What’s going on in newspapers is far more than the restructuring of an entire industry, the collapse of century old institutions, or the human toll of layoffs in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
It represents a death of a journalism culture that has given purpose and identity to hundreds of [...]
Posts from ‘April, 2009’
Culture Death
Drawing the line between advertising and news
The ad flap at the LA Times this week, or some version thereof, is likely to become a common occurrence in newsrooms as publishers search for every possible source of advertising revenue.
In a media age where survival has become the driving force in most media organizations, it’s unfortunate but inevitable that the line between advertising [...]
Challenge to media: explaining the propositions
If there ever was an argument against the initiative process — simply read (or attempt to read) the text of Proposition 1A which voters will be asked to weigh in on in a little over a month.
Go ahead. I dare you.
No ordinary citizen should be asked, or be expected, to decipher the obtuse language, complex [...]
Sacramento Bee Replaces Departing State Capitol Photographer
Here’s one sliver of good news:
I had noted in an earlier post that the Sacramento Bee would be losing its lone State Capitol photographer, with the departure of Brian Baer on March 27. However, the Bee’s Capitol Bureau was without a photographer for just over a week, the Bee’s Capitol Bureau Chief Dan Smith [...]
New journalism initiatives win investigative reporting awards
I’m the last person to look to awards as the sole or even primary arbiters of journalism excellence.
But it was depressing to note that only three California news organizations are winners in this year’s IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) awards contest.
