Newspapers are still with us, for a few more years. And, blessedly newspapers such as The Guardian have made free Internet access central to their mission (as discussed enthusiastly last week in The New Yorker). So the newspaper industry staggers on — for a while. But this past weeked Andy Kohut for Pew Research notContinue reading “Millennials: No newspapers, please. TV news? Meh.”
Category Archives: press issues
Earning a first person voice reporting for the NY Times
The New York Times has been the world's greatest newspaper for some time now, but also has a long tradition of formality — speaking of all public figures as Mr. This and Mrs That. Even if the rest of the world is on a first name basis with LeBron and Hillary. Another aspect of this formality isContinue reading “Earning a first person voice reporting for the NY Times”
How to dramatize climate change: Eric Holthaus
When I met Eric Holthaus at the American Meteorological Society's convention about six months ago, he was a journalist reporting on weather for New York City to the Wall Street Journal. At the time he was a little frustrated, I think it's fair to say, because he wasn't able to talk about big picture issuesContinue reading “How to dramatize climate change: Eric Holthaus”
Murder or wilderness? A choice for October
Have been distracted from the PCT by a reporting assignment — covering a murder trial. Alex Medina, age eighteen, is on trial for the killing of Seth Scarminach, age sixteen at the time of his death 2009. Here's a story I wrote for the local paper on this for Wednesday: An eyewitness to a slayingContinue reading “Murder or wilderness? A choice for October”
Science: As certain of climate change as of smoking
Will Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press ever get the respect he deserves as a science writer? Doubtful. He's too popular, I guess, and too unpretentious. Covers breaking news still. But let me put it this way: Who has framed the question of the science of climate change more effectively than this? WASHINGTON – TopContinue reading “Science: As certain of climate change as of smoking”
How Yosemite fire crews saved the giant Sequoias
Awe-inspiring story from Diana Marcum at the Los Angeles Times. Here's a part of it: Two days later, on Aug. 17, flames exploded over a ridge above the Tuolumne River. Whitewater rafters navigating the canyon of buckeyes and bald eagles said it sounded like bombs. It was about 20 miles in the distance, but YosemiteContinue reading “How Yosemite fire crews saved the giant Sequoias”
Saving John Muir’s favorite tree: Maria La Ganga
Everyone has good days and bad days, but especially so he Los Angeles Times in recent years, which has been absolutely devastated by cutbacks, subscription falloffs, print declines, and local editions cut. The tale of at times seems endless. Yet good people at the paper have kept on doing good work. It's worth celebrating aContinue reading “Saving John Muir’s favorite tree: Maria La Ganga”
McClatchy: Obama launches war on coal
Commentary on Obama's big climate speech of a couple of weeks ago — which Al Gore called the best speech ever given on the topic by a president, but which was completely eclipsed by the Supreme Court just hours later — was nonetheless fascinating. The McClatchy chain of newspapers focused in its lead on the negative,Continue reading “McClatchy: Obama launches war on coal”
A tragic consensus: Arizona Hot Shots died for houses
They say that newspapers are dead or dying, but the reporting on the death of nineteen brave wildland firefighters in Arizona has been absolutely top-notch. The LA Times has responded by sending a team of its best people, including Julie Cart from Idaho: BOISE, Idaho — Early morning is a frenetic time at a wildfireContinue reading “A tragic consensus: Arizona Hot Shots died for houses”
Don’t like the latest science? Kochify the News!
As has been much discussed, the Tribune chain of newspapers — including the Los Angeles Times — is up for sale, and the billionaire Koch Brothers say they want to buy it, according to reliable sournces, including the Wall Street Journal. A HuffPo summary: Tribune emerged from bankruptcy in 2012, and began preparations to sell offContinue reading “Don’t like the latest science? Kochify the News!”
Kit Stolz 