About Me

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Journalist and Producer Anita Woodley is from Oakland, California. Formerly she produced stories and was an on-air contributor to the nationally-syndicated public APM radio program, "The Story with Dick Gordon" co-produced by WUNC-FM. Anita's previously worked for other broadcast news organizations such as CNN, KRON-TV, WAGA-TV, KMTP-TV and KCBS-AM.

Anita's Accolades

• 2011/2012– Network Radio -Sports, “After Basketball” (National Association of Black Journalists)
• 2011/2012– Network Radio -Interview/Discussion, “Prison to Life” NABJ
• 2011/2012–Network Radio -Feature, Finalist “The Evolution of Malcolm Shabazz” NABJ
• 2011/2012 Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Grant Recipient, Durham Arts Council
• 2010/2011 – Network Radio -Sports, “Off the Corner” NABJ
• 2010/2011 – Network Radio -Interview/Discussion, “When Living in a Hotel is No Vacation” NABJ
• 2009/10 – Network Radio -Interview/Discussion, “Lessons from a Dropout” NABJ
• 2008 – Harry Chapin Media Award- Radio: Hunger and Poverty Coverage, “A New Life in a Foreclosed Home”
• 2008/2009 – Network Radio -Interview/Discussion, “Playground to Prison” NABJ
• 2008/2009 – Network Radio -Sports, “Courage on the Court” NABJ
• 2006 – Harry Chapin Media Award- Radio, Finalist “Gift of a Loan”
• 2001 – EMMY® Award, “CNN Exceptional Coverage on 9/11” NATAS
• 2000 – Francia Young Memorial Award “Most Promising Minority Journalist, Community
Leader and Scholar for exceptional work as a Journalist” SFSU/BECA Dept.
• 2000 – Recognition as a pioneer with contributions for others to follow, EOP/SFSU
• 2000 – Academic Excellence/All-University Undergraduate Honors/Magna Cum Laude, SFSU
• 1999 – Golden Key National Honor Society, Lifetime Member

Monday, February 11, 2008

Payday Lending

Payday Lending

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Lisa Engelkins

Lisa Engelkins

Lawmakers in Virginia, Kentucky and Colorado are considering tightening up the way payday lending institutions conduct business. These short term loans are designed to help people make ends meet between paychecks, but the interest rates they carry can veer upwards to 400%. As a result, many people get sucked into a vortex of never-ending debt.

Lisa Engelkins found herself needing money all the time in 1998. She was a single mom making $7 an hour at one of her jobs, and it just wasn't enough. So she went to a payday lender and before she knew it, was trapped paying off the same loan for nearly 2 years. She eventually clawed her way out of debt and is now a credit and housing counselor in Winston-Salem, NC.

Alba Onofrio

Alba Onofrio

Yet the issue may be more complex than some observers think. Alba Onofrio used to authorize the kinds of loans people like Lisa needed. While Alba didn't like the fact that such loans can overburden people, she makes the point to Dick Gordon that some people have no other option, and that imperfect help is arguably better than none at all.