Posted early, because I likely won't be able to post it tomorrow.
In this edition: FNC to launch Fox Biz channel; John King's daughter is a smart cookie; TimesSelect subscriber numbers; The Daily Show influence; Whoopi Goldberg's radio show; the necessity of investigative reporting; Iraq cable getting not much coverage; say goodbye to Dan Rather; obituary writers conference; Bruce Springsteen rocks; Jill Caroll's story coming soon; Joe Klein (hypocrite); cartoons, and tons more...
Thoughts, and Then, the News
Questions I'd like the media to start asking GOPers when it comes to Iraq...
Now for the news from the past week posted, June 26, 2006:
Note: I'm going to put a %%% next to things that are more interesting or go into things more in-depth.
Did You Know?
There's a Great Obituary Writers' Conference.
You Know I Love Me Some Editorial Cartoons
And now they're becoming digitally animated.
The importance of small papers
* Small Oregon Paper Leads Reporting on Missing Local Soldier
* Tenn. "Leaf Chronicle" handling two Iraq-soldier tragedies in its backyard
The Cable from Iraq... what's been the extent of the news coverage?
I'm referring to this one. ABCNews did a piece on it on 6/20. I didn't catch what was on the other news shows, but I'm only half surprised that the cable wasn't a bigger story. The 2 US soldiers who were kidnapped and brutally murdered led the news programs 6/20.
Does Time regret naming Powerline blog of the year?
Does Howie Kurtz regret inviting on John Hinderaker all the time? This should.
The Mainstream Media Tries to Discredit Blogs, but End Up Discrediting Themselves
Peter Daou has the goods
Does Joe Klein Even Know How Much of an Ass He Was?
Klein to Katrina Vanden Heuvel: "Do you even know what counterinsurgency is?"
Is Jason Zengerle the new Jason Leopold or Stephen Glass?
Gilliard speaks, while Majikthise wants to know what Zengerle's going to do to his "source". Hunter's post on Zengerle's faux controversy is the best I've seen. There are other aspects of Zengerle's posts that are factually questionable.
Laugh at Grace
Gawker video: Rapist Hijinks and Hilarity With Nancy Grace
Preach it Bruce!
Springsteen! (with video)
Springsteen was asked by Soledad O'Brien if getting flak about his political views, such as backing John Kerry in 2004, made him wonder if musicians should try so hard to be taken seriously on topical issues.
"They should let Ann Coulter do it instead?" he mused, with a chuckle. Then he said, "You can turn on the idiots rambling on, on cable television, every night of the week -- and they say musicians shouldn't speak up? It's insane, it's funny," he said, laughing.
CNN gets less stodgy, less newsy
One critic's take. As for moi: Celebrity interviews have a place on these supposedly "serious" shows as long as they're not on to promote a movie or new single. Jolie was on to promote awareness of World Refugee Day (which did seem to have positive effects). What does bother me is that CNN doesn't regularly emphasize the stellar international reporting they are capable of doing. They went all out on promoting Angelina Jolie, which is fine; what's not okay is that they don't do that with their international coverage. Other views on Cooper's Angelina interview: here, here, and here
Psst! CNN, MSNBC! A Ratings Winner For Ya!
Web Users Open the Gates, by Jay Rosen (The entire article is excellent, but here's the part I want to highlight.)
Why has no major news organization tried to build up credibility as the oppositional (but relentlessly factual) network the way Fox News built credibility as a Bush-friendly channel, which capably won the ratings for its coverage of the 2004 Republic National Convention? After all, the target audience -- cable watchers from "blue"America -- comprised at least 40 percent of the overall market, plus anyone from the right who would tune in for the outrage factor. Prior to the Internet, the idea that an opposition press could have value would simply have been ignored.
Credit Where It's Due
* LA Times columnist Ron Brownstein for simply trying to analyze the politics of Iraq, as opposed to reciting Republican talking points (as others do... see RWCM section.)
* SDUT may as well an insert in their paper chronicling the corrupt GOP members of Congress from that area. First Cunningham. Now Lewis.
* A local paper's take on DKos (Hint: They get it!), by jedinecny
* AP's Liz Sodoti for probably the fairest headline and lede of any article on the two parties and Iraq: Sargent has the goods.
* Cheney says something demonstrably false. Well, at least one reporter pointed it out this time.
* Boston Globe approach to Guantanamo "legal black hole" from fresh angle
* CNN dedicates programming to World Refugee Day coverage. Good stuff from CNN. If only the programming were this thoughtful on a regular basis.
Awards, Fellowships and Nominees
* "An Inconvenient Truth" to receive Humanitas Prize
* Tom Brokaw to be inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame
* Eleanor Clift honored at "Annual Legend & Legacy Awards Luncheon" held by the National Area Women Business Owners HT FishbowlDC.
* Murrow Awards: NBC wins 6. Full list here.
* Larry King receives 2006 Century Award
* TX Monthly big winner at City and Regional Magazine Awards
* Alt. Weekly Award Winners Bill Clinton spoke at the AltWeekly Convention.
* Cabot Prize Winners for Latin American Journolism Announced
* NYDN's Tom DeFrank wins Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency (More here.)
Maybe Cheney couldn't bear the thought of handing the award to a journalist whose coverage touched on his waning influence at the White House after the indictment of his former chief of staff, Scooter Libby. One of DeFrank's five stories submitted in the award-winning package began, "The CIA leak scandal has peeled back the veil on the most closely held White House secret of all: the subtle but unmistakable erosion in the bond between President Bush and Vice President Cheney."
The story quoted a longtime Bush associate describing Cheney as "wounded" by the CIA leak scandal and a presidential counselor as saying, "The relationship is not what it was." Cheney aides were "apoplectic" about the story at the time, one source told HOH.
DeFrank didn't mention that story, which was published Nov. 8, 2005, when he accepted the award during a luncheon at the National Press Club. Nor did Cheney, who, according to attendees, was gracious and said nice things about DeFrank.
But although Cheney presented the award to last year's winner, Jackie Calmes of The Wall Street Journal, President Ford's son Jack presented this year's award, the 19th annual.
Adding more intrigue, when the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum recently named DeFrank this year's winner, it sent out a press release announcing that Cheney "is scheduled to present the award" to DeFrank at a June 19 luncheon at the press club.
Later, however, the Ford library released another notice clarifying that Cheney "is scheduled to speak" at the awards luncheon.
Though he had nothing but kind words to say Monday about his buddies in the Fourth Estate, Cheney sure didn't pull any punches at last year's awards luncheon, expressing his disdain for journalists when audience members submitted questions to the vice president on note cards.
As someone at the event recalls, one question had to do with the vice president's "ideal for excellence in journalism." With head bowed, Cheney paused and then, according to the source, answered something like, "I guess I'd know what it is if I'd ever seen it."
Battle of Media Folks
* Frank Whelan v. Morning Call Gay writer suspended for being grand marshal at gay pride parade.
* Tony Snow v. Helen Thomas
* Bill O'Reilly v. Clarence Page
* Malcolm Gladwell v. Arianna Huffington (More here)
* NBC chief confident on `Today,' Brian Williams v. Couric
* Right to Know v. the Pentagon. Evictions Raise the Tension Level at Guantanamo
Journalists in Dangerous and Difficult Situations
* Jill Carroll's Story Complete, "Weeks" From Publication
* Press freedom group criticizes jailing of blogger in Singapore
* Swedish journalist shot dead in Somali capital
* Media group wants Turkmen reporter freed
* IAPA Condemns Panama government for increase in Journo Penalties
* Killing scares media away from Waziristan
* Two Filipino Journos Slain
* Pakistani Journos Condemn Death of Photographer
* 3 Egyptian Journalists on Trial Over Allegations of Election Fraud
King's Daughter
Out of the mouth of babes.
So what's it like to be a reporter going off the grid with President Bush, who caught nearly everyone by surprise by heading for Baghdad Monday when everyone was expecting him to be preparing for a press conference in the White House Rose Garden?
The Insider put that question to CNN chief national correspondent John King. He was asked to be TV pool correspondent on the trip because his sudden absence would not be noticed by the White House press corps. [...]
Mr. King's involvement started with a Sunday afternoon e-mail from Dan Bartlett, the presidential counselor who oversees communications, and a subsequent low-key meeting at a moderately priced chain restaurant on Washington's Wisonsin Avenue with Mr. Bartlett and White House Communications Director Nicolle Wallace. Mr. King had covered the White House for more than eight years and "knew the drill," they explained.
After Mr. King cleared the trip in utter secrecy with CNN Washington bureau chief David Bohrman, he was declared "unavailable" to work Monday. He would take CNN photojournalists Tim Garraty and Phil Littleton with him on Air Force One, which also carried a standard travel pool consisting of four print correspondents and four still photographers.
Mr. King told his ex-wife and two children he was going on "a short but sensitive trip that I wasn't supposed to talk about."
His daughter, 9, said, "'Daddy, you're going to Iraq.' It came out just like that. She actually got a little emotional and said she would prefer that I not go. I was taken aback by that and we had to talk for a little while. In the end, she was fine," Mr. King said.
Journalists, Leaks & Investigations
* Rep. Peter King (R-NY): Charge the NYT with espionage
* BushCo asks papers not to run stories on secret program. More from Eric Lichtblau of the NYT.
* Prosecutors Demand Reporters Testify in BALCO Steroid Case
TV Guests Watch
* One in a million (or something like that. Rarely do the Dems dominate the morning shows in this way. Since I started TV Guests Watch, I think it's happened like 4-5 days out of 30.) Hotline 6/23: ""Today" led with the terror plot and hosted Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE). "Early Show" led with the terror plot. "GMA" led with the terror plot and hosted ex-VP Gore."
* Again, McCain appears with no opposition. Hotline 6/21: ""Today" and "GMA" led with the two soldiers killed in Iraq. "Today" hosted WH Counselor Dan Bartlett. "GMA" hosted Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). "Early Show" led with the summit in Vienna. "Washington Journal" hosted Reps. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA)."
Have you bought your copy today?
Have you requested it at your library, yet? Eric Boehlert's Lapdogs. Also: Helen Thomas's Watchdogs of Democracy?: The Waning Washington Press Crops and How It Has Failed the Public (which is disputed by some in the WH press corps)
Says it all
Leno:
The government of Afghanistan has sent a letter to the news stations and all journalists in that country ordering them to report only favorable news about the government. Now I know that sounds harsh, but you have to remember they don't have Fox News over there.
RWCM Watch
* Media reports on Casey's plans for troop withdrawal but neglects to mention contradictions from GOP. More here. An award to most delusional analysis goes to the LA Times.
* Memo to lazy media: Daily Kos does NOT equal Markos, by Bob Johnson. Addressing the David Brooks column and Newsweek article. Another look on the Newsweek article on Kos (and another on Hewitt) from TalkLeft.
* Right-winger Monica Crowley is back at MSNBC. She's anchoring in the afternoons.
* Speaking of right-wingers going back on TV, Laura Ingraham may be getting a new show on FNC. It's modeled after TDS.
* Fox News goes a little too ga-ga for Santorum's WMD declarations.
* There's no liberal counterpart to Bill Bennett on CNN.
* Brit Hume: Amnesty for killing Americans is no big deal
* About that study on TDS, cyncism, and politics... I've actually heard Shearer's take from communications experts and such, so I'm with him on this one. WaPo overplayed one aspect of the study, and doesn't capture the whole enchilada.
* "You'd never know it from some of the reporting and bloviating on the debate over an Iraq withdrawal, but all major polls show that the public favors withdrawals, with strong support for a timeline or total pullout within a year."
* Familiarize yourself in the RWCM's Clinton Rules.
* Bush nominates National Review writer to Public Broadcasting Board
* Is Norah O'Donnell getting a paycheck from the RNC? I've got similar questions for the NYT and LA Times
* So when does Geraldo Rivera get put out to pasture? Geraldo Rivera on John Kerry. Rivera got kicked out of Iraq for giving away too much info about our troops... so who is Rivera to talk?
* WaPo's Michael Shear's admonition for bloggers Oy.
* Bill O'Reilly: I'd run Iraq the way Saddam did; that, and more...
* Pat Robertson on Islam, homosexuality He gets a platform on Michael Eisner's CNBC show of all places.
* WSJ falsely claims ethanol is responsible for high gas prices
* Condi Rice and Greensboro (N.C.) News and Record reporter Nancy McLaughlin: (Update: McLaughlin has been told by higher ups that it was inappropriate.)
Of course, when she's on the road, Rice doesn't have to put up with a bothersome, cynical Washington press corps.
"Well, I won't be disrespectful," McLaughlin said. "I understand that I only had seven minutes."
"I thank you very much," Rice said.
"We love you here in Greensboro," McLaughlin said. "I just wanted to say that with my time."
"Well, thank you," Rice said. "Really nice to meet you. Thank you. Want to take a picture together?"
"Yeah, sure."
* Say buh-bye to the Bush Rebound Media Meme
that never really got off the ground.
*
Joe Klein. Joe Klein's
fantasy world.
Liar or mere
obfusactor?
* Boehlert on
the hacktacular The Note.
*
Media Matters
*
Eat the Press
Media People
* Rob and Nate Corddry talk to EW They're on the Must List. %%%
* Jon Stewart with wife and son at Mets game. Very cute photo.
* TVNewser's headline: Lou Dobbs May Pander to Racists & Xenophobes, But They're Intelligent
* Roll Call's Tom Gottlieb on TDS. He was interviewed for the softball story. Kinda cute.
* Tom Brokaw gives commencement address at Stanford
* Anderson Cooper and the pitfalls of fame.
* Most awesome NYT: Crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz
* The next NYT star: The ubiquitous Sewell Chan
* Kurtz on Gibson and taking over the ABC WNT anchor slot Lenghty profile of Charles Gibson
* DC-ites celebrate movie about crossword puzzles. Phots here
* FishBowlDC interviews Houston Chronicle's WH Correspondent Julie Mason.
* Newsman Robert Jordan on beating cancer %%%
* The story behind one of Anderson Cooper's fave songs. Link
* Want to know one magazine read by NYT's David Carr? US
* Reasons #12857 and #12858 why no one takes Connie Chung seriously: Her tone deaf singing and bizarre performances. At least she meant for it to be a joke. Still, it wasn't funny. Just embarrassing. The audience laughed at her, not with her... which is probably why Connie Chung's stunt became a hot viral video. Few watched her show on MSNBC, while it was on the air, but her goodbye to that show manages to get tons of attention. If you want to read more from Connie Chung, she did a Q&A with TV Guide recently.
* FishBowlDC interview with Eric Wemple
* So what does Brian Williams know? He's going on some quiz show.
* Conversation with Bob Edwards, XM Satellite radio host
* Esquire Men's Dinner Lists
Esquire magazine commissioned a survey by Beta Research Corp. of 1,083 American men over age 25. Among other questions, respondents were given a list of 14 men and 14 women and asked to assemble a dinner table of six guests -- three of each.
Thirty-five percent named Rice, ahead of Oprah Winfrey (33 percent) and Jolie (30 percent). Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) would be sitting with 21 percent of men.
Among famous men, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno was the most popular choice, with 37 percent. President Bush, former President Clinton and actor George Clooney were tied for second with 36 percent. Vice President Cheney was down the list with 16 percent, behind "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart (27 percent) and Fox News's Bill O'Reilly (18 percent).
News & Notes on Media orgs, Programming, Specials, etc.
* Digg to allow users to vote for many times of news
* NYT exec. editor Bill Keller... has his own TV show called "Live Prayer with Bill Keller"?
* Roger Ailes targets early-to-mid 2007 for Fox Biz Channel Launch
* NBC takes promoting its own shows to the streets.
* OC Register's Political Animations %%%
* CNN podcasts target youth. The influence of TDS! (More info here)
* More TDS influence: Ex-corrrespondent Brian Unger to move into serious journalism?
* Lehrer: NewsHour is here to stay
* CBS Evening News says goodbye to Dan Rather. Rather's statement. Related: Ed Bradley on Rather's departure; Rather gets invite for teaching spot at Harvard's Shorenstein Center; CBS news chief: "Nothing disrespectful" in Rather move; Cuban wants Rather on his team; Vieira's comments; note the statements from head honchos at CBS; AP's take; lots more at TV Newser. Even more on Rather's departure here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
* As CBS says goodbye to Rather, they're getting Katie Couric to go out on tour to meet news watchers in several major cities. CBS has already started airing ads promoting Couric
* Charlie Gibson says goodbye to GMA on 6/28
* Whoopi Goldberg has a new radio show. She promoted it by doing an interview with Michael Eisner. Transcript
* MSNBC's Abrams: I intend to run this network. Related: Variety's Brian Lowry on MSNBC's programming (Ouch)
* Matt Cooper leaving Time Magazine
* Congrats to Slate and WaPo.com on their 10 year anniversary
* Latest media hotspot? Middle East Lots of news channels starting up for the Arabic-speaking audience.
* PBS to producers: no cursing!
* DoJ clears KR sale to McClatchy
* $11.2B bid for Univision Communications
* Should NYT Co. Merge?
* NYT to sell ads on front of Business Section
State of the Media, Trends, Research Reports, Innovations
* How to reach the millennial generation. For all you campaign tactic types.
* Are you a news purist? MSNBC's Dan Abrams says that cable news isn't for you. Well, then, those news purists may just find a home at NY1 (if they get the channel, that is). As for print, a study shows most college students read print newspapers.
* NYT's Risen: Things Have Never Benn as "Difficult and Poisonous" for Journalists as They Are Today
* The Future of News: New Relationships, New Pressures, New Potential
* In NAA Panel, Newspaper Execs Optimistic About Future
* Anderson Cooper: Storytelling Matters
* Report: Viewers more likely to remember commercials if viewed online than on a TV
* Newspapers and Wall Street don't mix %%%
* Newspapers need investigating reporting %%%
* Ben Bradlee on the state of newspapers %%%
* Fitfully Blending Papers and TV Synergy strategy isn't working for Tribune. More on the troubles at Tribune Co.: here; here; here
* Nielsen switching channels for new view of viewers On measuring ratings. %%%
* YouTube `bigger than MTV' for advertisers
* Web 2.0 points to crowded media landscape
* CBS Would Rather Push Digital Media
* JWT displays TV ads on HuffPo
* New network to sell TV ad time via online `shopping cart'
* McCain still pushing for a la carte cable
* FCC kicks off review of media ownership rules... which means it's time for another grassroots campaign to stop more media consolidation.
* So who's making money online?
Ratings, Circulation, & Ad Revenue Strength
* Newspaper Growth in 216 Countries and Territories
* What makes Anderson Cooper and his bosses at CNN happy? Angelina Jolie's big lips, big heart and big pregnancy boobs. He was #1 in the 25-54 demo for the night of the Angelina interview
* Strong sales for Tim Russert's latest book: Sold 109,692 copies the week leading up to Father's Day
* Evening News Ratings Week of 6/12-6/16: ABC wins in 25-54 demo; NBC spins the numbers here.
* Morning Show Ratings Week of 6/12-6/16: Today wins again
* Late Night Ratings Week of 6/12-6/16: Scroll for data for all late night shows
* Hotline 6/22: "For the week of 6/18/06, NBC's "Meet the Press" won with a 2.7 rating/8 share and 3.503M viewers. CBS' "Face the Nation" was second with a 2.0/6 and 2.609M viewers. "Fox News Sunday" came in with a 0.9/3 and 1.206M viewers. ABC's "This Week" did not air due to coverage of the World Cup" (NBC spins the numbers.)
* The ratings for CNBC's Conservations with Michael Eisner stink.
* Fox News profits soaring
* Times Select: 181,000 people pay for TimesSelect online only
* First week sales for Ann Coulter's new book: 48,000
* Mobile phone programming may be the wave of the future, but in some quarters, it's not catching on. Mobile ESPN Phone has less than 10K subscribers
Media News Monday is a compilation of media news from the past week posted on Monday. If you have any media news to add, please do so. For more RWCM watch & Media News: Penndit's News, Media News, and RWCM Watch Links. I get the advertising, public relations, targeting voters information, and media research from a variety of sources other than the links above. Cross-posted at Penndit. For previous editions, search my diaries or Penndit.
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