Jack Rodolico

Jack Rodolico

Jack Rodolico comes to Latitude from the underpaid and overworked world of public radio internships. Before becoming a journalist and radio producer, he taught environmental and outdoor education for kids of all ages. His freelance stories have aired on public radio stations around the U.S.

Workers assemble a pre-production 2013 Dodge Dart at a Chrysler plant in Belvidere, Illinois, February 2, 2012.  (REUTERS/Frank Polich)

As U.S. jobs go overseas, foreign jobs come here – just not enough

by Jack Rodolico on May 18, 2012


It's no secret that American jobs are going overseas. But the money and the jobs are flowing both ways, showing the U.S. economy is only a gear in the global machine. ...
Ugandan activists hold placards and chant slogans during an anti-homosexuality protest rally in the industrial city of Jinja, 72 km (43 miles) east of the capital Kampala, February 15, 2010. (REUTERS/James Akena)

Gay marriage? No in North Carolina, no in Uganda

by Jack Rodolico on May 11, 2012


As the world responds to Obama's acceptance of gay marriage, opposing American forces influence gay rights abroad. ...
Dancers perform under the portraits of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung (L) and the late leader Kim Jong-il during a gala show in Pyongyang, April 16, 2012. The performances are part of the celebration on the centenary of the birth of Kim Il-sung. (REUTERS/Bobby Yip)

Picture This: Huger-than-life kings, dictators, and leaders

by Jack Rodolico on May 9, 2012


This week's photo gallery features mundane, profane and insane portraits of leaders. ...
Factory farming of tigers in row after row of enclosures at the Guilin Xiongsen Bear & Tiger Farm, South West China. (International Fund for Animal Welfare/Sinopix)

What’s worse – Chinese tiger farms or “pet” tigers in Ohio?

by Jack Rodolico on May 4, 2012


One crazy incident in Ohio could change our relationship with big, dangerous animals, especially tigers! ...
Student protesters take cover from a jet of water during a demonstration against the government demanding changes in the public state education system in Santiago, Chile, April 25, 2012. (REUTERS/Carlos Vera)

Tuition battle in U.S. is a thumb war compared with Chile and Quebec

by Jack Rodolico on April 27, 2012


Riot police and water cannons greeted college students around the Americas this week. How much is too much to pay for a college education?...
A combination of pictures shows members of Charlie Circle dressed up as Charlie Chaplin posing inside a studio during his birthday celebrations in Adipur

Picture This: Happy birthday, Charlie Chaplin – Love, India

by Jack Rodolico on April 18, 2012


Indian Chaplin fans honor the comedian on his birthday. Honestly, how could we not post this story?...
Breivik clenches his fist as he arrives to courtroom for the first day of his trial  in Oslo

Mass-murder trial begins in Norway – will the global press get it wrong?

by Jack Rodolico on April 16, 2012


Anders Behring Breivik goes on trial today for the murder of 77 Norwegians. As the world watches, one Norwegian wonders if the we'll continue to misinterpret the tragic story. (Photo: Reuters/Heiko Junge)...
A commemorative Titanic stamp from Gambia is seen on board the Titanic Memorial Cruise in the mid-Atlantic Ocean

How many Arab Christians died on the Titanic?

by Jack Rodolico on April 15, 2012


There are undoubtedly many stories that sunk with the Titanic. But Ray Hanania is haunted by a certain group of passengers from the ship: the untold number of Arabs. When Hanania reluctantly went to see James Cameron’s movie in 1997, he was caught off guard by a single word of passing dialogue: “yalla,” or “come ...
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Can Canadian kids handle more foul language than American kids?

by Jack Rodolico on April 13, 2012


Whether you see the version of Bully with three F-bombs or six, the context is far more offensive than the language. ...
U.S. Senators John McCain (L) and Joseph Lieberman (R) hold a Syrian refugee girl during their visit to Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province on the Turkish-Syrian border, April 10, 2012. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas)

Picture This: Ugly conflict reaches across Syria’s borders

by Jack Rodolico on April 11, 2012


As high-profile visitors are welcomed into a refugee camp on the Turkish border, shelling and gunfire continue within Syria and a Lebanese journalist was killed on the Lebanese border. ...
Two InterCityExpress high-speed trains of German railways Deutsche Bahn are seen in Munich, February 7, 2012. (REUTERS/Michael Dalder)

Why the U.S. doesn’t have high-speed rail – yet

by Jack Rodolico on April 6, 2012


If the federal government doesn't fund high-speed rail projects, it's doubtful the technology will ever grow in the U.S. Just look to China...and Germany, Spain, France and Japan. ...
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Joseph Kony’s new enemy, “Buy My Face,” and the Koch brothers

by Jack Rodolico on March 31, 2012


The African Union grows up, college students use a clever approach to getting rid of debt, and Al Jazeera takes a look at the Koch brothers...
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has not asked a question from the bench in six years. October 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Larry Downing)

Australian mocks U.S. healthcare debate

by Jack Rodolico on March 30, 2012


While the U.S. Supreme Court listened to arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act – a.k.a. Obamacare – the rest of the world seemed unimpressed. The Court dominated front pages and newscasts here, not so elsewhere. And then Guy Rundle weighed in. In Australia and the UK, Rundle is known for his sober, caustic ...
Student protesters burn tires during a protest against the government's plans to raise fuel prices. The protest took place in Medan in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, March 28, 2012. (REUTERS/Tarmizy Harva)

Indonesian petrol riots and the global debate on gas taxes

by Jack Rodolico on March 28, 2012


As Indonesians riot over the potential loss of a fuel subsidy, Latitude News wonders: How important is a gas tax to Americans? ...
Supporters attend East Timor's former military commander Jose Maria de Vasconcelos', also known as Taur Matan Ruak, presidential campaign at Letefoho village in Ermera district, March 13, 2012. Taur Maran Ruak came in second place in the first round of elections this week. (REUTERS/Beawiharta)

Photo Gallery: East Timor votes in peace

by Jack Rodolico on March 21, 2012


The U.S. would love to see vibrant democracies bud in the wake of the Arab spring. The Pacific-island nation of East Timor shows that the road to democracy is filled with bumps....
A woman at last year's St. Patrick's Day parade in New York. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

Mad Irish, sad Egyptians, and submarines for the superrich

by Jack Rodolico on March 17, 2012


For this week’s Saturday Mish Mash, we bring you three more stories from international headlines that we’re betting you missed. Don’t forget to contact us if you spot a quirky story. Keeping up with the Jones’ just got a little harder You know how it is: Once you settle down with your spouse and kids, ...
A gaucho barely hangs onto an unbroken horse during the Patria Gaucha Festival in Tacuarembo, Uruguay, March 10, 2012. (REUTERS/Andres Stapff)

Photo Gallery: Uruguay’s Wild Rodeo

by Jack Rodolico on March 14, 2012


La Fiesta Patria Gaucha is an annual festival celebrating rural traditions. The main attraction: cowboys riding wild horses. ...
Members of the Russian radical feminist group 'Pussy Riot' stage a protest performance in Red Square in Moscow

Videos that shook the world this week

by Jack Rodolico on March 10, 2012


For this Saturday’s Mishmash, we searched the entire world (on YouTube) for provocative or slightly offensive videos. Don’t worry, there’s nothing here your kids can’t watch. The three videos below created quite a storm of controversy in their home countries, and we hope they provide you with conversation fodder for your weekend gatherings. Click here ...
A young Italian drinks beer at a park in Milan, August 22, 2009. In July of that year, Milan became Italy's first city to crack down on youth drinking, issuing 500-euro fines for the possession and consumption of alcohol by under-16s or those selling to them. (REUTERS/Paolo Bona)

Underage drinking from Algeria to Zimbabwe

by Jack Rodolico on March 2, 2012


A citizen asks: How do different countries deal with underage drinking? Latitude News listens, then responds....
Demonstrators burn a British flag outside the British embassy in Buenos Aires

Argentina drums and sings for Falkland sovereignty

by Jack Rodolico on March 2, 2012


As the 30th anniversary of the Falkland Island War approaches, nationalistic tensions are bubbling in Argentina. And like many aspects of Argentine culture, the protests are fueled by music – plus a few squirts of lighter fluid. In recent months, the UK has been forced to respond to repeated provocations from Argentina, which claims the ...
Children take part in a protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Kafranbel, near Idlib, February 27, 2012. The word on the girl's forehead reads: "Freedom." (REUTERS/Handout)

Photo Gallery: Syria implodes as U.N. condemns Assad

by Jack Rodolico on February 29, 2012


Shelled cities, a defiant regime and thousands dead - the situation in Syria is going from bad to worse. This week's Latitude News photo gallery zooms in on the conflict. ...
Irish immigrants in Kansas City, Missouri in 1909. (Jeanne Boleyn)

Ireland’s brains drain to Australia

by Jack Rodolico on February 27, 2012


In response to our story about Polish immigrants going back to Poland, one Latitude News reader wonders if the same is true for the Irish. Latitude News investigates....
(Peter Drury/Waikato Times)

Angler hooks orca, mapping trenches and an Indian surf festival

by Jack Rodolico on February 25, 2012


A fisherman accidentally hooks a killer whale in New Zealand, India hosts its first surf competition and scientists shine light on the world's deepest spot - our look back at this week's unusual stories. ...
Police arrest an anti-government protestor during clashes in Senegal's capital Dakar. Feb. 19, 2012. (Reuters/Joe Penney)

Violent clashes ahead of Senegalese election

by Jack Rodolico on February 22, 2012


Rocks, batons, tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons - riot police have used whatever they can to subdue protests against President Wade's bid for a third term. But protestors are still hitting the pavement in Dakar, Senegal. ...
badge-red

Canada’s Indigenous music podcast

by Jack Rodolico on February 20, 2012


It’s always been tough to make it as an independent musician. Now one podcast is focusing on a sub-sect of the indie scene: Indigenous music. For the past six months, Revolutions Per Minute  (RPM) has been collecting and broadcasting Indigenous music from Canada and beyond. “RPM brings together musicians, fans, and listeners,” says their website, ...
An employee pastes gold leaves onto a client's face at the Viet My beauty salon in Hanoi, Vietnam. Viet My is one of a small number of salons in Vietnam that provides 24k gold leaf face mask therapy, said to help make skin whiter. A single facial costs 1.8 million Vietnam dong ($86.41). (REUTERS/Nguyen Huy Kham)

Photo Gallery: Valentine’s Day around the globe

by Jack Rodolico on February 14, 2012


Angela Merkel blushes, Thais kiss for two days and some Indians protest Valentine's Day. ...
British soldiers from 1 Royal Irish Regiment participate in an operation to secure the village of Musakala in Helmand province, Afghanistan, August 6, 2006. REUTERS/Cpl Rob Knight

The Irish-Afghan war

by Jack Rodolico on February 13, 2012


It’s easy to think of the War in Afghanistan as an “American” battle. But as of January 2012, 48 other nations had troops in the war-torn nation. While America’s 90,000 troops make about 70% of the total force, the British Amy ranks as the number two contributor with 9,500 troops. Since 2001, 394 British servicemen ...
Sheep shearing

Down Under’s toughest job

by Jack Rodolico on February 10, 2012


The economy of Hay in New South Wales, Australia runs on the sweat of shearers. It’s more than a job, it’s a lifestyle. Shearers live in bunkhouses together – they wake early, shear sheep for eight to ten hours, eat dinner, and then sharpen their tools before bed. And as you’ll see in this video ...
Romania's Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely stands in his office amidst Greenpeace protestors, who stormed his office holding banners reading "Save Rosia Montana." January 31, 2012. (Reuters/Bogdan Cristel)

In Romanian town, gold doesn’t glitter

by Jack Rodolico on February 9, 2012


Gold has been mined in the small Romanian town of Rosia Montana for over 2,000 years. But a new mine is dividing the town’s population into two bitter factions. Supporters say the Rosia Montana Gold Corp.’s gold mine will create 3,000 jobs and create an infrastructure that will be used for a long-term tourism industry. ...
The population of Winnipeg - the capital of Manitoba, Canada - is roughly 10% Aboriginal. (Canadian Government)

First Nation elders fight for Winnipeg’s youth

by Jack Rodolico on February 7, 2012


About 68,000 Aboriginal people live in Winnipeg, Canada, making the city home to Canada’s largest population of First Nations people. And many elders believe returning to their core spiritual values is the quickest way to save themselves from urban problems of addiction, obesity and crime. Manitoba’s prisons are home to a staggering number of First ...
Ear

Your body, one part at a time

by Jack Rodolico on February 6, 2012


First the ear, then the heart. Those are the body parts the Guardian is starting with in a new podcast called Body Pods. In each podcast, an artist and a scientist collaborate to explore a different body part. And if the first two are any indication of what to expect from the series, Body Pods will ...
surf tidal bore

Surfing Borneo’s tidal waves

by Jack Rodolico on February 3, 2012


The Batang Lupar River in Malaysian Borneo is home to two big forces of nature: saltwater crocodiles and tidal bores. Some surfers are willing to brave the former in order to enjoy the latter. The Canadian Broadcast Corporation’s Maria Bakkalapulo followed a group of surfers up and down the Batang Lupar as they surfed the ...
The Ocean 3 under arrest in Freetown, Sierra Leone. (Environmental Justice Fund)

Sierra Leone faces off with pirates — from South Korea

by Jack Rodolico on February 2, 2012


Pirates have made global headlines for capturing people off the coast of Somalia. But on the other side of the African continent, another group of pirates is quietly sneaking away with a different catch. In a two-part documentary, Al Jazeera films South Korean vessels fishing illegally in Sierra Leone’s coastal waters. Full of frozen fish, ...
nairobi skater

Nairobi’s skate punks

by Jack Rodolico on February 1, 2012


On the crowded streets of Nairobi, you can easily spot Leo Kilel. He’s the one that looks like he’s floating through the crowd. Leo is one of Kenya’s pioneering skateboarders. And in typical skateboarder fashion, Nairobi’s skateboarders have a propensity for homemade videos. While skateboarding has been a part of the American urban landscape for ...
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Whose fault is the euro crisis?

by Jack Rodolico on January 31, 2012


So who started the euro crisis? Everyone, it seems. And it was a long time coming. In a radio documentary for the BBC, Allan Little traces the euro crisis to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Italy, Greece and Spain have recently gotten a lot of press for poor financial decisions which are dragging down ...
A monk prays for a dead man in the Shanxi Taiyuan Train Station in Shanxi, November 25, 2011. (Reuters/Asianewsphoto)

The image that shocked China

by Jack Rodolico on January 31, 2012


Two images of dying Chinese have gone viral on the Chinese web. Our correspondent, Lin Gu, reflects on an introspective China. ...
gillard riot 2

Australian PM sheltered through angry mob

by Jack Rodolico on January 26, 2012


The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader were protected from an angry mob, shoved into vehicles and sped away. Protestors were enraged by a remark from the Opposition Leader. ...
Burundian drummers perform at a public event in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura. (Andreas31)

This Burundian Life

by Jack Rodolico on January 25, 2012


If you poke around for some information about Burundi, a tiny country is East Africa, you’ll find headlines about HIV/AIDS, civil war and political instability. Imagine Burundi, an English-language radio show from the capital Bujumbura, is trying to portray a more surprising and nuanced picture. Since 2010, Imagine Burundi has been working to end the ...
Afghanistan's remote mountains store trillions of dollars in mineral wealth. (U.S. Air Force)

Mining Afghanistan

by Jack Rodolico on January 24, 2012


Afghanistan sits on gargantuan deposits of untapped mining resources. And while the U.S. has been fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban, China and India have started securing mineral rights. Australia’s Background Briefing – a radio documentary program – takes an in-depth look at the future of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth. A state-run Indian mining company recently won ...
A motorized paraglider like the one George Stenmetz uses.

Africa from above

by Jack Rodolico on January 21, 2012


In the U.S., the news from Africa always seems negative. But George Steinmetz and the folks over at MediaStorm have shown there are a lot of reasons to be hopeful. At Latitude News, we are trying to bring you stories that see the world from a new angle. This slideshow makes the cut. Steinmetz presents ...
Polish MP Janusz Palikot lights incense with some marijuana in the Parliament building to test a new law on soft drugs. (Polska Agencja Prasowa/Jacek Turczyk)

Poland tokes doobie, Holland harshes mellow

by Jack Rodolico on January 20, 2012


Amsterdam, known for its free-wheeling drug culture, tries to rein in drug tourism. Poland, meanwhile, loosens up its pot laws. Somebody's smoking something......
Budwesier is the official beer of the World Cup. (www.neonsign.com)

Will the World Cup serve beer?

by Jack Rodolico on January 19, 2012


Beer and sports: some things are just inseparable. Not in Brazil. In 2003, alcohol was banned at all Brazilian football stadiums to reduce fighting between drunken fans. But when the World Cup comes in 2014, the ban may be lifted, if only temporarily. FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke is insisting that beer must be sold ...
Steve Lickteig and his birth-mother, Joanie, who he grew up believing was his oldest sister. (www.opensecretfilm.com)

Small town, big secret

by Jack Rodolico on January 18, 2012


Every family has secrets. Some are bigger than others. This American story caught our eye because it seems to be making a bigger splash abroad than at home – it was featured last spring at Hot Docs, the Canadian International Documentary Festival. Steve Lickteig grew up the youngest of nine kids (six sisters, two brothers) ...
The community of Rocinha sits above Rio be Janeiro, Brazil. (Credit: Chensiyuan)

Olympics, World Cup, military takeover in Brazil

by Jack Rodolico on January 13, 2012


When the Olympics and the World Cup come to town, you have to clean up the streets. Brazil is taking it to a whole new level. Two months after military police swept into South America’s largest slum, crime has dropped precipitously in the community of Rocinha. The so-called “pacification” comes ahead of the 2014 World ...
A button from the Anti-Falkland War campaign, UK, 1982.

Squid Wars in South America

by Jack Rodolico on January 12, 2012


We have Whale Wars. Now there’s a Squid War brewing in South America. Argentine Illex squid live for one or two high-octane years. Like most squid, they eat anything that moves, grow fast, migrate, reproduce, then die. Now Argentina is urging its fishermen to catch the mollusks before they migrate into the waters surrounding the ...
Rex Bloomstein has been filming the UK prison system for over 30 years. "Dying Inside" is his first radio documentary. (BBC Radio 4)

UK prisoners “Dying Inside”

by Jack Rodolico on January 11, 2012


There are more people incarcerated in the United Kingdom than any country in Europe. And the largest proportion of those prisoners are elderly, creating a growing burden on the UK prison system. At Latitude News, we want to bring your attention to thoughtful and though-provoking radio from around the world. So this BBC Radio 4 ...
The East African group raps about AIDS, human rights and al-Shabaab, an Islamist militant group who has attacked band members.

Somali youth rap about terrorism

by Jack Rodolico on January 10, 2012


Chuck D famously called hip hop the “CNN of the ghetto.” The Public Enemy leader probably never imagined rap would become the CNN of East Africa. The rap crew Waayah Cusub was founded in Nairobi, Kenya by Somali refugees. Frustrated by the violence that forced them from their homeland, the 11-member group has boldly taken ...