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Sunday, September 5, 2010
Newspaper People Don't Wear Shorts!
This is from the Sunday, September 5 entry in Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac. I thought you'd enjoy the comment about wearing shorts!
It's the birthday of Ward Just, (books by this author) born in Michigan City, Indiana (1935). He's the author of more than a dozen books of fiction, including The Congressman Who Loved Flaubert (1973), The American Blues, (1984) The American Ambassador (1987),and Jack Gance (1989).
But long before he started writing fiction, he was a journalist. He came from a family of serious journalists — his dad, and his grandfather before him, published the town newspaper. He himself started working as an investigative reporter for the family newspaper when he was just 13 years old. A few years later, when he was about to graduate from high school, his managing editor fired him for wearing shorts to work — which he deemed to be a lack of respect for the newspaper business. But they hired him back after he dropped out of college and returned home to be a full-time journalist.
By the time he was 24, he was writing features for Newsweek magazine, and then he was writing for The Washington Post. He went to Saigon to cover the Vietnam War, where he was seriously wounded by shrapnel from a grenade. He came back to the States to recover, and he wrote a book called To What End: Report from Vietnam (1968), and then he quit journalism and launched into fiction.
His 1997 novel Echo House was a finalist for the National Book Award, and his 2004 novel An Unfinished Season was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His book Exiles in the Garden (2009) came out just last year. It begins:
"Especially when he was alone Alec Malone had the habit of slipping into reverie, a semiconscious state not to be confused with dreams. Dreams were commonplace while his reveries presented a kind of abstract grandeur, expressionist canvases in close focus, untitled. ... The reveries had been with him since childhood and he treated them like old friends paying a visit."
It's the birthday of Ward Just, (books by this author) born in Michigan City, Indiana (1935). He's the author of more than a dozen books of fiction, including The Congressman Who Loved Flaubert (1973), The American Blues, (1984) The American Ambassador (1987),and Jack Gance (1989).
But long before he started writing fiction, he was a journalist. He came from a family of serious journalists — his dad, and his grandfather before him, published the town newspaper. He himself started working as an investigative reporter for the family newspaper when he was just 13 years old. A few years later, when he was about to graduate from high school, his managing editor fired him for wearing shorts to work — which he deemed to be a lack of respect for the newspaper business. But they hired him back after he dropped out of college and returned home to be a full-time journalist.
By the time he was 24, he was writing features for Newsweek magazine, and then he was writing for The Washington Post. He went to Saigon to cover the Vietnam War, where he was seriously wounded by shrapnel from a grenade. He came back to the States to recover, and he wrote a book called To What End: Report from Vietnam (1968), and then he quit journalism and launched into fiction.
His 1997 novel Echo House was a finalist for the National Book Award, and his 2004 novel An Unfinished Season was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His book Exiles in the Garden (2009) came out just last year. It begins:
"Especially when he was alone Alec Malone had the habit of slipping into reverie, a semiconscious state not to be confused with dreams. Dreams were commonplace while his reveries presented a kind of abstract grandeur, expressionist canvases in close focus, untitled. ... The reveries had been with him since childhood and he treated them like old friends paying a visit."
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Do Your Homework, or the Press Will Find You Out!
(CNN) – Remember the big makeover the Oval Office got last week while President Obama was on vacation?
Well, there’s a problem with the presidential rug.
The floor piece has quotations from four U.S. presidents and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — or does it?
One quote reads, “The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, But It Bends Towards Justice.”
As the Washington Post’s Jamie Stiehm points out, the quote attributed to King is not really King’s quote at all.
It’s Theodore Parker’s.
King often quoted and paraphrased Parker, an abolitionist and minister from Massachusetts, who in 1853 proclaimed, “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one ... And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice."
While the origins of Parker’s proclamation are rarely cited in today’s public discourse, a search on even the most basic of research tools, Wikipedia, reveals Parker as the voice behind the words.
CNN has been unable to reach the White House for comment.
Oops!
Come prepared Monday night to tell me what she meant by "yellow journalism"
Vanity Fair reporter admits error in Palin article
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A writer for Vanity Fair has acknowledged a case of mistaken identity in an unflattering article about Sarah Palin in the magazine's October issue.
Reporter Michael Joseph Gross describes Palin's youngest son, Trig, being pushed in a stroller by his older sister, Piper, before a rally in May in the Kansas City suburb of Independence.
"When the girl, Piper Palin, turns around, she sees her parents thronged by admirers, and the crowd rolling toward her and the baby, her brother Trig, born with Down syndrome in 2008," according to the article. "Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, bend down and give a moment to the children; a woman, perhaps a nanny, whisks the boy away; and Todd hands Sarah her speech and walks her to the stage."
Later, Gross describes Piper joining her mother on the stage to "allow Palin to make a public display of maternal affection."
The problem, which was first reported by the website Politico, was that the boy the reporter described was another child with Down syndrome.
The mother of that child, conservative activist Gina Loudon, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she told Gross during the rally that the child in the stroller was her son, not Palin's. She said she tried to make it clear because the two children look a lot alike.
"I told him that. And he ignored it," Loudon said. "It's not even like he didn't fact check - he just ignored facts."
Gross said in a written statement sent to The Associated Press that he was mistaken.
"Trig was with his mother the next day in Wichita (Kan.), but the child in Independence was someone else, and I regret the error," he said.
Palin was quick to call the article "yellow journalism" in a tweet. The article describes everything from stingy tips given to hotel staff to heated fights between Palin and her husband.
Doug McMarlin, a spokesman for Palin's political action committee, said in a written statement Friday that the article was a "collection of lies."
"As the message continues to succeed, the messenger will continue to be attacked by yellow journalists seeking to increase sales," McMarlin said. "Our focus remains on the historic 2010 election and the brave Americans that have courageously entered the public arena to bring commonsense leadership back to our federal, state and local offices."
Vanity Fair reporter admits error in Palin article
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A writer for Vanity Fair has acknowledged a case of mistaken identity in an unflattering article about Sarah Palin in the magazine's October issue.
Reporter Michael Joseph Gross describes Palin's youngest son, Trig, being pushed in a stroller by his older sister, Piper, before a rally in May in the Kansas City suburb of Independence.
"When the girl, Piper Palin, turns around, she sees her parents thronged by admirers, and the crowd rolling toward her and the baby, her brother Trig, born with Down syndrome in 2008," according to the article. "Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, bend down and give a moment to the children; a woman, perhaps a nanny, whisks the boy away; and Todd hands Sarah her speech and walks her to the stage."
Later, Gross describes Piper joining her mother on the stage to "allow Palin to make a public display of maternal affection."
The problem, which was first reported by the website Politico, was that the boy the reporter described was another child with Down syndrome.
The mother of that child, conservative activist Gina Loudon, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she told Gross during the rally that the child in the stroller was her son, not Palin's. She said she tried to make it clear because the two children look a lot alike.
"I told him that. And he ignored it," Loudon said. "It's not even like he didn't fact check - he just ignored facts."
Gross said in a written statement sent to The Associated Press that he was mistaken.
"Trig was with his mother the next day in Wichita (Kan.), but the child in Independence was someone else, and I regret the error," he said.
Palin was quick to call the article "yellow journalism" in a tweet. The article describes everything from stingy tips given to hotel staff to heated fights between Palin and her husband.
Doug McMarlin, a spokesman for Palin's political action committee, said in a written statement Friday that the article was a "collection of lies."
"As the message continues to succeed, the messenger will continue to be attacked by yellow journalists seeking to increase sales," McMarlin said. "Our focus remains on the historic 2010 election and the brave Americans that have courageously entered the public arena to bring commonsense leadership back to our federal, state and local offices."
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Be Careful What You Tweet!
This is an excerpt from a WaPo column by Andrew Alexander. To read the entire article, click here.
Post columnist Mike Wise suspended for fake Twitter report
Popular Washington Post sports columnist Mike Wise has been suspended for a month after knowingly sending a false tweet on Monday.
The action stems from a short scoop to his Twitter followers that said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has been suspended for six games by the NFL after allegations of misconduct, will only have to sit out five games. “Roethlisberger will get five games, I’m told,” Wise tweeted.
That was big news for those who follow professional football, and it quickly spread on the Internet. But as Wise soon acknowledged, it was a hoax that was part of a misguided attempt to comment on the lowered standards of accuracy for information shared on social media.
Fabrication is a major journalistic transgression. He's lucky he wasn't fired.
Wise announced his suspension from The Post at the start of his Tuesday morning radio program on WJFK 106.7 FM. “I’m paying the price I should for careless, dumb behavior in the multi-platform media world,” he told listeners in a contrite program intro.
“My bosses at The Post feel I need a month to think about the severity of my actions,” he said. “I agree and will serve a one-month suspension beginning today at The Post.”
Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli declined to comment. “I’m not going to discuss anything personnel related,” he said.
Post Sports Editor Matthew Vita said, “Clearly, we consider what Mike did was poor judgment on his part.” He added: “He knows that what he did violates our core principles.”
Wise could not be reached for comment beyond his statement on WJFK.
After his initial tweet on Monday, Wise issued several others that suggested his Roethlisberger exclusive was spoof, not scoop. In one of his subsequent tweets, he said his source was a “casino employee in Lake Tahoe.”
After the tweets became known to his Post bosses on Monday, they quickly contacted Wise to seek an explanation. Brauchli settled on the 30-day suspension from The Post. It does not affect Wise’s broadcast work.
Post columnist Mike Wise suspended for fake Twitter report
Popular Washington Post sports columnist Mike Wise has been suspended for a month after knowingly sending a false tweet on Monday.
The action stems from a short scoop to his Twitter followers that said Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has been suspended for six games by the NFL after allegations of misconduct, will only have to sit out five games. “Roethlisberger will get five games, I’m told,” Wise tweeted.
That was big news for those who follow professional football, and it quickly spread on the Internet. But as Wise soon acknowledged, it was a hoax that was part of a misguided attempt to comment on the lowered standards of accuracy for information shared on social media.
Fabrication is a major journalistic transgression. He's lucky he wasn't fired.
Wise announced his suspension from The Post at the start of his Tuesday morning radio program on WJFK 106.7 FM. “I’m paying the price I should for careless, dumb behavior in the multi-platform media world,” he told listeners in a contrite program intro.
“My bosses at The Post feel I need a month to think about the severity of my actions,” he said. “I agree and will serve a one-month suspension beginning today at The Post.”
Post Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli declined to comment. “I’m not going to discuss anything personnel related,” he said.
Post Sports Editor Matthew Vita said, “Clearly, we consider what Mike did was poor judgment on his part.” He added: “He knows that what he did violates our core principles.”
Wise could not be reached for comment beyond his statement on WJFK.
After his initial tweet on Monday, Wise issued several others that suggested his Roethlisberger exclusive was spoof, not scoop. In one of his subsequent tweets, he said his source was a “casino employee in Lake Tahoe.”
After the tweets became known to his Post bosses on Monday, they quickly contacted Wise to seek an explanation. Brauchli settled on the 30-day suspension from The Post. It does not affect Wise’s broadcast work.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Newspapers Are a Joke But They Can Teach You Marketing
By Michael Port
You may have seen this “joke” before. It’s a good one – because there is truth in it.
There’s also a marketing lesson in it. See if you can find it. I’ll reveal it at the end of the joke.
1.The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
2.The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.
3.The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.
4.USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don’t really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie charts.
5.The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn’t mind running the country — if they could find the time — and if they didn’t have to leave Southern California to do it.
6.The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a poor job of it, thank you very much.
7.The New York Daily News is read by people who aren’t too sure who’s running the country and don’t really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.
8.The New York Post is read by people who don’t care who is running the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
9.The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.
10.The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren’t sure if there is a country or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country, or galaxy.
11.The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.
12.The Minneapolis Star Tribune is read by people who have recently caught a walleye ice fishing and need something in which to wrap it.
Think about it. Each paper speaks to the world view of a particular “group” of people. If you are part of the group that reads that Wall Street Journal and you see someone else reading The Journal you feel connected to them. You are part of the same group, or as Seth Godin would say, tribe.
This is the job of the marketer – to make you feel like you’re part of something, that your world view is right and is shared by others who are also right.
By Michael Port
You may have seen this “joke” before. It’s a good one – because there is truth in it.
There’s also a marketing lesson in it. See if you can find it. I’ll reveal it at the end of the joke.
1.The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
2.The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.
3.The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.
4.USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don’t really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie charts.
5.The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn’t mind running the country — if they could find the time — and if they didn’t have to leave Southern California to do it.
6.The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a poor job of it, thank you very much.
7.The New York Daily News is read by people who aren’t too sure who’s running the country and don’t really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.
8.The New York Post is read by people who don’t care who is running the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.
9.The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.
10.The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren’t sure if there is a country or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country, or galaxy.
11.The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.
12.The Minneapolis Star Tribune is read by people who have recently caught a walleye ice fishing and need something in which to wrap it.
Think about it. Each paper speaks to the world view of a particular “group” of people. If you are part of the group that reads that Wall Street Journal and you see someone else reading The Journal you feel connected to them. You are part of the same group, or as Seth Godin would say, tribe.
This is the job of the marketer – to make you feel like you’re part of something, that your world view is right and is shared by others who are also right.
Friday, August 27, 2010
USA Today Make Dramatic Staffing Moves
This is an excerpt from a larger article reproduced from Daily Finance. To read the entire article, click here.
USA Today Plans 130 Layoffs in Push Toward Mobile News
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
USA Today, the nation's second largest newspaper, is making the most dramatic overhaul of its staff in its 28-year history as it de-emphasizes its print edition and ramps up its effort to reach more readers and advertisers on mobile devices.
The makeover outlined Thursday will result in about 130 layoffs this fall, USA Today Publisher Dave Hunke told The Associated Press. That translates into a 9% reduction in USA Today's work force of 1,500 employees. Hunke didn't specify which departments would be hardest hit.
The management shake-up affects both the newspaper's business operations and newsroom.
Like most newspapers, Gannett's (GCI) USA Today has been cutting back in recent years to offset a steep drop in advertising that is depleting its main source of income. To compound the problem, fewer readers are paying for newspapers as free news proliferates on the Web.
A 'Radical' Reorganigation
Those challenges triggered the most dramatic reorganization since USA Today first hit the streets in 1982 with a then-unique blend of shorter stories surrounded by colorful graphics and pictures.
"This is pretty radical," Hunke said of the shake-up. "This gets us ready for our next quarter century."
In the first wave of change, USA Today, which is based in McLean, Va., will no longer have separate managing editors overseeing its News, Sports, Money and Life sections.
The newsroom instead will be broken up into a cluster of "content rings" each headed up by editors who will be appointed later this year. The newly created content group will be overseen by Susan Weiss, who had been managing editor of the Life section. As executive editor of content, Weiss will report to USA Today Editor John Hillkirk.
"We'll focus less on print ... and more on producing content for all platforms (Web, mobile, iPad and other digital formats)," according to a slide show presented Thursday to USA Today's staff. The AP obtained copy of the presentation.
Conflict of Interest?
In a move that may raise conflict-of-interest questions, Weiss will have a "collaborative relationship" with USA Today's newly appointed vice president of business development, Rudd Davis, according to one slide.
USA Today Plans 130 Layoffs in Push Toward Mobile News
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
USA Today, the nation's second largest newspaper, is making the most dramatic overhaul of its staff in its 28-year history as it de-emphasizes its print edition and ramps up its effort to reach more readers and advertisers on mobile devices.
The makeover outlined Thursday will result in about 130 layoffs this fall, USA Today Publisher Dave Hunke told The Associated Press. That translates into a 9% reduction in USA Today's work force of 1,500 employees. Hunke didn't specify which departments would be hardest hit.
The management shake-up affects both the newspaper's business operations and newsroom.
Like most newspapers, Gannett's (GCI) USA Today has been cutting back in recent years to offset a steep drop in advertising that is depleting its main source of income. To compound the problem, fewer readers are paying for newspapers as free news proliferates on the Web.
A 'Radical' Reorganigation
Those challenges triggered the most dramatic reorganization since USA Today first hit the streets in 1982 with a then-unique blend of shorter stories surrounded by colorful graphics and pictures.
"This is pretty radical," Hunke said of the shake-up. "This gets us ready for our next quarter century."
In the first wave of change, USA Today, which is based in McLean, Va., will no longer have separate managing editors overseeing its News, Sports, Money and Life sections.
The newsroom instead will be broken up into a cluster of "content rings" each headed up by editors who will be appointed later this year. The newly created content group will be overseen by Susan Weiss, who had been managing editor of the Life section. As executive editor of content, Weiss will report to USA Today Editor John Hillkirk.
"We'll focus less on print ... and more on producing content for all platforms (Web, mobile, iPad and other digital formats)," according to a slide show presented Thursday to USA Today's staff. The AP obtained copy of the presentation.
Conflict of Interest?
In a move that may raise conflict-of-interest questions, Weiss will have a "collaborative relationship" with USA Today's newly appointed vice president of business development, Rudd Davis, according to one slide.
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