http://concernedjournalists.org/ccj_rss English http://concernedjournalists.org/join-us-path-forward Please join host Tom Brokaw and The Committee of Concerned Journalists for dinner and a panel discussion with some of the most respected reporters and political thinkers in the country. http://concernedjournalists.org/join-us-path-forward#comments Today's Headlines Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:55:49 -0500 Committee of Concerned Journalists 1220 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/shaky-ethics-theres-questionable-theres-shameful-and-then-theres-nbc-news When NBC News enlisted retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey as a military analyst, its journalistic sin was not merely withholding his ties to defense contractors. The greater sin was using him at all. http://concernedjournalists.org/shaky-ethics-theres-questionable-theres-shameful-and-then-theres-nbc-news#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:18:14 -0500 Jon Margolis 1219 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/africa-tribal-europe-ethnic-power-words Media outlets blamed this summer's fighting in South Ossetia on nationalism. But when post-election violence swept Kenya, the media pointed the finger at tribalism. It's a difference of just one word, but oh, such a word. http://concernedjournalists.org/africa-tribal-europe-ethnic-power-words#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:19:44 -0500 Keith Somerville 1218 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/chill-baby-chill-when-campaign-over-why-do-we-keep-talking The search for meaning is a never-ending quest for political reporters. Just because we have no news to support a supposition is no reason to stop now. Actually, come to think of it, it is. http://concernedjournalists.org/chill-baby-chill-when-campaign-over-why-do-we-keep-talking#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:38:41 -0500 Jon Margolis 1217 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/don-t-know-much-about-history What journalists don't know about the past jeopardizes their ability to put the present in context. And if voters don't fully understand the present, what kind of decisions will we make about the future? http://concernedjournalists.org/don-t-know-much-about-history#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:17:08 -0500 Tom Avila 1216 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/its-my-country-and-ill-cry-if-i-want Regardless of whom you voted for, you might have cried, too, when the nation elected its first black president Tuesday. How can I be objective and a little misty-eyed? Because nothing in the journalist's rule book precludes us from being human. http://concernedjournalists.org/its-my-country-and-ill-cry-if-i-want#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:37:47 -0500 Tracy Thompson 1215 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/covering-politics-maybe-someday-well-get-it-right The winner in the presidential race is finally known, but we've known for awhile that in many ways, journalism has been the loser this campaign season. Here's why. http://concernedjournalists.org/covering-politics-maybe-someday-well-get-it-right#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:28:33 -0500 Jon Margolis 1214 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/what-campaign-teaching-me-opposite-hate-journalism The single best antidote to hate is knowledge. Not of plumbing licenses and long-ago associates, but of the things that help us understand our lives and society. What the world needs now is not love, but journalism. http://concernedjournalists.org/what-campaign-teaching-me-opposite-hate-journalism#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:46:10 -0400 Tom Avila 1213 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/sports-coverage-your-station-getting-low-ratings-dont-drop-it-fix-it TV consultants say only 25% of viewers care about sports, prompting stations to reduce sports coverage. But maybe that missing 75% of the audience just doesn't like how sports are covered. Want to win back those viewers? http://concernedjournalists.org/sports-coverage-your-station-getting-low-ratings-dont-drop-it-fix-it#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:14:06 -0400 C.A. Tuggle 1212 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/social-security-doomed-nope-it-great-example-bad-master-narrative Remember when your mom chided you with, "If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you jump, too?" Tom Brokaw - and all reporters - would do well to remember that just because everyone says the same thing doesn't make it true. http://concernedjournalists.org/social-security-doomed-nope-it-great-example-bad-master-narrative#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:36:47 -0400 Jon Margolis 1211 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/sky-falling-and-were-all-going-die It's true. The sky IS falling - if you consider plunging comets part of the sky. And we ARE all going to die - if you consider life a terminal condition. But in today's drive-by media culture, we may not notice that being accurate and being right aren't always the same thing. http://concernedjournalists.org/sky-falling-and-were-all-going-die#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:18:47 -0400 Tom Avila 1210 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/unasked-question-financial-crisis The single mom whose mortgage cost more than her entire annual salary? The engineer who had two mortgages to buy a $725,000 house with no money down? Understanding those motivations, along with whatever thinking was done on Wall Street, would help explain our financial mess. http://concernedjournalists.org/unasked-question-financial-crisis#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:21:26 -0400 Tracy Thompson 1209 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/welcome-my-small-town-place-political-journalists-really-should-visit-someday My Main Street is not the busiest street in town. People here know that a "blank check" is not the same thing as "carte blsnche." And their values? Let me tell you ... http://concernedjournalists.org/welcome-my-small-town-place-political-journalists-really-should-visit-someday#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:41:51 -0400 Jon Margolis 1208 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/post-modern-campaign-needs-political-reporters-who-are-rooted-now Take the "ironic self-reference" definition of post-modern, and you have an apt description of the race for the White House: Can John McCain use e-mail? Did Barack Obama call Sarah Palin a pig? Can we get back to the issues? http://concernedjournalists.org/post-modern-campaign-needs-political-reporters-who-are-rooted-now#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:17:53 -0400 Jon Margolis 1207 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/we-have-met-copy-editor-and-he-us I used to think that copy editors were put in the newsroom to irritate me by asking tedious questions. But now their ranks are dwindling, forcing all of us to become copy editors. The consequence? Errors that make it into the paper are rising. How can we monetize accuracy? http://concernedjournalists.org/we-have-met-copy-editor-and-he-us#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:25:44 -0400 Tracy Thompson 1206 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/i-assume-therefore-i-blog-quaintness-fact-checking-blogosphere Old Media have one approach: Hear something, verify it, print it. Some members of the New Media take a different tack: Weave some facts into an assumption and then go to town with it. Which method serves the public better? http://concernedjournalists.org/i-assume-therefore-i-blog-quaintness-fact-checking-blogosphere#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:02:24 -0400 Jon Margolis 1205 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/get-out-your-chairs-and-yell-im-elitist-and-im-proud-heck Worried about looking smarter than your audience? Maybe you are smarter, if only because you're smart enough to have questions and get answers. Here's why you need to embrace your inner nerd. http://concernedjournalists.org/get-out-your-chairs-and-yell-im-elitist-and-im-proud-heck#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:37:45 -0400 Tom Avila 1204 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/quick-check-election-coverage-lets-head-shallow-end-pool Political news has taken a short holiday, giving us a chance to do what we often don't have time for - think about how we do our jobs. We'll start with whether journalists should cover the conventions. Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:26:45 -0400 Jon Margolis 1203 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/behind-politicians-lie-process-where-principles-confront-reality Take a look behind Barack Obama's statement last week on offshore drilling, and you'll get a good look at the Washington culture of horsetrading. Some of the media's coverage, however, was rooted in quite another culture. http://concernedjournalists.org/behind-politicians-lie-process-where-principles-confront-reality#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:07:06 -0400 Jon Margolis 1202 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/when-lifes-private-twists-and-turns-become-stuff-book-tours One writes about her sex life. Another about his drug life, and yet another about his role in a national scandal. Are we reading journalism, learning about the human condition, or have we become the literary equivalent of peeping Toms? http://concernedjournalists.org/when-lifes-private-twists-and-turns-become-stuff-book-tours#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:54:02 -0400 Tracy Thompson 1201 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/we-knew-we-were-doomed-when-cbs-led-tiger-woods Little more than a month ago, Beth Malicki and her colleagues at KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were broadcasting up to 20 hours a day to cover the flood that had crippled their town. Now, the water is down and the national media have gone. But for local journalists, the story continues. http://concernedjournalists.org/we-knew-we-were-doomed-when-cbs-led-tiger-woods#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:17:14 -0400 Beth Malicki 1200 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/you-want-label-journalists-can-you-come-52-000-labels The liberals think journalists are too conservative, just as conservatives think journalists are too liberal. Who's right? Everyone is, and here's why. http://concernedjournalists.org/you-want-label-journalists-can-you-come-52-000-labels#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:33:15 -0400 Jon Margolis 1199 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/new-yorker-started-joke-which-started-whole-blogosphere-yelping Here's a novel idea: Instead of leaping to the barricades in high dudgeon over the hyperbolic sarcasm of the New Yorker's Obama cover, how about taking a long, honest look at it first? http://concernedjournalists.org/new-yorker-started-joke-which-started-whole-blogosphere-yelping#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:01:45 -0400 Tom Avila 1198 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/everyone-has-angle-even-historians-other-academics Looking for a dispassionate opinion, a source who has no dog in the particular fight that you're writing about? Don't let that Ph.D. or other academic trappings fool you - such experts usually have a bias that your readers should know about. http://concernedjournalists.org/everyone-has-angle-even-historians-other-academics#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:59:18 -0400 Bob Bateman 1197 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/obama-mccain-are-spies-mars-oh-boy-time-tune-your-spaminator The rampant rumors spawned on the campaign trail should be making everyone's spaminator - that filter that separates truth from hogwash - working overtime. And it raises an intriguing question: How do we know what we know? http://concernedjournalists.org/obama-mccain-are-spies-mars-oh-boy-time-tune-your-spaminator#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:15:08 -0400 Tracy Thompson 1196 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/great-wesley-clark-flappette-how-media-picked-fight-didnt-exist Sure is a great story when a retired general casts aspersions on John McCain's military record. Too bad it never happened. Welcome to another episode of the soap opera that is this year's campaign coverage. http://concernedjournalists.org/great-wesley-clark-flappette-how-media-picked-fight-didnt-exist#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:00:33 -0400 Jon Margolis 1195 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/i-say-potato-you-say-arugula-lets-talk-same-language Language is such a wonderful, dangerous thing. We say one thing, but too often something else is heard. For example, there's this listserv in my neighborhood, and a recent controversy holds an important lesson for journalists. http://concernedjournalists.org/i-say-potato-you-say-arugula-lets-talk-same-language#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:54:01 -0400 Tom Avila 1194 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/follow-money-great-advice-break-ins-and-policy-decisions When President Bush and John McCain came out in favor of lifting the ban on offshore drilling to lower the price of gas, did anyone ask whether it would actually work? Darned few - and here's how more could have done it. http://concernedjournalists.org/follow-money-great-advice-break-ins-and-policy-decisions#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:55:21 -0400 Jon Margolis 1193 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/sheriff-cried-next-me-air-tonight When the water started to rise in Iowa, Beth Malicki did what dozens of her fellow journalists did: She went to work. For 10 hours a day and more, day after day, the anchor and reporter for KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids was on the air with the latest news. In an e-mail to friends, she describes the pain of watching a community she loves cope with the devastation. http://concernedjournalists.org/sheriff-cried-next-me-air-tonight#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:01:26 -0400 Beth Malicki 1192 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/journalists-bloggers-mutual-incomprehension When do bloggers become journalists? We'll figure it out, but not until both camps understand what the other does. Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:21:43 -0400 Tracy Thompson 1191 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/its-also-war-stupid To paraphase a slogan that James Carville used to help put Bill Clinton in the White House, political pundits are forgetting a significant nail in the coffin of Hillary's presidential hopes. http://concernedjournalists.org/its-also-war-stupid#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:17:48 -0400 Jon Margolis 1190 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/watch-out-its-media-stampede The reporters and editors who cover campaigns can get mighty skittish out on the trail, especially when technology is involved. It doesn't take much - a Blackberry, a cell phone, a Web traffic report - to set off a mad rush to publication. Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 27 May 2008 08:02:30 -0400 Jon Margolis 1189 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/same-sex-marriage-and-civility-am-i-talking-myself The online comments section that is attached to online news stories should be our new public square. But when the news story involves a hot-button topic like same-sex marriage, that public square often shrinks to the size of a single soap box. http://concernedjournalists.org/same-sex-marriage-and-civility-am-i-talking-myself#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 16 May 2008 18:15:29 -0400 Tom Avila 1188 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/take-crash-course-real-world-101 Reporters need to know stuff - not just the stuff of the immediate story, but the stuff of the world behind the story. It's the stuff sources might not mention, but it's the stuff that drives the story. Take, for example, the real reason behind Barack Obama's loss in West Virginia's primary. http://concernedjournalists.org/take-crash-course-real-world-101#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 13 May 2008 10:25:06 -0400 Jon Margolis 1187 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/bad-war-bad-science-bad-reporting-take-your-pick My job is to go to war, if ordered. Your job, the job of a journalist, is to challenge the facts you are given. One of us is not doing their job very well. http://concernedjournalists.org/bad-war-bad-science-bad-reporting-take-your-pick#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Sat, 10 May 2008 18:51:35 -0400 Bob Bateman 1186 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/miss-pettigrew-vents-day This year's White House correspondents dinner was a star-studded glamfest as journalistas-turned-fashionistas nibbled on Tunisian tabil-seared salmon and posed for pics with the prez. Huh? Are these really the people we trust to hold power to account on behalf of the average citizen? Let the venting begin. http://concernedjournalists.org/miss-pettigrew-vents-day#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 02 May 2008 09:54:59 -0400 Tracy Thompson 1185 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/elite-not-dirty-word Yes, you heard me. Journalists, who should know the meaning of words, have the latest dustup on the campaign trail all wrong. An elite politician is somebody who could - and maybe should - be elected. Political snobs, however, are another matter. http://concernedjournalists.org/elite-not-dirty-word#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:13:22 -0400 Jon Margolis 1184 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/care-and-feeding-military-analysts A recent front-page story recently broke the news that civilians in the Pentagon try to influence the military analysts who appear on TV news shows. And if you read deep into the story, you might have found some real news. Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:25:00 -0400 Bob Bateman 1183 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/boys-who-were-girls-who-are-boys-who-girls Gender can be complicated. For example, how many genders are in the English language? Two? Three? (Actually, four: male, female, neuter and common.) What gender should journalists use when referring to transgender individuals, whose biological and gender identities may not be the same? The answer is actually pretty simple. http://concernedjournalists.org/boys-who-were-girls-who-are-boys-who-girls#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:39:26 -0400 Tom Avila 1182 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/take-visit-patchwork-nation An innovative look at America's voters finds them living in Evangelical Epicenters, Tractor Country and Service Workers Center - three of 11 communities tagged by journalist Dante Chinni and professor James Gimpel as emblematic of their greater communities. This is a gimmick that Margolis can get behind. http://concernedjournalists.org/take-visit-patchwork-nation#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:33:14 -0400 Jon Margolis 1181 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/where-do-we-get-such-men When news of the death of Bob Greene, Newsday's legendary investigative reporter, reached a poster at Gawker.com, he wrote: "Whenever some old warrior, someone I respect dies, for some reason the old line from a war film comes to mind." Greene helped Newsday win two Pulitzers for Public Service. http://concernedjournalists.org/where-do-we-get-such-men#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:23:04 -0400 CCJ staff 1180 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/bam-pow-zap-really "Bare-knuckled brawl"? The Clinton-Obama contest? Really? Get a grip - or at least a memory. Political compaigns have been much nastier in the past - and even then the animosity didn't inflict the lingering damage that columnists are predicting today. http://concernedjournalists.org/bam-pow-zap-really#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:52:56 -0400 Jon Margolis 1179 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/conflict-and-conflation-race-and-gender Obama could have been speaking for journalists when he spoke of choosing between "division, and conflict, and cynicism" or a new way. But not all reporting on how race and gender is playing a role -- and taking its toll -- is quite getting it. http://concernedjournalists.org/conflict-and-conflation-race-and-gender#comments Articles In the Spotlight Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:00:44 -0400 Tracy Thompson, Author and CCJ Trainer and Contributing Writer 1178 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/cartoon An original Marlette editorial cartoon that adorns our offices was drawn a generation ago about race and another presidential race. But it still speaks volumes about politics and the power of editorial illustration. http://concernedjournalists.org/cartoon#comments Articles In the Spotlight Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:21:10 -0400 Patricia Ryan, CCJ staff 1177 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/dial-r-reality It's 3 in the morning. Somewhere, a phone is ringing in a newsroom. The latest campaign ad is raising all sorts of questions about who is more fit for office. But is the ad grounded in the real world, or only the world of TV ads? When the answer is just a phone call away, why did it take so long for someone to start dialing? http://concernedjournalists.org/dial-r-reality#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:10:48 -0400 Jon Margolis 1176 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/down-war-campaign Two stories with decidedly different trajectories -- the Iraq war and "the earliest-starting campaign in U.S. history" -- dominated the headlines in 2007, according to the 2008 Project for Excellence in Journalist State of the Media report. http://concernedjournalists.org/down-war-campaign#comments Articles Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:59:08 -0400 John C Abell 1174 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/mark_carter Mark Carter, a 20-year veteran media executive, strategist, reporter and executive producer, has been named Executive Director of the Committee of Concerned Journalists and the Goldenson Chair in Community Broadcasting at the Missouri School of Journalism. http://concernedjournalists.org/mark_carter#comments Articles In the Spotlight Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:46:08 -0400 CCJ staff 1173 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/nature-ducks "Open the tent" or "bar the door" are two options with regard to journalism that I had not expected to wrestle with, though I suppose I should have seen that the intersection of our professions would eventually drive me to this point. http://concernedjournalists.org/nature-ducks#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:12:11 -0400 Robert Bateman 1172 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/washington-post-ombud-rips-women-are-stupid-piece A lot of people thought the Washington Post opinion piece by Charlotte Allen – you remember, the one where she riffed on how women are weak and stupid after all -- was outrageous. Well, so does the Post ombud. Articles Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:34:48 -0400 John C Abell 1170 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/information-test http://concernedjournalists.org/information-test#comments Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:39:26 -0400 1169 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/when-citizen-journalist-not-citizen-journalist That's 'community journalist' to you. http://concernedjournalists.org/when-citizen-journalist-not-citizen-journalist#comments Articles Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:22:18 -0400 John C Abell 1168 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/anonymous-sources-ruling-draconian-and-perhaps-unprecedented A judge has ordered a USA Today reporter to reveal the names of confidential sources or pay more than $45,000 out of her own pocket – without help from others, including the newspaper – and to do so immediately, even pending appeal. http://concernedjournalists.org/anonymous-sources-ruling-draconian-and-perhaps-unprecedented#comments Articles Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:42:51 -0400 John C Abell 1167 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/scotsman-reporter-stands-monster-quote-decision Gerri Peev, the Scotsman reporter who quoted Samantha Power as calling Hillary Clinton 'a monster,' said she could not 'in good conscience' have agreed to keep the remark off the record. http://concernedjournalists.org/scotsman-reporter-stands-monster-quote-decision#comments Articles Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:47:56 -0500 John C Abell 1166 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/newspaper-cartoonists-dying-breed Newspaper editorial cartoonists are a dying breed, and those few who are still around are no longer expected to be in the forefront of pointed political debates and crusades http://concernedjournalists.org/newspaper-cartoonists-dying-breed#comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:37:07 -0500 John C Abell 1165 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/reporting-truth-may-cost-florida-paper-18-million Florida’s Pensacola News Journal is fighting an $18 million jury award won by a man who alleged that its reference to an unflattering but true incident in his past violated the legal concept of 'false light.' http://concernedjournalists.org/reporting-truth-may-cost-florida-paper-18-million#comments Articles Featured Journalism Tool Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:55:25 -0500 John C Abell 1164 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/bank-drops-wikileaks-org-lawsuit The Swiss bank which obtained an injunction that 'shut down' wikileaks.org – before the judge reversed himself for probably violating the First Amendment – has now withdrawn the case. http://concernedjournalists.org/bank-drops-wikileaks-org-lawsuit#comments Articles Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:03:24 -0500 John C Abell 1163 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/ethically-challenged The more the public understands about how journalists do their jobs, the more they will trust us. It’s as simple as that. It’s not enough to come up with journalistic Rules of the Road and then pride ourselves on how stringently we follow them. http://concernedjournalists.org/ethically-challenged#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:44:32 -0500 Tracy Thompson, Author and CCJ Trainer and Contributing Writer 1162 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/memory-sticks-revolutionize-cuba The New York Times is reporting that despite heavy-handed attempts by the Cuban government to put an air gap between the Internet and its citizens -– the better to cripple the crowd -- technological disruption is winning again. http://concernedjournalists.org/memory-sticks-revolutionize-cuba#comments Articles Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:14:01 -0500 John C Abell 1161 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/take-me-out-ballgame Like a modern-day land grab, news organizations and professional sports leagues are fighting over who gets to do what online with the sights and sounds captured by reporters covering games. While this may appear to be a crass battle over money, it does affect freedom of the press in a meaningful way. http://concernedjournalists.org/take-me-out-ballgame#comments Articles Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:51:01 -0500 John C Abell 1160 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/sensibilities-schmensibilities Is there a "Jewish" vote? Or a "Black" or a "women's" vote? Perhaps it is time for journalists and other political chatterers to re-think their inclination to lump people together by observable category, not because it is demeaning, but because it is misleading. http://concernedjournalists.org/sensibilities-schmensibilities#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:48:34 -0500 Jon Margolis 1159 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-professor-see-double-standard-quotes-incident An investigation by Medill’s provost may have cleared Dean John Lavine of a breach of ethics in the use of anonymous quotes, but not everyone thinks the matter should be closed. http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-professor-see-double-standard-quotes-incident#comments Articles Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:22:25 -0500 John C Abell 1158 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/fight-fight You think the press is biased? You’re right. But it isn’t for Barack Obama or John McCain. No, what the media won’t tolerate is peace and quiet. http://concernedjournalists.org/fight-fight#comments Articles Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:27:37 -0500 John C Abell 1157 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-dean-cleared-ethics-breach Medill Dean John Lavine has been cleared of any wrongdoing for the use of anonymous quotes in an alumni newsletter. Provost Daniel Linzer expresses 'confidence' Lavine will remain in his post. http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-dean-cleared-ethics-breach#comments Articles Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:34:47 -0500 John C Abell 1156 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/journalism-makes-difference-0 To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, I don't do gush. But in my humble opinion the torch has been passed from legendary combat journalist Ernie Pyle to Elizabeth Rubin. http://concernedjournalists.org/journalism-makes-difference-0#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:55:38 -0500 Robert Bateman 1155 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/im-blogger-im-journalist-blogger-journalist What's the difference between a blogger and a mainstream journalist? Just ask one. http://concernedjournalists.org/im-blogger-im-journalist-blogger-journalist#comments Articles Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:18:19 -0500 John C Abell 1153 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/trouble-harry The professional British media organization which crafted a nation-wide wide agreement among news organization not to report about Prince Harry’s deployment to Afghanistan tells the story behind the story. http://concernedjournalists.org/trouble-harry#comments Commentary & Research Featured Journalism Tool TV/Radio Journalists Online Journalists International Journalists Ethics & Special Issues Conflicts of Interest Ethics Codes Independence Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:45:14 -0500 John C Abell 1152 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/political-journalists-pick-side When journalists let candidates make any claim they wish without challenge, they take a side. When they cede their news judgment to a campaign's "theme for the day," they take a side. Unfortunately, it's the wrong side. http://concernedjournalists.org/political-journalists-pick-side#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:26:34 -0500 Perry Parks, Freelance Writer and Editor 1151 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/you-sir-are-national-enquirer When you really, really want to insult a news organization you accuse them of being no better than the National Enquirer, it seems. But it looks like we set some kind of record for this invective in the past few days. http://concernedjournalists.org/you-sir-are-national-enquirer#comments Articles Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:59:17 -0500 John C Abell 1150 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/i-know-you-are-what-am-i When a story isn't a story but it generates a lot of stories, nobody looks particularly good. http://concernedjournalists.org/i-know-you-are-what-am-i#comments Articles Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:36:52 -0500 John C Abell 1149 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/journalism-my-nationality What is nationality in this age of nationalism and, if you will, of latter-day imperialism – most notably American imperialism? I propose that nationality is what you choose to be by way of identification. Nationality is not necessarily the same as citizenship. http://concernedjournalists.org/journalism-my-nationality#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:34:51 -0500 David Binder 1148 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/nyt-ombud-chides-paper-over-mccain-story New York Times Ombudsman Clark Hoyt says the sex angle in the McCain story should have been left out. http://concernedjournalists.org/nyt-ombud-chides-paper-over-mccain-story#comments Articles Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:52:42 -0500 John C Abell 1147 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/evangelical-and-cabaret-singer-walk-bar The 2008 primary process is showing us that the American public is vast, diverse and increasingly unpredictable. They need journalism that appreciates and addresses that diversity and prepares them to go their own way. http://concernedjournalists.org/evangelical-and-cabaret-singer-walk-bar#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:41:45 -0500 Tom Avila 1146 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/mccain-times-ii-story-shifts The New York Times insides its second-day McCain story, writes around the romance angle and offers no new reporting about the bombshell affair allegation which caused a substantial reaction from media critics and thousands of New York Times’ readers. Articles Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:40:44 -0500 John C Abell 1145 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/broccoli-or-brownies Journalists often discuss the issue of audience as a dichotomy – do we give people what they want or what they need? In the Committee’s work with journalists, we have been told that the question does not have to be either/or. Instead, why not find important news and then present it in ways that make it interesting? http://concernedjournalists.org/broccoli-or-brownies#comments Speeches In the Spotlight Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:54:19 -0500 Walter Dean 1144 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-dean-apologizes-poor-judgement Medill Dean John Lavine has apologized to faculty and students for 'exercising poor judgment' but says he did not make up the anonymous quotes which have put him in hot water. http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-dean-apologizes-poor-judgement#comments Articles Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:52:53 -0500 John C Abell 1143 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/should-newspapers-endorse-candidates Newspapers have long endorsed candidates. Has the time come for this practice to end? http://concernedjournalists.org/should-newspapers-endorse-candidates#comments Articles Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:39:42 -0500 John C Abell 1142 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/mccain-article-makes-new-york-times-story The New York Times is the story after running a front-page article in which anonymous sources allege some top advisers to John McCain became 'convinced' during his 2000 presidential campaign that the candidate’s relationship with a much younger female lobbyist 'had become romantic.' Do they 'have it?' http://concernedjournalists.org/mccain-article-makes-new-york-times-story#comments Articles Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:28:36 -0500 John C Abell 1141 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/yeah-important Silly enough that 'bad' language is deemed unsuitable for most daily newspapers. Now the Chicago Tribune's Public Editor has taken owner Sam Zell to task for cursing -- in the newsroom. http://concernedjournalists.org/yeah-important#comments Articles Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:34:25 -0500 1140 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/get-me-re-write-what-we-dont-have-one How many editors is too many editors? How many is two few? Is there a 'Just Right?' In a time of cutbacks and Internet-inspired casualness are editors expendable -- or are they needed more than ever before? http://concernedjournalists.org/get-me-re-write-what-we-dont-have-one#comments Articles Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:48:54 -0500 John C Abell 1139 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/multimedia-literacy-not-optional The method you use to tell a story tells a story of its own: about your fears and your strengths and your comfort level using unfamiliar tools. It’s a small wonder that newsrooms may be eager to take refuge in the familiar, but that has to change. http://concernedjournalists.org/multimedia-literacy-not-optional#comments Tools Featured Journalism Tool Print Journalists TV/Radio Journalists Online Journalists Managers Students Teachers Digital/Online Journalism Living in the Newsroom Organizing the Story Writing Story Copy Storytelling Visuals & Graphics Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:08:03 -0500 John C Abell 1138 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/reinvent-journalism-10-easy-steps We love lists. Lists are good. List provide a nifty, economical way to provide words to live by or talking points for further discussion. So here are the Top 10 ways you can reinvent journalism. http://concernedjournalists.org/reinvent-journalism-10-easy-steps#comments Articles Featured Journalism Tool Print Journalists Online Journalists Teachers Reporting Understanding Journalism Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:31:34 -0500 John C Abell 1137 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-faculty-crititicize-dean-over-anonymous-quotes Some tenured faculty have now openly criticized Medill Dean John Lavine over his use of anonymous quotes. They assert that the incident has become a 'crisis' for the prestigious j-school and that Lavine's explanations are 'at best inadequate.' http://concernedjournalists.org/medill-faculty-crititicize-dean-over-anonymous-quotes#comments Articles Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:06:18 -0500 John C Abell 1136 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/boken-windows-and-journalism They are pretty small mistakes sometimes, and minor acts of omission. But they count, and if journalists do not correct themselves or the candidates when either makes obvious mistakes, no one will. http://concernedjournalists.org/boken-windows-and-journalism#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:49:28 -0500 Jon Margolis 1134 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/angry-journalists-who-knew Angryjournalist.com may not solve your problems, but it's better than keeping it all bottled up inside -- or taking a baseball bat to the next person who smilingly tells you that you didn't get into journalism for the money. http://concernedjournalists.org/angry-journalists-who-knew#comments Articles Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:15:36 -0500 John C Abell 1133 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/tv-or-not-tv On demand TV is eating into television viewership. Are local TV stations starting to feel the same pain of an online migration that newspapers have been enduring for years? Articles Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:32:44 -0500 John C Abell 1132 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/dumbing-down-or-reaching-out Telling a story on a whiteboard may not sound like great TV. But CBS News may be onto something. http://concernedjournalists.org/dumbing-down-or-reaching-out#comments Articles Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:58:09 -0500 John C Abell 1131 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/voting-ethics-continued Chris Cillizza, blogger of washingtonpost.com's "The Fix," wades into the 'should journalists vote' by asking his readers what they think. Their reply: Vote -- and get over yourselves. http://concernedjournalists.org/voting-ethics-continued#comments Articles Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:52:20 -0500 John C Abell 1130 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/new-kid-block Normally, word that somebody else has joined the blogosphere isn't news, even if he's joining the somewhat rarified niche of mil-bloggers. But when the new guy is a three-star general and his message is that the media is not the enemy, you kinda need to snap to attention. http://concernedjournalists.org/new-kid-block#comments Talking Journalism In the Spotlight Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:58:38 -0500 Robert Bateman 1129 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/anonymous-quotes-make-medill-dean-story In a letter to the alumni magazine Medill's dean quotes a couple of students, anonymously. A student journalist tracks down every student who could have been one of the quoted, and they all say it wasn't me. Will anything good come of this? http://concernedjournalists.org/anonymous-quotes-make-medill-dean-story#comments Articles Featured Journalism Tool Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:51:01 -0500 John C Abell 1128 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/crime-and-punishment When a reporter fouls up, does the subject get to play any role in how the reporter is punished? How far should a news organization go to avoid even the appearance of being influenced in its decision? http://concernedjournalists.org/crime-and-punishment#comments Articles Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:34:38 -0500 John C Abell 1126 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/did-you-vote-gotcha Politico's top three politicos have somewhat different views on whether reporters should vote. But, for a political reporter, does not voting really solve anything? http://concernedjournalists.org/did-you-vote-gotcha#comments Articles Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:05:43 -0500 1125 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/wheres-ombudsman-when-you-need-one With more opportunities than ever for readers to have an impact on how news organizations report, is the role of the ombudsman a relic? Not so fast. http://concernedjournalists.org/wheres-ombudsman-when-you-need-one#comments Articles Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:04:03 -0500 John C Abell 1124 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/political-cartoons-age-hillary-and-barack Editorial cartoonists are bound by all the usual considerations, and a couple more: when it's your job to exaggerate about your subject are there any special rules when the presidential candidates aren't all middle-aged white guys? http://concernedjournalists.org/political-cartoons-age-hillary-and-barack#comments Articles Print Journalists Online Journalists Visuals & Graphics Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:22:16 -0500 John C Abell 1123 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/what-did-he-say Nobody's advocating the routine publication of Howard Stern transcripts, but the timidity of the nation's press to use 'bad' words integral to a story seems more ridiculous all the time. http://concernedjournalists.org/what-did-he-say#comments Articles Featured Journalism Tool Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:54:03 -0500 John C Abell 1121 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/what-have-you-done-me-lately Sure, you care about the 'challenged' media industry. You plug away every day to make your publication or broadcast as good as it can be and you roll your eyes about how the suits are mucking it up. Time to step up, bud. http://concernedjournalists.org/what-have-you-done-me-lately#comments Articles Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:51:57 -0500 John C Abell 1120 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/when-daniel-met-ben Think you know when Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee first met? Guess again. http://concernedjournalists.org/when-daniel-met-ben#comments Articles Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:20:37 -0500 John C Abell 1119 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/google-news-goes-local Global news aggregator now offers a hyperlocal view http://concernedjournalists.org/google-news-goes-local#comments Articles Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:25:22 -0500 John C Abell 1118 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/trust-me-im-candidates-name-here Did you know Bob Woodward was a Republican until you read "All the President's Men?" Didn't seem to stop him from bringing down Richard Nixon. Quick: Should your readers know who you like in the election? http://concernedjournalists.org/trust-me-im-candidates-name-here#comments Articles Featured Journalism Tool Bias Conflicts of Interest Ethics Codes Independence Politics Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:36:14 -0500 John C Abell 1117 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/be-newspaper-mogul You may not want to, but try to imagine what you'd do if you owned a newspaper. Yes, that implies you're already in deep trouble. No, you don't need to be on that ledge. http://concernedjournalists.org/be-newspaper-mogul#comments Articles Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:12:05 -0500 John C Abell 1116 at http://concernedjournalists.org http://concernedjournalists.org/twilight-pm-nupes Afternoon newspapers used to be more popular than morning editions -- by far -- even until only few years ago. But changing habits are making it especially rough on PMers in times that are tough enough on everyone. http://concernedjournalists.org/twilight-pm-nupes#comments Articles Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:30:21 -0500 John C Abell 1115 at http://concernedjournalists.org