Welcome!

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog.

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Alex Rozier, a broadcast journalism major at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

In recent weeks I have been named a semi-finalist for YouTube's Project: Report in connection with the Pulitzer Center and Sony. Project: Report is an effort to encourage aspiring journalists to tell the untold stories in America.

In the first round I had the great honor of sharing the story of Amanda McDaniel. Amanda is an 18-year-old from Columbia, Missouri who has been fighting a courageous four-year battle with childhood bone cancer. I am thrilled the committee enjoyed the piece and provided me with the opportunity to advance.



Over the next few weeks I will be asking for your input as I work on my second round assignment. For this round the semi-finalists are to document an issue we feel is undercovered or inaccurately portrayed by the national media. I've decided to raise awareness about the world mobility problem.

It is estimated that there are more than 20 million people who are immobile worldwide. For people in poor countries, wheelchairs can't be used because they are unable to navigate through jungles, rocky areas, or dirt roads. This problem is one many people know very little about.

Thanks to the work of volunteers across the United States, devices are being made to help mobilize these individuals.

How do you feel I can best tell this story? What new media tools would you use to solicit input from others? Do you know any individuals I need to talk to about this issue? These are just a few of the questions I would like help with. Frankly, anything you can offer, I would appreciate.

This is a journey that is so close from being over, but so far from being done. To make this the best story possible, I need you. If you would like to learn about my focus on how one organization is trying to help with the challenge of mobility around the world. There are so many people who are unable to go short distances without the help of a friend or a family member. The PET Project is helping change that. You can read more about my focus on my PET Project page.

Thanks in advance.

-Alex
(You can also keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter)