http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/...
The long, boring career of Lawrence K. Altman as the Centers for Disease Control's stenographer shows no signs of coming to an end any time soon. His latest act of anilingus for the CDC in the pages of the New York Times was on the coming flu season.
I don't know why Altman's editor, David Corcoran at the science desk, didn't just run the actual CDC transcript of yesterday's phone press conference with CDC honcho Julie Gerberding.
Altman, who once worked for the CDC, quoted Gerberding thirteen times. Other voices? In an Altman story about anything to do with the federal agency that once was his boss? Puh-leeze.
The Times really should put an end to this sort of stenography by Altman. His approach to any CDC story he writes can be summed up in two words: CDC says.
In her "let's honestly look at and trash Judy Miller" column, Maureen Dowd spoke truth to power: "But investigative reporting is not stenography."
Try telling that to Altman and his editor.
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http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/...
Arthur Sulzberger Jr.
Chairman
The New York Times
Dear Mr. Sulzberger:
I watched your chat with Charlie Rose last night and was glad you made reference to Al Siegel's report in May to Bill Keller--Preserving Our Readers' Trust. You claimed that many recommendations from Siegel and his committee have been implemented, but a few recommendations of keen interest to me have not been turned into reality.
Siegel wrote:
"III. Nytimes.com should conduct frequent Q & A forums with department heads and other senior editors and should set up mechanisms to give readers greater access to key source documents, interview transcripts and databases used in stories and graphics. The Web should also explore the possibility of creating a Times blog that promotes a give-and-take with readers while satisfying the standards of our journalism."
First, the online forums would be an excellent new method of communication between the Times and its audience, but the idea has not made it past the drawing board. Why is it taking so long for the Times to hold online chats with readers? In my opinion, you could easily follow the example of the Washington Post and its web forums with editors and reporters, which include live chats.
Next, the issue of interview transcripts needs to be addressed, and quickly. Right now, the transcript of an editorial board meeting on September 12 with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is not available on the Times site, either for free or behind the TimesSelect wall.
However, the State Department posts its transcript of the meeting, for no cost, on the web. It's at State's site.
What's your reaction to the fact that the Times is not sharing a transcript of Rice's September 12 meeting, but the U.S. government is?
On the matter of a Times blog, it is odd, given the paper's deep and expanding interests in blogs (you yourself mentioned the blogosphere last night and its role in shaping current political discourse), that the Times has not yet created NYTimesblog.com.
Is the idea of a Times blog, maybe even a blog for you, dead and going nowhere?
I also wish to inquire about a promise executive editor Bill Keller made on June 23 in his response to the Siegel committee's recommendations.
Keller promised that, "On a regular basis -- every other week -- senior editors of The Times will be available to the public for Q & A forums on our website. (These will not be live, raw chat sessions, but thoughtful answers to serious questions.) 'Senior' means department heads on up to the executive editor, who herewith volunteers to take the first turn. We will announce these sessions in the paper and on the Website. We will designate someone at the Website to handle logistics, and someone in the newsroom to play choreographer."
Four months ago Keller promised he would start the forums, serving as the pioneer, and so far, he hasn't kept his promise.
Did Keller mean that the forums would start next year? By the time of midterm elections in 2006? When, exactly, did Keller expect to catch up with the Washington Post and hold online chats and forums with readers?
As always, a prompt reply is requested and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
NYTCo Stockholder
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http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/...
America's most controversial reporter, Judy Miller, as we all know, left her job at the New York Times this week.
She's got a web site now and a new editor, Aaron Selverston, working to help her get her message out to the world.
I don't know much about Selverston, but there is one thing I like about him--he looks great in drag. Selverston sure knows how to wear a purple wig and matching outfit!