Tue - September 4, 2007

Democracy Now! in Rochester's Labor Day Parade 2007


Photos of the Democracy Now! contingent in Rochester's Labor Day parade yesterday. Hear DN! on WROC 950 AM radio, 8-9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Metro Justice is looking for supporters and sponsors for the show so we can keep it on the air.

!

Posted at 12:28 PM     Read More  

Mon - May 7, 2007

Reporting Homicide and other crimes: Rochester D&C story today


Posted this in response to a story in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle today. Rochester's homicide rate is up for the year. But other crime rates are down. Traditional news values here do disservice to our community by combining what are essentially two stories into one.

Posted at 11:04 AM     Read More  

Wed - May 26, 2004

Finally! A mea culpa from the New York Times on its coverage of the non-existent WMDs


Today New York Times editors finally admitted that they failed to do their jobs when it came to vetting sources for the disinformation on "Weapons of Mass Destruction."

Posted at 11:52 AM     Read More  

Sat - May 22, 2004

The Use and Misuse of Words: Why Not Call it Torture?


I was going to write on this myself, but one of my favorite bloggers, Amy Gahran, has already done an excellent job. The issue: why call what has happened at Abu Ghraib and other prisons in Iraq "abuse" instead of "torture"?

Posted at 09:15 AM     Read More  

Fri - May 21, 2004

What liberal media?


If there is a bias in the media, it comes from the right, not the left, according to Bill Moyers. This opinion is based on a study, not merely his impressions. Also, Sheldon Rampton, who runs PR Watch, responds to the "liberal media" charge on a discussion board hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Posted at 11:39 AM     Read More  

Tue - May 18, 2004

You Can't Keep a Good(Wo)man Down: Why Rochester (and Every Place Else) Needs Amy Goodman and Democracy Now!


Amy Goodman, co-host of the radio news program, Democracy Now! has been doing all along what the big corporate media journalists have forgotten how to do. This entry provides links to several recent news articles about Goodman and explains why Rochester (and every place else) needs to have the Democracy Now! radio broadcast easily available to all. It also provides an easy means for making your voice heard in the campaign to bring Democracy Now! to Rochester.

Posted at 09:32 AM     Read More  

Mon - May 10, 2004

New L.A. Times Editor Blasts "Pseudo-journalists" -- Especially Fox News


The media industry has been infested by the rise of pseudo-journalists who go against journalism's long tradition to serve the public with accurate information, Los Angeles Times Editor John S. Carroll said Thursday.

Posted at 12:46 PM     Read More  

Bloggers Win Press Credentials for Democratic National Convention in Boston


This summer, Democratic National Convention organizers will grant some of their 15,000 coveted press credentials to bloggers. Anyone want to bet on whether the Republicans will do the same?

Posted at 12:32 PM     Read More  

Video Activist Network


I will be very busy this week putting together my syllabus for the Writing for the Mass Media course I will be teaching online through the University of Maryland University College. Meanwhile I will keep posting here, but mostly "heads up" entries on resources that I think are really useful. This one is on the Video Activist Network -- a source for news about your world you will never find on network tv or on cable, either! (Unless, of course, it's public access tv).

Posted at 12:23 PM     Read More  

Thu - May 6, 2004

Blogging about Blogging: Amy Gahran, author of the Blog "Contentious"


Amy Gahran, author of the Blog "Contentious," was partly my inspiration for beginning my own blog. Here's an entry of hers about a panel discussion she moderated, "Alternative Media: Attack of the Blogs," at a conference at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Posted at 11:59 AM     Read More  

U.S. Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners Stirs News Media to Finally Begin to Do Their Job


The media are finally showing the war in its full horror. What took them so long? (From Salon.com article, "Reality Check," by Eric Boehlert.

Posted at 11:25 AM     Read More  

Wed - May 5, 2004

From the Trenches: Soldier in Iraq Appreciates Human Face on Death Toll


Van Berry, who describes himself as a sergeant "deployed with the 234th Signal Battalion (Army National Guard) out of Iowa," explains his views on putting the "human face to war and casualties" in an article in Editor & Publisher.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Fri - April 30, 2004

Censorship Reigns


This entry is dedicated to the hundreds of fallen American soldiers whose names are to be read tonight on ABC's Nightline. Dozens of ABC affiliates will be prohibited from airing this special because they are owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group, a right-wing company. The contents of this entry come from MoveOn.org. Brief commentary from me at the end. Updated 5/1/04 to include link to New York Times story about objections to this censorship by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Fri - April 23, 2004

Guerrilla Journalism Strikes Again...


Let's hear it for all the guerrilla journalists out there who are scooping the big corporate media! An enterprising web publisher posts photos of flag-draped coffins of the U.S. war dead -- images banned by the Pentagon.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Thu - April 22, 2004

Overload! And Thank You, Seattle Times Reporters & Executive Editor, for Doing Your Jobs!


Working hard this week on my online course, where I am in training to teach online with the University of Maryland University College. Overwhelmed after dashing off to Buffalo on short notice 4/20 to photograph the protest against President Bush & the so-called P.A.T.R.I.O.T. act (as well as add my 2 cents) & get them up for the world to see right away. Madly trying to get work done. Many things to say & little time to say it in. In particular I want to call attention to two stories and an editorial in The Seattle Times about a photograph it published showing the flag-draped coffins of some of our dead soldiers returning from Iraq.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

I Wasn't Using my Civil Liberties Anyway


Personal reaction to covering the 4/20/04 protest of President Bush's speech promoting the so-called P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act, as well as a critique of local news coverage of the event. Includes selected photos. More photos here.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Mon - March 29, 2004

The O'Franken Factor: Humor with a Serious Purpose


My personal reaction to covering the talk by Al Franken last night at a fundraiser for Jewish Family Services.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Fri - March 26, 2004

Public Access Television in Rochester -- Opportunity for Growth


Rochester Community Television (RCTV-15), Rochester's public access channel, is undergoing a major "face lift" as the Board and staff, along with the City Council, re-negotiate Time Warner's contract with the City. On Feb. 25, 2004, a panel consisting of Interim General Manager Carvin Eison, Vice President of Programs Ginna Moseson, and Programming Manager Rick Osborne, updated current RCTV producers on the changes that are occurring and/or are in the planning stage. The goal is to enable Rochester's public access programming to become more professional and to better serve the community. The contract negotiations process provides an excellent opportunity to ensure the availability of locally sponsored, locally centered programming that promotes a diversity of voices and the needs and interests of the community without concern for profit.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Wed - March 24, 2004

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world...


Reflections on the growing energy of Rochester IndyMedia. Why it's incredibly exciting to be involved with this group. How you can become a part of it, and why you should.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Rochester IndyMedia to Air Segments from Media Ownership Forum


Rochester IndyMedia will air videotaped segments of the Media Ownership Forum held at St. John Fisher College March 18, 2004 this Thursday (3/25/04) and next Thursday (4/1/04) on RCTV-15 (cable public access).

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Mon - March 22, 2004

The Disturbing State of Modern Journalism


Links to two articles published recently criticizing the state of modern journalism. One is by Seattle Times executive editor Mike Fancher. The other covers a speech by former Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Fri - March 19, 2004

The Role of the New York Times in the Selling of the Iraq War


Do you think former New York Times reporter Jayson Blair is a scoundrel for fabricating information and misleading readers? Consider what current Times reporter Judith Miller has done to assist the Bush Administration in misleading Congress and the American public in the selling of the Iraq War. At least Blair's lies did not contribute to death and destruction for thousands of people. Yet the New York Times allows Miller to excuse her failures. This blog entry provides several links to articles critical of Miller's war coverage.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Thu - March 11, 2004

How the News Media Unquestioningly Disseminated "Weapons of Mass Destruction" Disinformation


A new study by the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) and the University of Maryland provides thorough documentation of how the news media participated in the dissemination of disinformation about Iraq's "Weapons of Mass Destruction."

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Wed - March 10, 2004

What Can I Do? Tips for Getting Involved in Media Reform


This entry is an adaptation of a flyer provided to the audience at the Media Ownership Forum Town Hall Meeting held at St. John Fisher College March 8, 2004. Tips on how to get involved in reforming our media are provided.

I have written a report on the forum that has been published on the Rochester IndyMedia website. Audio files of the forum are also available. Persons interested in viewing a complete videotape of the forum may contact Rochester IndyMedia at 585 325 3603.

A story discussing the local news media coverage of the event will be posted later this week.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Thu - March 4, 2004

"Tell Us the Truth -- Who Controls What We Hear, Watch, and Read?"


FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein -- one of the two FCC Commissioners who opposed the media ownership rules changes passed by the FCC last June -- headlines a panel that will be discussing media ownership in a public forum at St. John Fisher College in Rochester March 8, 2004. Concerned citizens are urged to attend this forum. Concentrated media ownership in an era of what we now know to be non-existent "Weapons of Mass Destruction" has become a matter of life and death.

Posted at 09:24 AM     Read More  

Fri - February 27, 2004

Calling all writers: Boycott Gannett!


Gannett is now requiring that all writers of op-ed pieces and even letters to the editor sign away the publication rights to their words in any form in perpetuity. This has a chilling effect on free speech. It is particularly galling since Gannett pays not one single red cent for these pieces. The solution? Stop writing for them!

Posted at 08:43 AM     Read More  

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