I read the New York Times online every morning and was delighted to learn about the “Win a Trip with Nicholas Kristof” contest.  For those of you who don’t know, Nicholas Kristof is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who focuses on human rights issues, primarily in Africa and Asia. The 2010 winner of this contest, 19 year old Mitchell Smith from the University of Nebraska, accompanied Mr. Kristoff to Gabon, The Congo Republic, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa.  This was Mr. Smith’s first time abroad.

Mr. Kristof’s goal is to encourage young people to read about the human rights issues in Africa and Asia; his hope is that by having a young and fresh perspective report on the issues abroad, young readership will expand.

Please enjoy this video of Mr. Smith’s reflections on his experience traveling and learning with one of America’s finest journalists.  (Be prepared for a short ad – sorry, I have no control over this – but the video is worth watching!)

If you’d like to learn more about the “Win a Trip Abroad with Nicolas Kristof” contest, please play this video which explains last year’s contest.  (The 2011 application is not available yet.)