Stewart compares 'apples to oranges'

Last night on The Daily Show, John Stewart poked fun at the on going battle of The Presidency versus Fox News. When Mark Finkelstein came to our class the other day to discuss conservative, independent news, he touched on the subject, as well.

Huffington Post published a small blurb about the Daily Show skit citing a quote from White House Communication Director, Anita Dunn. Dunn said:

It's astounding the White House cannot distinguish between news and opinion programming. It seems self-serving on their part.

Finkelstein said though he could argue that CNN is somewhat bias, he feels as though discrediting a news source is unethical and unprofessional.

I agree. The President has every right not to watch Fox News, but to allow his team to make public statements encouraging citizens to stay away from a particular news station is petty.

Hopefully, this feud will end before someone gets hurt.

Where does Google stand on censorship in China?

Going along with our discussion in class today, I found this YouTube clip on Google's censorship in China. It's pretty interesting to think that the Chinese government can censor hits on Google, yet a Chinese man sued Yahoo and Google for erasing his name. It is interesting to see two different sides of the story. I am starting to realize that Google, though it is a major fixture in the Web, may not be so "free" and open to the public.


Hmm.....

Everyone's got a blog

I found this interesting packaging blog. It contains a lot of student showcases where readers rate packaging ideas and displays. In today's world just about everything and everyone has a blog. I think it shows the success of the Web in creating free space for people to express their minds. And, truthfully, blogging doesn't just belong to journalists.

IC alum makes it big in D.C.

Kate Sheppard '06 left Ithaca College with one goal in mind — to be a professional journalist. Well, she realized that school doesn't always prepare for the reality of getting a job. It's actually not that easy. Sheppard, after researching some independent news sites, applied for an internship at Grist in Seattle, Wa. From there she wandered around freelancing to pay the bills. She then went to WireTap, and then back again to Grist. In the midst of her constant moving, Sheppard was picked up by highly notable independent media outlets. Though she was laid off by Grist, Sheppard found a home at Mother Jones. 

After listening to Sheppard's story in class today, I learned a valuable lesson: Don't expect to be picked up by a mainstream organization anytime soon after graduation. Sheppard was able to offer us advice on being well-versed in digital journalism, finding a niche and creating a digital footprint. I don't think any of her words fell on deaf ears.

Save the News!

"SaveTheNews.org, a project of Free Press, is leading the search for new public policies to save journalism and to promote a robust free press in America.

In response to the shifting media landscape, there have been a number of important nonprofit initiatives, think-tank convenings, panel discussions and foundation reports on the state of journalism, the impact of technology on newsgathering, and the search for viable new models for the news." (Taken from the Web site)

SaveTheNews.org is a really cool site that has a "Must See Video" updated daily along with a blog that covers some of the biggest stories of the day. It also streams links to important stories at other sites in its column. This site boasts the statement:

"Journalism is in crisis -> Democracy depends on quality reporting -> We need policy solutions -> Take action now."

It's Official: We have admitted to a change in journalism

Columbia University presented a new study by Leonard Downie, Jr., former executive editor of The Washington Post, and Michael Schudson, professor of journalism at Columbia. "The Reconstruction of American Journalism" looks at six areas that need to be addressed in order to solve the journalism crisis:

1) The IRS or Congress should change the tax code: Enact changes that would allow and encourage newsrooms to operate either as nonprofit or low-profit organizations. (read more about L3Cs here)

2) Philanthropists and foundations should increase support for newsgathering: Spur charitable support for news organizations of all shapes and sizes and to fund core operations, as well as new and exciting individual projects. (check out our online chat about foundation funding and journalism here.)

3) We should expand public media: We must increase funding and better direct NPR and PBS to focus on local news and accountability journalism. (learn more about Free Press' New Public Media campaign here.)

4) Journalism education is key: Universities should become institutional sources of news reporting. We need to broaden partnerships with universities and colleges and enlist journalism students to contribute to new and traditional models of journalism.

5) The government should establish a fund for local news: Using revenue generated through fees from broadcast licenses and other spectrum uses, the FCC should create a fund to support local news. This would be modeled after the National Endowment for the Arts.

6) We need to increase transparency and access to public information: All sectors of society must work to better collect, disseminate and organize public records and government data, which serves as the foundation for so many important journalism efforts.

Hopefully, this study will shed light on how to rearrange journalism today. A professor once told me, "When electric street lights were invented, fire didn't disappear. The face of electricity just changed." The face of journalism will cahnge, too.

Ithaca Student Gets Friendly with Locals

Student journalist Aaron Edwards, a sophomore at Ithaca College, designed his own blog "Townie Talk" to create a forum for locals on social issues such as the global climate change and the Olympics. It's pretty impressive. He takes his own photos and edits his own video. Check it out here.

Big Brother is on Your Back!

After reading CommonDreams.org's article "Big Brother is Blocking," I started thinking of how phone companies could possibly disrupt the free flow of information independent journalists share. What would happen if phone companies prohibited the picture messages every day citizens were sending out in Iran during the war? Some of the best and most up-to-date journalism would be censored, maybe even non-existent. Big Brother needs to know:

"Should your cell phone company decide who can send you a text message? Should your Internet service provider block your Internet movie because it doesn't like the file-sharing service you're using?"

No Take-sies Back-sies

It's quite obvious to run any type of publication, you need money. And when people see the work your doing, and like it, it's fine if they want to invest in it. This is what happened with ProPublica. Two wealthy men donated and have promised to continue donating money to the investigative news site. But what happens when investors/advertisers/readers get so involved with finances that they expect you, the publisher, to write what they want and to toss any idea they don't agree with? Well, if you want to stay in business, you do what your told. But if you want to stay true to your ethical code, you go broke until you create another money-making plan. When people with big checks pick certain news sites, they do it their way — because there is no take-sies back-sies.

The Finkel-meister

Mark Finkelstein, a conservative blogger, works on three different media outlets. His blogging career started when he began writing snippets for NewsBusters. He tried to branch out and make his own blog called FinkelBlog in hopes of achieving Internet fame. The hits on his personal blog were not as common as NewBusters', however. Now, Finkelstein tag-teams both blog sites to share his conservative views. He also has his own Public Access show called Right Angle.

One question facing bloggers is this: If it is all about the hits, does that mean the editors and publishers have control over the bloggers ambitions to post? When Finkelstein began receiving more hits on NewsBusters he pretty much abandoned his personal site temporarily. Can a true blogger take a few months off, even if he or she is multitasking for other groups? Or is that all in the nature of blogging?

Communities in Patches

A new independent blog covers small-town communities too tiny to have their own news publications. Patch.com covers hyper-local news in communities stretching from North New Jersey to Connecticut. Patch.com is spreading so fast expect it in an area near you soon.

Her Story

Ms. Magazine has been a fierce publication that has impacted society for over 35 years.

Check out some of its classic covers here, here, here and here.

With a comprehensive collection of graphics, artistic photos and great writing, Ms. Magazine has the juiciest content for women to read.

U.S. condemns mass killings and rape in Guinea

The New York Times posted a horrifying story of vicious rape, molestation and killing of women in Guinea today. 

Here is President Obama's reaction to the story.

Here is the original story published in the paper today.

On Septmeber 30, Democracy Now! covered the revolt in Guinea saying this:

Guinea Toll Approaches 160 in Military Attack on Protest in Guinea 

The death toll from a government attack on opposition protest Monday has reached nearly 160. Tens of thousands had gathered in soccer stadium in the capital Conakry, to protest the military junta, when troops opened fire. Opposition leaders are vowing to continue their protest.

 

Conde Nast takes a hit

Conde Nast released today that four of its publications, Gourmet, Cookie, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride, will be folding. Bon Appetite will stay around. Gourmet, having the most status out of the four, has been a fixture in the foodie world since December 1940.

What is the world coming to if over-weight Americans cannot support a magazine dedicated to delicious endeavors????