VOA标准英语2010年-Website of the Week – The Root（在线收听）

News and analysis from an African American perspective

Art Chimes | Washington, DC 19 February 2010

Related Links
The Root

February is African American History Month here in the United States, and so this week we feature a site that looks at news and culture from a black vantage point.

"TheRoot.com is a news and analysis site that brings an African American perspective to world affairs, culture, and business. So that means we look at events that are taking place and we bring the particular perspective of our audience to these issues," explains managing editor Joel Dreyfuss.
TheRoot.com is overseen by editor-in-chief Henry Lewis Gates, the renowned Harvard University scholar.

Dreyfuss outlined the scope of what The Root covers. "We're actually primarily covering politics and culture. And often the intersection of those two. What you'll find on The Root is a series of articles, most of them are analytical or opinion pieces that bring some analysis to current issues of the day."

The content of what they call a daily online magazine is constantly changing, but a sampling of recent articles includes an exploration of what "black history" should include and a financial portrait of African-Americans. Dreyfuss says these stories and other content help paint a portrait for an international audience that may want to know more about black Americans.

"They can see what kind of issues are being debated. We try to give people a sense of the discussion that's taking place in black America, and what are some of the characters who may be less known but still culturally very important."

Joel Dreyfuss just came to The Root a couple of months ago, and he says he plans to increase coverage of business and the media. He also hopes to return to an early focus, genealogy, which is part of the reason this site on news and culture from an African American perspective is called The Root. Tap into the conversation at TheRoot.com, or visit our site, VOAnews.com, for the link to this and hundreds of other Websites of the Week.