The future of news: rational business decisions

Begin writing the long-term obituary of the American newspaper — at least for the newspaper envisioned by the Founders as a public service and a significant component of the checks and balances that once allowed American democracy to function properly and purposefully.
You think know the now-familiar story: Advertising revenues are down. Circulation’s declining. Corporate ownership [...]

Mickey Mouse will have his revenge on Tehran

So the Senate caved into Boltin‘ Joe Lieberman’s request to attack Iran at will with a bipartisan vote of 76-22. Oh, I know, it’s non-binding and not an actual declaration of war, and they amended some of the language. But you should know how these things go by now. This has given [...]

American papers skewing conservative; Trib writer says yup, it’s good business

There’s an interesting new report out from Media Matters showing that American newspapers run far more conservative syndicated columnists than they do progressives. Some findings:

Sixty percent of the nation’s daily newspapers print more conservative syndicated columnists every week than progressive syndicated columnists. Only 20 percent run more progressives than conservatives, while the remaining 20 [...]

On keeping one’s head in time of crisis

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, I became one of only a handful of the 150-plus professors at my university who did not cancel their morning classes. I did not for two reasons.
First, students needed the familiarity of routine in which to find some measure of comfort and counsel. They needed to be seen [...]

Why is it we can read but we’re not supposed to talk about it…?

My fellow Scrogue Denny Wilkins (Dr. Denny to you) passed along a great essay by Steve Wasserman, former editor of the Los Angeles Times Book Review on the gradual disappearance of book reviews and book news coverage from newspapers that appears in the latest issue of Columbia Journalism Review. Wasserman’s essay hits on some [...]

Who will provide answers to the most basic of questions?

As an inquisitive person trying to survive life relatively unscathed and to leave the world at least a little better off for my presence, I need answers to two fundamental questions:
How does the world work?
Why does it work that way?
We all struggle, I suppose, with the really big question: What is the meaning of life? [...]

News that matters, and other stuff

x-post: JAZZ from HELL

Presidential candidates raise big cash fast — but from whom? And why?

A magician who seeks to retain his (or her) illusion for — and thus control over — the audience uses sleight of hand and misdirection. In the modern political era that began in earnest with the 1994 mid-term elections, a Republican majority in Congress mastered that art using the textbooks authored by former House [...]

Sen. Vitter, take II: Is the media missing the real story?

I repeat: Forget Sen. David Vitter’s penis. I’ve already pontificated about following his money. Now let’s focus on his ability to do his job under the cloud caused by his wandering wanker.
Sen. Vitter and soulmate Wendy met the press Monday but took no questions about his use of a prostitute. Mrs. Vitter offered support for [...]

What if reporters simply refused to pretend that Paris Hilton was news?

Wow. It may all have been scripted, but I don’t care - MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski is my new hero. This is priceless.

Happy Friday, everybody…
[Thanks to Aaron over at 5th Estate for passing this on.]

Too much Rush? Dems lose bid to regulate talk radio

Rush will drone on, relatively unopposed, on the airways. So will Sean and Bill.
Overlooked Thursday because of the various political and media brouhahas caused by the defeat of the miasma known as the immigration reform bill and the release of additional stomach-turning Supreme Court decisions was the House of Representatives’ rejection of a Democratic attempt [...]

Echoes from the culture wars: excerpts from immigration bill rhetoric

If you want to scare the American people, what you say is the bill’s an amnesty bill. That’s empty political rhetoric trying to frighten our citizens.
— President Bush May 29 at a training center for customs protection agents and other federal agents in southeastern Georgia.
You are the problem, Sen. [Trent] Lott. You and your [...]

Bush’s patronage appointments to ambassador exceed father’s, Clinton’s

During the presidency of George W. Bush, nearly four out of every 10 of his nominees for ambassador have been “non-career appointees” — or what many would consider “political” appointees. Neither his father nor President Clinton had such a high percentage.
President Bush’s 36 percent rate exceeds the 29 percent of President Clinton’s ambassadorial nominees who [...]

The very long night of Rudy Giuliani

So let’s say you’re Rudy Giuliani–darling of the media for turning New York City into Disney World, fawned over as the Saint of 9/11 and a “national security authority” simply for being mayor of a city that was hit by a terrorist attack, and considered socially liberal enough to sap the Democratic advantage even [...]

Tony Blair whacks the press; the press whacks back: Chill, dudes

In a reversal of the old adage “dance with the one who brought ya,” outgoing British prime minister Tony Blair is taking shots at the press, calling it “a feral beast” — despite admitting that his government paid “inordinate attention” to “courting, assuaging and persuading the media.”
The title of his speech: “Reflections on the Future [...]