Journalists from around the world share thoughts and views at forum in Tracy

TRACY – Ten news reporters from around the world participated in a journalist forum held in Tracy Monday night. The participants were from a variety of media as well as a plethora of countries.

Sharing their backgrounds and views on world news and U.S. Politics were Aurelio Tomas from Argentina, Nino Bucci from Australia, Vinicus Neder from Brazil, Marina Tsekova from Bulgaria, Xiaojuan Miao from China, Minna Asikainen from Finland, Tania Montalvo from Mexico, Nicholas Ibekwe from Nigeria, Yasmine Ryan from Tunisia and Nataliia Lutsenko from Ukraine.

Editor and publisher of the Tracy Headlight-Herald Seth Schmidt served as moderator and introduced event coordinator and director of the World Press Institute David McDonald. McDonald, in turn, introduced each of the visiting journalists.

Schmidt then led the panelists through a series of questions so that the two dozen or so guests could learn more about the panelists. They were asked to tell about themselves, their countries and what their journalistic specialties were.

Tomas writes about Argentine foreign policy and does investigative pieces on corruption for Diario Perfil newspaper.

Bucci writes crime and justice pieces for The Age newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.

Neder is a business and economic reporter for the O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper in Rio De Janerio. He covers issues of banking, economic policy and sustainable development.

Tsekova is a reporter, producer and news anchor for Nova TV in Sofia, Bulgaria. She writes investigative reports, produces documentary program and anchors a morning news program for her television station.

Miao is a journalist for English social media team Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, China. She writes about major political and cultural events in English for various media platforms for her news agency.

Asikainen is a content manager for Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) in Helsinki, Finland. She works in TV, radio and online and is in charge of all those platforms for Yle.

Montalvo is a political reporter for Animal Politico online media in Mexico City. She does reports and investigations into government budgets, corruption and organized crime for AnimalPolitico.com.

Ibekwe is the deputy head of investigations for Premium Times online/digital media in Abuja, Nigeria. He writes investigative reports and features for Premium Times online media and produces documentaries for other media outlets.

Ryan is a freelance journalist for U.S. British and Arab media outlets. She has reported for the past five years in Tunisia and has also covered news from Libya and Algeria for various media outlets.

Lutsenko is a journalist for international affairs for ICTV in Kiev, Ukraine. She reports on international politics, culture and the economy for the news program titled “Facts” on her station.

Each panelist has reported on major events in their countries as well as worldwide terrorism, and some have even been afraid for their lives because of the subjects they have covered.

“In the U.S. you are not likely to be found beheaded in the woods,” Lutsenko said. “We had a case like that.”

When asked their opinion of American news coverage of the presidential race, Tsekova said, “We try to give both candidates the same amount of time and space. I feel it is not equal here (in the U.S.).”

A couple of journalists said they didn’t think that the United States was doing enough for refugees and were also afraid that if Donald Trump was elected president, aid to impoverished countries would be cut off because Trump said he would charge them for it.

Comments regarding the United States’ constitutional rights included the observation by Asikainen that the American people want freedom of speech, but when it comes to having their comments quoted in the press, they want to stop freedom of the press.

“Everywhere you have a lot of freedom with the media, people do not feel free to speak,” Tomas said.

“What’s the most effective means to combat people joining ISIS?” Schmidt asked.

The general consensus was through better education and giving people jobs. Combatting poverty will keep people from joining ISIS.

“The kind of vacuum we have (in Nigeria) is created by insufficient income (economic lack),” Ibekwe said. “People who are extremely poor, no money, no clothes, nothing. Young people who have to beg for a living are easily recruited.”

Bucci agreed, saying, “Yes, for the most part, we’re talking about disassociated young men. In Australia, there are a lot of the issues are around identifying the poor part of our country. They say, ‘I don’t belong anywhere,’ and the (recruiting propaganda) sounds good.”

“Keep the boys off the streets and give them good educations and employment,” Miao added. “Minimize their hate, maximize commitment.”

“We need contra-propaganda,” Asikainen said.

A question regarding global warming came from the galley of guests. The first answer came from Montalvo. She explained that Mexico has become more interested in climate changes since the pattern of hurricanes has recently changed. Over five years ago, only about three hurricanes would attack her country per summer. Last year, there were 10, and one from the Pacific and one from the Atlantic hit Mexico at the same time.

“It completely destroyed two countries,” she said. “We’re trying to change our climate policy. Complete flooding occurs in one area and in other parts, complete drought.”

She went on to say that Mexico is working toward clean energy.

Miao said that Chinese people believe in global warming, but has a big problem with policing it. They, too, were transitioning to green energy and creating more jobs around it.

Another question from the galley was, “Do you see more than the nice places on this tour?”

“I find it interesting that you’re country is supposed to be wealthy, but in Washington, D.C., if you go a few blocks in the wrong direction, you can get mugged,” Bucci said.

At that, a woman in the galley spoke up saying that she grew up in the South and has been to Washington, D.C. She gave advice to the journalists to go out in groups, not alone, and avoid areas with lots of bars in them, and they should be fine.

The panelists were asked their opinions on gun control. Most of them tied gun control to the sale of unlawful drugs.

“The U.S. has gotten itself into a big mess for not making it harder for people to get their hands on guns,” was one comment. “‘Let’s get a gun and shoot it out’ is madness.”

Most of the countries represented have only hunting guns in the possession of the people. Some countries do not even arm their police officers, so the panelists had a hard time understanding U.S. policemen shooting civilians.

“Seventy percent of the guns recovered by police in Mexico during drug raids had been obtained in the U.S.,” Montalvo said.

Even people in China are taught that if you’re in the U.S. and you don’t “freeze,” you could get shot by the United States police.

“We Chinese accept your culture, your movies and even your fast food,” Miao said with a smile, “but not your guns.”

“It is hard for me, as a black man, to hear of the United States shootings of black youths,” Ibekwe said. It made him leery of sending his sons to visit the United States.

Former teacher Roger Kiihn of Tracy stood up for the American policemen.

“Guns and gangs come from drug sales,” he said. “We don’t have all perfect people. In most situations, there’s such a short time in which to make the decision. We’ve got to control the drug problem first.”

He went on to say that he didn’t think there was anyone in the Tracy area with a machine gun. They don’t even have police officer in town.

“There may not be solutions for the drug and guns issues,” Tomas said. “The U.S. should invest more into schools and turning kids away from drugs.”

“Is it because the punishment for drug crime here is so low?” Mio asked. “China has capital punishment.”

“In Mexico, 10 grams equals 20 years in jail,” Montalvo said. “We need education so people are not abandoned in jail.”

She and Tomas said there was another solution, too: To legalize the drugs.

“Some states have tried a new direction,” Tomas said. “Wyoming has no problem with marijuana. If it’s not hurting anyone else, leave them alone. There’s no place more peaceful than a cemetery.”

As a wrap-up question from Tracy resident Will Nelson, the journalists were asked what one question they would ask the presidential candidates if they had the opportunity. A couple of them ventured to say they would ask the candidates for more clarification on their foreign policies.

The visiting journalists stayed in the homes of Tracy area residents Sunday night and Monday night before proceeding on with the rest of their tour. While here, they took in the Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove and the Pipestone National Monument as well as local farms. They will be taking in the presidential debate in St. Louis and will visit Washington D.C. as well as other major U.S. cities.