Archive for August, 2010

A Golden Age in Journalism?

Monday, August 30th, 2010

As burgeoning technology writes and rewrites the profession and business – as it has been doing for many years – this writer/editor as instructor had tried for years to revise curriculum and syllabi to keep up with changes even though the uncertainty and warp speed of change seemed formidable. Cues  from recent graduates and seminars and discussion sessions and workshops were informative as the angst reverberated through various media about journalists whose careers and expectations seemed to be withering as newspapers cease to exist and layoffs seem to reign. So-called broadcast media also were effected.

How should students be informed was a regular concern as the tsunamic gloom and doom, amply supported by waves of anecdotes about the demise of this or the death of that or  the whatever tradition, swept forward. Now this, from Michael Mandel, a former chief economist at Business Week: The Evolution Of The Journalism Job Market: We May Be Headed Into A Golden Age.

First, the next jobs expansion is likely to be driven by a communications boom (see this paper I did for the Progressive Policy Institute).  Second, we may be headed into a Golden Age of Journalism, where the combination of the falling cost of communications and the high demand for news just opens up all sorts of possibilities for doing journalism in different ways.
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Read the rest of the article here.

Fox’s Six Tricks: How to Spot the Next Sherrod

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

By Mark Green, Huffington Post
Host, ‘Both Sides Now w/ Huffington & Matalin’,Columnist, the New York Observer

*Posted: August 4, 2010 09:21 A.M. — I know this isn’t exactly news but … neither is Fox. If the FTC could theoretically apply deceptive advertising laws to television content, there would be an hourly disclaimer on Murdoch’s network, “Video ads brought to you by the RNC” (e.g., Palin, Gingrich, Huckabee are employees). For professional reasons, I watch a lot of Fox News. And it’s not easy to fully convey its nightly mendacity.

Read entire column here.



* Playing catchup but catching up is happening.

The Public Discourse Deserves Better Than Steve King

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

By Michael Fauntroy, Huntington Post
Professor, Author, Columnist, Commentator at MichaelFauntroy.com.

*Posted: June 14, 2010 11:01 P.M. — I have heard a number of false allegations leveled against President Barack Obama – socialist, communist, illegal immigrant, terrorist sympathizer, etc. Iowa Congressman Steve King (R-Limbaugh/Coulter/Palin) took things to a new level when he said on G. Gordon Liddy’s radio show that “the President has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down the side of race – on the side that favors the black person.”

Read entire column here.



*Yes, June 14 is a long time ago but it’s been a busy summer for other matters and this writer is playing catchup.

Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor: Did Ed Kent Get It Right?

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

This editor/writer was interested, sort of, about the turnout and the karma for this Beck rally in D.C. today. Sort of, as in sometimes the editor watches the Super Bowl and sometimes the World Series and the NBA* finals on occasion. And, of course, how the news media would give it play and review, was of interest, probably more than watching the main event (which, because of the Internet, could be reviewed easily). Also: This could be interesting,  the size of the rally.

Hundreds of thousands were expected but early news reports, though not providing estimates that made sense, reported that tens of thousands had shown up or were showing up for not only Beck’s but one organized by The Reverend Al Sharpton.

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Conflicts & Transparency at the Washington Post

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

By Peter Hart August 24, 2010
Washington Post ombud Andy Alexander devoted his August 22 piece to lauding how the paper handles stories about its parent company and its various business entanglements – which, as he explains, are rather extensive. The Washington Post Co. owns Newsweek, several television stations, and the Kaplan company, which runs the for-profit Kaplan University, the subject of recent critical media reports.

At the end his piece, the FAIR Blogger Hart suggests that there is a better way for the Post to be slapped on the back. Read the rest here.

Wikileaks’ Julian Assange Was the Target of a Dirty Trick — NY Times Reports (in So Many Words)

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

So reporteth the Times:

LONDON — Julian Assange, founder of the whistle-blower Web site WikiLeaks who has been embroiled in a fight with the Pentagon over the recent release of classified documents, briefly became the focus of new attention on Saturday when Swedish prosecutors sought him for questioning on rape allegations — then quickly said the accusations were unfounded. — Full story here.

Wikileaks said in a blog post earlier than the Times’ breaking story:

On Saturday 21st of August, we have been made aware of rape allegations made against Julian Assange, founder of this project and one of our spokespeople.

We are deeply concerned about the seriousness of these allegations. We the people behind WikiLeaks think highly of Julian and and he has our full support.

While Julian is focusing on his defenses and clearing his name, WikiLeaks will be continuing its regular operations.

The WORD to Wikileaks: Release the Kracken, all 15,000 tenacles.

Frack the Tabloids: Why I Subscribe to The Chief and Encourage Savvy Students to Do the Same

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Editorial – The Chief
NYPD Crime Story

Copyrighted: “The $50-million lawsuit that Police Officer Adrian Schoolcraft filed against the NYPD and 11 of its supervisors is likely to send shock waves across the department if it ever goes to trial.

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