Story Pitch 2012:
Who: Doreen Mocha-grandmother and British immigrant
What: Whether one immigrants view of America has changed greatly since she arrived sixty years ago. Why have her views changed/unchanged? What has made her alter her opinions? Certain events that have shaped her viewpoints over the years. What was the lure of coming to America to begin with?
When: Covering a period of sixty years since my grandmother arrived in the United States up till now.
Where: Interviewing her at NYC apartment about her views and opinions as an immigrant to this country.
Why: To understand and better grasp an outsider's stance on the United States and whether her ideas and opinions have changed since first immigrating to this country. Is the American dream still alive and thriving as it once had or have the aura and lure of America changed from events throughout time (e.g. 9/11, Vietnam, Watergate scandal, Gulf War, scandals, etc.)
How: First hand accounts from my grandmother, interviewing her using audio and video components, obtaining pictures that will help aid in telling her story. Asking detailed and specific questions to better enhance the story and bring to light any major differences in her time in the United States.
So What: I want to better illustrate whether one immigrants views of the United States has greatly altered over the years, and whether the American dream and hopes of a better life in America still burn as bright as they once had. Have traumatic events and downfalls affected her specific views on America? Is this still the land of the free and opportunity? Though it is one person's opinion, I feel that it is an extremely important topic to discuss with the way the United States has taken upon hard times through the years with 9/11, several wars, economic recession, world tension, etc.
How Am I Going to Cover This: I'm going to use several interviews with my grandmother at her NYC apartment, taping her conversations using audio and video to upload, covering a timeline of specific events she highlights in our conversations. I will be writing a thorough and detailed print article, describing her views and ideas of life in America. I will then add audio files and videos to better illustrate her stories and enhance the personal aspect she brings to this story. I will add a comments section to allow viewers to chime in on their own personal views on America, stories of their own immigrant family members and friends, and what they like/dislike about our country.
