2014 Hester Fellows Report on Research

Lidwina Bell ’15 reported on her project, “Hidden in the Fields: the Invisible Plight of Migrant Youth Farm Workers.” Last summer Lidwina observed first-hand the conditions of child migrant farm workers while visiting a migrant camp in North Carolina. Describing these child workers are the “most marginalized” individuals in the US, she gave a moving account of the ways child migrant workers are subject to harsh working conditions, denied educational opportunities, and subject to a variety of health risks. Her project also involved learning about advocacy for these children being conducted by the Child Labor Coalition and Children in the Fields campaign, and she suggested ways that students can help

Linda Krasniewski ’15 then spoke about her project, “Journalism and Social Media in China.” Working primarily in Shanghai, she researched the rise of social media, reporting that out of a population of 1.3 billion, 597 million are social media users. She reported that much of the new media is devoted to “infotainment” – news about celebrities, fashion, and lifestyle.  There was a special NCS connection to her work: Linda interned at a marketing company, AsiaMedia, run by NCS alumna Tina Kanagaratman ’79. As far as implications for the future, Linda noted that China is engaged in raising its “soft power” through the international distribution of media, literature, and film.

We congratulation both Fellows on their explorations!