Forget Hollywood and Bollywood — Here comes Novelawood!

By Arelis Hernández, Washington, D.C. 2004
Originally published as part of the New York Times 2007 Student Journalism Institute. Arelis Hernandez was recently named one of the UWIRE 100, a yearly compiled list of the country’s top college journalists.

Telenovela actress Jenny Arraiz, 28, by Marie de Jesús/New York Times Institute

As a little girl in Venezuela, Jenny Arraiz was never allowed to watch telenovelas. Her mother said there was too much kissing, but that didn’t stop Jenny from sneaking a peek as the blind Topacio — the title character in a 1984 hit — married a rich man and regained her sight.

Twin Cities Dragon Festival 2008

By Ian Yue, New York 2006
Originally aired on KFAI, July 14, 2008.

July 12-13, 2008, marked the 12th year of the Twin Cities Dragon Festival, the state’s largest festival celebrating Asian American culture. While the event featured various cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, and lots of Asian cuisine, a major focus was on the Dragon Boat Races. KFAI’s Ian Yue was on the scene for the weekend event.

Standing up for stripping down

By Naresh Rammohan, New York 2006, and Marlei Martinez
Republished from RTN 205.2.

Taken by Marlei Martinez

The New York Giants versus Arizona Cardinals game blared on the television screen as John Tidd put out his cigarette in the ashtray next to his computer keyboard. Scattered piles of paperwork, plastic kids’ meal toys and hot pink high heels littered the area around his desk. An eye patch covered his right eye because he recently suffered an eye stroke. But even that did not prevent the burly businessman from finding his Marlboro pack in his breast pocket and lighting up another cigarette.