Blackie Purring

Last month, the largest kosher meat processing plant in America was raided by immigration agents. More than 300 workers, one-third of the workforce at Agriprocessors in Iowa, were arrested in the sweep. The bust shines a light not only on the kosher meat market, but also on working conditions for vulnerable immigrants.

Reporter Kyle Gassiott visited the site of the plant, Postville, Iowa and he tells us what happened.

View the Slideshow: http://bit.ly/1AtEfIH

"Kosher Meat Plant's Immigration Woes" - Weekend America - June 7, 2008

When he was growing up in northeast Oklahoma, Kareem Salama knew that he wanted to be a cowboy. Now he's an aspiring country music star. He's also a practicing Muslim. He sees no contradictions in that, saying his upbringing in Oklahoma made it all possible. Reporter Kyle Gassiott brings us his story.

View the slideshow: http://bit.ly/1PfE5g2

"Muslim Cowboy" - Weekend America - December 6, 2008

Barack Obama will be sworn in as America's first African American president next year. But 2009 also marks the 70th anniversary of another event where race, politics and music collided: the 1939 Lincoln Memorial Concert featuring African American singer Marian Anderson. A mural in the Department of the Interior in Washington commemorates the event. 

Kyle Gassiott visited the mural and has this look at Anderson's legacy.

View the Image: http://n.pr/w2BVmH

"A Voice that Only Comes Once In a Hundred Years" - NPR's Intern Edition - December 12, 2008

Japanese Gardens - Birmingham Botanical Gardens

"What are you doing this weekend?" from Weekend America, Nov. 8, 2008

This story about Muslim country-western singer Kareem Salama was originally reported by Kyle Gassiott with narration for "Weekend America."  This version also produced by Kyle is non-narrated and aired 7/26/09 on the second episode of the BBC program "Americana."

BBC's Americana: Episode 9 26 Jul 2009 - "Muslim Cowboy"

I am a journalist with radio, print, web, and television experience at the national level as well as in both medium and small markets. My work as a reporter and producer has been aired on ABC’s Good Morning America, NPR’s All Things Considered, APM's Weekend America, and the BBC’s Americana. As a print and web journalist my work has been featured on ABCNews.com as well as NPR’s Vox Politics. My primary training is in investigative and political reporting as well as reporting and producing arts and cultural features.


Kyle Gassiott

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