Category Archives: News Media

Newspaper Editor Exposes His Sexual Preference, Readers Expose Their Hate

The editor of the tiny Desert Dispatch in Barstow, Calif., recently published an editorial about his support of gay rights issues, including gay marriage. Now, coming out in support of gay rights in a community like Barstow is going to make you as popular as a vegetarian in Oklahoma. But that’s not why editor ScottContinue reading “Newspaper Editor Exposes His Sexual Preference, Readers Expose Their Hate”

Peter Jennings Dies; Traditional Network TV News Not Far Behind

Peter Jennings wasn’t so much a giant as he was a constant – a familiar face and soothing, suave voice that was with us during the rise and more recent fall of network news. Others got better Q Ratings but few had more reporting experience. Jennings, along with CBS’ Dan Rather and NBC’s Tom Brokaw,Continue reading “Peter Jennings Dies; Traditional Network TV News Not Far Behind”

The Blog is Not (Necessarily) the Thing – The Journalist Is

I agree with Steve Rubel that “big media” needs to evolve if it hopes to survive – and that includes embracing the audience as both a contributor to news and as a consumer of news. But this doesn’t mean, as Steve suggests, that media companies need to go to an all-blog format. Blogs are aContinue reading “The Blog is Not (Necessarily) the Thing – The Journalist Is”

I Blog, Therefore I Hate Myself

Apparently some “journalist bloggers” don’t like PR people, and some PR people don’t like journalist bloggers because they apparently don’t “understand” PR. I’m a journalist blogger and a PR person, so therefore I must conclude that I hate myself. On the plus side, at least now I know how White House Press Secretary Scott McClellanContinue reading “I Blog, Therefore I Hate Myself”

Tales from the Dumb Side: Brit Hume Adds Insult to London’s Injury

Sometimes it takes an international tragedy to reveal the stupidity of those among us who dare to put on clothes, eat with opposable thumbs and call themselves humans. Add Fox’s Brit Hume to the list. During Fox’s coverage of the London bombings, Hume told Shepard Smith that his “first thought” upon learning of the attacksContinue reading “Tales from the Dumb Side: Brit Hume Adds Insult to London’s Injury”

Journalism’s “Black Wednesday” — NYT’s Judith Miller Goes to Jail

Today will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of journalism, of freedom of the press, of freedom, period. New York Times reporter Judith Miller is going to jail for not revealing her source in the Valerie Plame affair. Meanwhile, Time Magazine reporter Matthew Cooper is turning over his notes, andContinue reading “Journalism’s “Black Wednesday” — NYT’s Judith Miller Goes to Jail”

L.A. Times Blogs the Tour De France

Los Angeles Times columnist Diane Pucin is blogging from the Tour de France, which in itself is about as newsworthy as a bombing in Baghdad. But as with most things that are attempted for the first time, the significance lies more in the trying than in the doing. The Tour is a made-for-blogging event –Continue reading “L.A. Times Blogs the Tour De France”

Missouri Journalism School is Blind to Blogs

Missouri Professor Charles Warner has does yeoman’s work blogging about the Missouri School of Journalism’s 2005 Summer Conference. I followed the proceedings because 1) the topic, the “decline of media and journalism credibility,” sounded interesting, and 2) as a Missouri J-School alumnus, I like to keep tabs on where my annual donations are going. IContinue reading “Missouri Journalism School is Blind to Blogs”

There’s Nothing to Fear But Real Journalism Itself

Public broadcasting dodged a bullet – okay, a nuclear missile – when Congress, under pressure from who else, the public, decided not to cut 40 percent in federal funding to local PBS and NPR stations. At least Congress admitted its “about face,” unlike Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who apparently doesn’t think C-SPAN cameras andContinue reading “There’s Nothing to Fear But Real Journalism Itself”

“I, Reporter” to Focus on the “How,” Not just the “Who,” of Citizen Journalism

I am a fan, an advocate, a follower, a producer and an instigator of citizen journalism. Nothing makes me happier than seeing “ordinary” people realize that “freedom of the press” applies to them, too – or seeing “real” journalists recognize that their world is changing for good and, I believe, for the better. Nevertheless, withContinue reading ““I, Reporter” to Focus on the “How,” Not just the “Who,” of Citizen Journalism”