Archive for June, 2009

Time for Immigration Reform Is Now

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Editor’s Note: This editorial was produced in association with New America Media, a national association of ethnic media, and was published by ethnic media across the country this week to bring attention to the urgency of immigration reform.

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Gagging on the 360 News Super-Dose of Michael Jackson Eulogizing/Proselytizing?

Friday, June 26th, 2009

If so, check out Hannah Levine’s latest.

Meanwhile, I’m about to gag, though I do wonder how all those psychic mediums missed this one. I wonder if AC 360 plans to interview any.

[So, I’m emailing some for a response]

We All Gonna’ Die And Most Departures Won’t Make the Evening News But RIP Michael Jackson

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

Mom called me around 9 a.m. September 11, 2001, to tell me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.

“Turn on the television,” she said.

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Best Headline And Story of the Governor Mark Sanford Farce

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

“Sanford Admits Affair, State Paid for Argentina Trips” – From the Charleston City Paper

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Thoughts About “That” Mess in Albany?

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

I wrote the original text for this post  (well below the picture) a few hours before I watched the Tuesday 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. news; I’m not sure what was specifically bothering me then regarding the news coverage, probably that it was inadequate. Now, I guess I would have liked to have seen reporters getting in the faces of politicians and asking serious questions or asking serious follow-up questions to the lame responses from the few pols who wanted their faces in the evening and late evening news.

Viewers have been getting the typical unchallenged, wishy-washy responses, i.e. sound bites, allowed by TV reporters in the field. Most sound bites are awful.

I think now, on reflection, I wanted to see reporters assailing the pols the way it is done with perp walks.


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Protected: WORD Editor Back in Three Weeks (Check Out This Photo Documentary)

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

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NAM Calls on Ethnic Media to Take A Stand on Immigration Reform

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

From New America Media Executive Director Sandy Close:

For the first time, New America Media is asking ethnic media across the country with whom we work to take a collective editorial stand on an issue that directly impacts the lives of millions of our audiences: Immigration reform.

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A WORD Update

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

I’ve been experimenting with a variety of strategies regarding media devices and so-called social networking media like blogging, youtube, facebook, myspace, UWIRE, twitter, Current TV, et. al., so that, one, my classroom instruction, and two, my professional interests/goals, can try to keep up with the burgeoning technological advances in communication, i.e., the dissemination of news and news-like information.

I’ve been doing this as D:F/M gurus seem committed to D:F/M being as far behind innovation and creativity as an academic department can be during these robust times. I also have been experimenting with new forms of news-narrative-storytelling, such as in my feature writing class for the last few semesters (though the course should be named in-depth reporting or something even more imaginative).

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“This Video Will Piss You Off and Break Your Heart” — Robert Greenwood, Brave New Foundation

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Rethink Afghanistan: Civilian Casualties

Originally published in the WORD as an Op Ed in Byting Words.

“In New York, Number of Killings Rises With Heat”

Friday, June 19th, 2009

This New York Times June 18 special project on homicides in New York City provides good resource material for aspiring journalists interested in writing about, well, murder and crime. And I will most likely try to incorporate into the reading list of one of my advanced news writing classes. Story and the multimedia can be found here. And that recommendation allows me, in good conscious, to segue to this recollection: That period in my journalistic life when murder was on my mind.

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