MEDIA NEWS MONDAY 5/16/05

Media News Monday!

Media News Monday is a compilation of media news from the past week posted on Monday. Media is an integral part of politics, and I think that it’s important to get to know media and media innovation in order to forecast future ways of campaigning, targeting voters, and disseminating information. If any of you are interested in campaigning, this weekly diary may help you with ideas.  It is also important to keep up with right wing corporate media (RWCM) news.  If you have any media news to add, please do so.  

Previous edition: May 9, 2005
For more previous editions, search my diaries.  

Now for the news from the past week posted today, May 16, 2005:

Note: I’m going to put a %%% next to things that are more interesting or go into things more in-depth.

Best bit of Blogosphere Reporting
Blame Newsweek? Think again…by SusanHu

Must read Media Action Alert
The Downing Street Memo, Quick Facts, and Action Items, by Apian

Own a Bit of Michael Jackson Puppet Theater
Olbermann auctioned off the puppets the segment Michael Jackson Puppet Theatre for charity. Olbermann has celiac disease.  The money goes to the Celiac Sprue Association. Puppets are autographed. Winner is paying $15,099.99 for the puppets

Yeah, That’s Right
Spokane editor: Journos blast us, but readers praise probe Summary via Romenesko:

Spokesman-Review editor Steve Smith says his paper’s investigation of Spokane Mayor Jim West “has built trust in our readers and Spokane citizens. They know what we wrote is true. Feedback is running 10- maybe 15-1 in our favor.” He tells Leonard Witt: “I think our credibility with journalists is hurt. But I think this may be a sign of how disconnected some editors are from the sensibilities of citizens who want their newspapers to watchdog government and do it aggressively.”

Yup, absolutely. It doesn’t matter who is in charge… citizens want the media to watchdog aggressively.  They’d rather Woodward & Bernstein-type journalism…than the talking points stenography.  Plus, in case anyone in the media has ever bothered to pay attention to this… people will watch/read if a newspaper or newscast breaks stories and dig deep into the government.  Scandal gets eyeballs, and maybe it’d get something else the press say they want more of: credibility with the public.  More of my commentary on this here.

Action Alert!
Help Stop Fox News Deal with Yahoo! News, by JustWinBaby

OUTRAGE(s) of the Week

1. Jeers to that bitch who is still on the payroll. NYT Public Editor admits that NYT’s WMD reporting was “very bad journalism.” So why did Judith Miller keep on writing stories for the NYT even after the NYT did its mea culpa story?
2. * Sirotablog: ABC News: We’re Not Interested in Covering the Iraq War

Notes

• Huffington Post got primo news spot on AOL. Tag was “Can they beat Drudge Report?”
• Interview Skills 101–Surviving the Fox Hunt, by TrueBlueMajority
• Jerry Bruckheimer is developing a show for NBC called “E-Ring.” It is created by David McKenna and Ken Robinson, a former Green Beret who consults for CNN on terrorism and military intelligence.  “E-Ring” is descirbed as “The West Wing” set at the Pentagon.
• ABC has a show for the fall called “Commander in Chief.” Geena Davis stars as the first female president.  It focuses more on the President’s private life and less on the day to day business of the office.
• Cast for ABC’s new TV movie “The Ten Commandments” has been announced. Production starts May 23 in Morocco. It will air during the 2005-2006 season on ABC.

Bullshit
WP’s Kurtz keeps the media industry honest, says critic

Media Personalities

• FNC’s Rita Crosby jumps to MSNBC
• MSNBC Must Fire Buchanan, by BooMan %%%
• CJR chats with NYT ed. Daniel Okrent
• Houston Chronicle: O’Reilly a Bald-Faced Liar, by heterodoxy Too Funny. Somewhere Keith Olbermann is smiling.
• Yup, Blitzer will anchor from 3-6PM starting in late July. More Wolf Blitzer to annoy us more. The article also notes that CNN’s prime-time lineup won’t be changing anytime soon.
• More on CNN late-afternoon changes.
• Chris Wallace profiled in the Miami Herald
• CNBC Expanding Biz Day Programming into Primetime, while Dennis Miller show is canceled
• Robin Roberts got a promotion at GMA. An NYT snippet notes that this gives ABCNews more flexibility in dealing with Peter Jennings’ cancer.  Charles Gibson has been doing double duty at GMA and World News Tonight, and with Robin Roberts promotion, it allows ABCNews to give Gibson the morning off when he substitutes on WNT. For more on the promotion, read this.
• Info on the development of the Huffington Post
• (WakeupCall) Charlie Rose and his wife Amanda Burden have “parted ways, amicably” (New York Post).
• (People.com) Jon Stewart, 42, has paid $5.8 million for a loft in Manhattan’s Tribeca for himself, wife Tracey, son Nathan and their dog and cat, the New York Observer reports. The duplex penthouse is described by the paper as having 6,000 sq. ft., 40 windows, a terrace and a private roof. No count on bedrooms or bathrooms, however. A rep for “The Daily Show” star confirmed a real-estate transaction but declined to offer details.
• (Philly Inq) NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, most recently a New York-based correspondent, yesterday was named to the White House beat, joining David Gregory. She replaces Norah O’Donnell, named chief Washington correspondent for MSNBC and contributing correspondent for NBC’s Today.
• TVguide.com: Christiane Amanpour is clocking out of 60 Minutes. In a statement, the international superstar said the part-time gig had “run its course.” Amanpour will continue to serve as chief international correspondent for CNN.
• NYT Sunday Style’s had the wedding announcement for LA Times writer Ron Brownstein.  

RWCM Watch

• Conference on Media Reform: Bill Moyers Rocks!!! Stunning Speech!, by Hummingbird Video here.
• Abramoff corrupts the conservative press %%% The jackass is everywhere. Tentacles reach far and wide.
• Dennis Prager and Robert Novak Trivialize the Holocaust, by Eric J in MN
• Dem Reps Obey and Dingell ask for investigation into CPB chairman Kenneth Tomlinson %%%
• CPB/PBS chief Tomlinson gushes that he “loves” O’ Reilly, by blksista
• The Media’s Coverage during Clinton Years v. The Media’s Coverage during the Bush43 Years %%%
• Atlanta-Journal Constitution admits they know Bush lied, but won’t report it., by Jeff Boatright
• Support for banning fake-news segments is bi-partisan
• AP picks up Reid smear, by Biblio
• It’s Time to Kill Novak’s Career, by SusanG
• What reporters actually doing their job sounds like, by Magorn
• Pittsburgh TV reporter doubles as teacher of right-wing “journalism”
• Mary Matalin LIES on MTP %%%
• AP on the GOP payroll?, by becca00 %%%
• Downing Street Evidence — Washinton Post Refuses to Cover Story, by Apian %%%
• Are there more lazy, dishonest reporters working these days? %%%
• CJR: Media buys into the Bush rhetoric or democracy promotion and doesn’t look into the reality of the situation.
• Hook, line and sinker – WaPo takes Tierney’s bait, by hbyronk
• Clear Channel’s #2 investor dumping stock!, by cdelia
• Phony Journalists for the NRA, by doink
• Sinclair protests fired newsman Leiberman’s ethics award
• Iraqi Insurgents and US Media reporting, by Armando
• Credibility & Eyeballs: What the Media Wants & One Way to Get ‘Em.
• Five years ago on May 15, United Press International was sold to the parent company of The Washington Times.

State of the Media, Trends, Research Reports, Innovations

• (Hotline) Jay Leno: “More facts coming out today about the evacuation of the Washington. … White House reporters said they were moved to a more secure location in the basement. Except for CBS reporters, Bush had them moved to the White House roof.”
• ‘NewsHour’ Makes News, Licenses TV Clips For Online Video Search %%%
• Many newspapers, mags try to lure readers with podcasts
• BURST!: Internet Continues Snagging Eyeballs From TV
• Radio changes its tune to recapture listeners “As more consumers turn a deaf ear to traditional radio, stations increasingly are switching formats.”
• CNN/U.S. To Begin Simulcasting CNNI’s “Your World Today” At Noon, Replacing Wolf Begins June 6.
• Final episode of Crossfire is June 3. I’m sure everyone will tune in droves for that just like they tuned in droves to the Seinfeld finale. (sarcasm)
• ABC, WorldNow Launch Massive ‘Unwired,’ Online News Network %%% The whole network is expected to reach 20 million unique visitors a month.  I hope the VLWC that is supposedly developing has an online news network on tap.  Online marketing can be done like what Firefox did…cheap and effective.
• One Third of Online Young Adults Prefer Internet for News %%%
• Bloggers’ conference emphasizes tools of reporting
• US appeals court tosses FCC’s broadcast flag rule The rule was designed to limit people from sending copies of digital television programs over the Internet.
• NYT panel says paper should respond assertively to critics
• MediaPost: Google has a new “feature that enables people to use their cell phones to blog. Now, mobile users who want to blog on the go via Google can access the service by sending a message–text, photos, or both–to go@blogger.com, and Google then posts the entry.”

Ratings, Circulation, & Ad Revenue Strength:

• Wikipedia Traffic Surges. It’s now the second most-visited reference website. link
• Nightline ratings are good
• GMA continues to gain on the Today Show and even manages wins on some days.
• On cable news, FNC outdraws CNN and MSNBC.  On MSNBC, Olbermann is drawing 100k more viewers on some nights than Hardball and MSNBC.  In most time slots, CNN and MSNBC combined still can’t outdraw FNC.
• Network news ratings NBC leads ABC by a bit in total viewers, while CBS trails both by a lot.  In the 25-54 demo, ABC and NBC are basically tied.

For more RWCM watch & Media News: Penndit’s News, Media News, and RWCM Watch Links. I get the advertising, public relations, targetting voters information, and media research from a variety of sources other than the links above.  

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Cross-posted here