The collapse in revenue generated by the entertainment business has analysts thinking deeply: The anemic economy…is widening the gulf between the haves and the have-nots, making it tougher for some consumers to justify paying for cable or tossing a new DVD into the shopping cart. "Right now it is a tale of two cities," [Craig]Continue reading “American Have-Nots: Too poor to afford Hollywood?”
Category Archives: press issues
Writer vs. Critic 2010-2011
Patrick Goldstein, who might be the single best blogger at the LA Times, covers Hollywood, and in his case, that means interviewing influential people in Hollywood. Most of them, because they're in the Industry, cannot stand — for professional reasons — to be disliked, and will not be quoted by name. But Goldstein knows how toContinue reading “Writer vs. Critic 2010-2011”
Another gay hero saves the day
The great interviewer, reporter, and columnist Patt Morrison lays it down again, as always finding a fresh take on a big subject. Here's a taste of her newest story, to intrigue you: A 20-year-old congressional college intern with only five days on the job saved Gabrielle Giffords’ life. Daniel Hernandez ran toward the sound ofContinue reading “Another gay hero saves the day”
Data-driven journalism: Factory Farm Map
Though newspapers are, blessedly, finding a way to hang on through hard, hard times, the real cutting-edge in journalism is arguably found at the intersection of data and the web, with relatively little writing involved. Here's a prime example, via the hard-working activists at food&waterwatch. The future: It's much more statistical than the past. (Here'sContinue reading “Data-driven journalism: Factory Farm Map”
Deal to “fix” the delta collapsing: Dan Walters
In a front-page story last week in the Los Angeles Times, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Bettina Boxall used an oblique structure, gritty detail, and a plethora of conflicting quotes to give a sense of the trouble surrounding a plan to put a massive new straw from the State Water Project into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Here'sContinue reading “Deal to “fix” the delta collapsing: Dan Walters”
GOP and FOX News attack NPR, to no avail
Unlike most media, on-line or traditional, National Public Radio is thriving. It may be the most popular and trusted news source in the country. As Bill McKibben reports: Public radio claims at least 5 percent of the radio market. National Public Radio’s flagship news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, featuring news and commentaryContinue reading “GOP and FOX News attack NPR, to no avail”
Climate scientists not pushing back against denialism, says American Geophysical Union
A story Sunday in the Los Angeles Times reported that climate scientists were joining in an effort to "push back" against a rise tide of climate change denial. The story said that Monday the American Geophysical Union would announce an effort by 700 scientists to "speak out as experts." But today the AGU said no,Continue reading “Climate scientists not pushing back against denialism, says American Geophysical Union”
A journo’s complaint about websites
Joel Achenbach is touring college campuses with his daugher, and, no doubt, embarrassing her horribly. Here he rants memorably against a certain irritating habit of spokespeople: …journalism [is] a field in which every query directed to a potential source draws the response, "You should look at our Web site." Many a time I have toContinue reading “A journo’s complaint about websites”
The biggest and fastest thing nature has ever done
Reporting on the behavior of ice sheets is difficult, even for science journalists, because the terrain is so difficult, and so much is still unknown about Antarctica. But a couple of weeks ago in Rolling Stone, Ben Wallace-Wells published the single best story about this subject I have ever seen. It's long, but great. Here'sContinue reading “The biggest and fastest thing nature has ever done”
Reporters track, catch, release scientists at work in field
Not with electronic tags (though I suspect some reporters would love to do that). With their co-operation. Some great stories have resulted in just the past couple of weeks. Here's on one the wandering of a mountain lion through SoCal, as reported on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. One statistic stands out:Continue reading “Reporters track, catch, release scientists at work in field”
Kit Stolz 