re looking for people from across the political spectrum – bloggers,…