A Harvard University analysis of The New York Times and other so-called paradigms of journalism showed some serious dereliction of duty during the 2016 Presidential campaign. The Washington Post’s astute media chronicler and former New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan observed: During the 2016 presidential campaign, the national news media’s misguided sense of…… Continue reading A Glimmer of Hope for Journalism?
Tag: JOurnalism
Podcasts for PR Peeps
It’s no secret that podcasting, once left for dead, has a new lease on life now that our mobile devices serve as the primary vehicles through which we acquire news and information. One NYU student writer recently extolled the podcast as “the future of journalism.” The buzzworthy “Missing Richard Simmons,” Buzzfeed’s “Another Round,” and the #1-rated “S-Town”…… Continue reading Podcasts for PR Peeps
2016: When PR Turned to the Dark Side
2016 was the year when the currents that have slowly eroded the tenuous relationship between journalists and PR pros coalesced to create an existential crisis that may not be easily remedied. Yesterday’s Trump presser was the first salvo in what will surely be a contentious period for news organizations hoping to ferret out the truth.…… Continue reading 2016: When PR Turned to the Dark Side
Fake News and Its Threat to Democracy
My first social media post of the day happened on Facebook and involved Twitter. It cited USA Today’s story on Twitter’s audacious decision to ban from its platform hundreds of offensive “alt right” accounts. My morning gripe had less to do with Twitter’s sudden cleanse of hate-spreaders on its platform and more about the absence…… Continue reading Fake News and Its Threat to Democracy
When Journalism Fails to Deliver
Today one of the most astute chroniclers of all things technology tossed his former fellow tech scribes under the bus for their inability to separate fact from fiction when it came to the scientific claims of one prickly healthcare startup CEO. I’m talking about Theranos of…… Continue reading When Journalism Fails to Deliver
Trump Campaign Manager Accosts Reporter
The industry’s most effective public relations professionals zealously guard and champion the interests of their clients. They know the mindsets of those they’re paid to serve and what keeps them awake at night. Sometimes, however, this unfettered devotion crosses an ethical boundary as several folks witnessed last night when Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski…… Continue reading Trump Campaign Manager Accosts Reporter
Can Vice Be Trusted?
Washington Post long-time media reporter Paul Farhi today takes to task millennials’ favorite media empire Vice for allegedly modifying or expunging news stories in order to placate or avoid embarrassment for its advertisers. He wrote: “But there’s another side to Vice’s pace-setting journalism and dramatic business rise. At times, the company has blurred the lines between…… Continue reading Can Vice Be Trusted?
Newspapers’ Waning Clout in Scalia Battle
As our impossibly divided nation chooses sides in the battle over whether President Obama has the Constitutional right to nominate a replacement for Justice Scalia (hint: he does), more bad news keeps coming about the future sustainability of newspapers: Gannett’s revenue falls on continued declines in advertising sales and circulation https://t.co/NYn5Ip6w2f pic.twitter.com/uz47g9RXfq — Wall Street…… Continue reading Newspapers’ Waning Clout in Scalia Battle
Detritus In My Inbox
As a veteran PR professional and sometimes journalist, I am frequently on the receiving end of emailed story pitches from other PR types. More often than not, I empathize with the sender, offering tips on how to improve his or her pitch. (One tip: I write about media, tech and marketing/PR…only.) On a single day…… Continue reading Detritus In My Inbox
Al Jazeera: America’s Not-So-Warm Embrace
Several years ago when Al Jazeera announced its ambitious plans to expand its TV news footprint from the Middle East to the United States, I scratched my head and pondered the foolishness of such an idea. After all, didn’t Al Jazeera built its brand identity as the propaganda arm for the Intifada and a few…… Continue reading Al Jazeera: America’s Not-So-Warm Embrace