Judith Miller freed, will testify

The Philadelphia Inquirer -- not Miller's employer, the New York Times, -- first reported the news of Miller's freedom. Read it here...

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/12777702.htm

Now that Miller's jail time is over, one of the most important questions that needs to be asked is this: Does the issue of source/journalist relationship continue to have any legs? There was substantial criticism (justified, in my opinion) of the decision to jail her, and it led to lengthy conversations in the journalism and education communities about a reasonable response. Now, what happens? Do we in the journalism and education worlds continue to press the issue for federal shield laws? Or do we retreat and wait for the next opportunity to sound the alarm but not fight the fire?

NPR -- R For Republican?

Consider this...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/26/AR2005092601598.html

Who should replace Peter Jennings?

One former ABC reporter thinks Charles Gibson would be the wrong guy. Why? The answer can be found below...

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer
/news/magazine/daily/12767398.htm

Source/reporter relationships

They might be heading in a new direction, principally because of the fallout from the jailing of Judith Miller...

http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3966

The rush to report...

...leads to inaccuracies (of the worst kind)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rumors27sep27,0,5492806,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Is network television a joke?

In the mornings, apparently so...at least one critic says.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?
guid={85C3D4BC-D596-4187-BAB7-7B71C841E437}&siteid=mktw&dist=

Judy Woodruff heads to school

Not just any school, mind you.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/
entertainment/columnists/gail_shister/12759605.htm

Whoops!

Turns out the New York Times was wrong when it identified John Roberts as the author of an opinion that criticized New York Times v Sullivan

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/

Cameras in the Supreme Court

Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter has proposed legislation that has been endorsed by the Radio-Television News Directors Association. I hope many people in the journalism and educational communities also add their support to this idea.

The RTNDA press release is found here...

RTNDA Backs Sen. Specter's Call for Cameras in the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON—The Radio-Television News Directors Association supports legislation introduced yesterday by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) to allow television and radio coverage of the United States Supreme Court.
The legislation would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of its open sessions, unless a majority of justices vote that televising those proceedings would violate the rights of those appearing before the court.
Cosponsors of the bill include Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Russell Feingold (D-WI), John Cornyn (R-TX) and George Allen (R-VA).
In a statement on the floor of the Senate, Specter said, "The purpose of this legislation is to open the Supreme Court doors so that more Americans can see the process by which the Court reaches critical decisions of law that affect this country and everyday Americans. Because the Supreme Court of the United States holds power to decide cutting-edge questions on public policy, thereby effectively becoming a virtual 'super legislature,' the public has a right to know what the Supreme Court is doing. And that right would be substantially enhanced by televising the oral arguments of the Court so that the public can see and hear the issues presented to the Court. With this information, the public would have insight into key issues and be better equipped to understand the impact of the Court's decisions."
In a letter to Sen. Specter, RTNDA president Barbara Cochran said, "With a new chief justice taking office, the time is right to open the doors of the third branch of government to modern means of communication. We appreciate your efforts to enact legislation that will bring about such a development."
Federal appeals court Judge John G. Roberts Jr., President Bush's nominee for chief justice, said during his confirmation hearings that he was open to the idea of televising Supreme Court proceedings.
Specter's web site is www.specter.senate.gov.Visit http://www.rtnda.org/foi/cochran_092605.shtml to read Cochran's letter, and http://www.rtnda.org/foi/cc.shtml for a complete history of RTNDA's efforts to open up courts to electronic journalists.
RTNDA is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.
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Bloggers agree???

If a majority of bloggers AGREE with each other, it can mean only one thing -- free speech issues are being debated.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050922/D8CPDJ6G0.html

Perhaps a useful article to present to our journalism classes.

The press can wait...

...or not be invited at all.

You guessed it, gotta be California!

http://www.capitolweekly.net/opinion/article.html?article_id=106

Anchors and personalities

Well-written, thought-provoking piece here by Richard Bradley.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050920/mustcry_tv.php

Boston TV report on high schools and the military

A solid piece of journalism...regardless of your opinion about the current military climate.

http://www2.whdh.com/features/articles/hank/BOS5650/

Media "windbags"

A (perhaps justified) criticism of the media (and others) for their too-quick-to-point-the-finger-of-blame attitude in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/
opinion/la-oe-boot7sep07,1,1575505.column?coll=la-news-comment

Some days you praise them...

...and other days television reporters deserve blame (for their coverage of the devastation in New Orleans).

http://www.slate.com/id/2124688/

Do you agree with the criticisms/comments contained in Jack Shafer's article?

Abandoning objectivity...

...is sometimes required, according to this New York Times article.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/
nationalspecial/02teevee.html

Liberal arts education

An interesting article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about students who have liberal arts degrees and are concerned about what they should do with them.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05247/564786.stm

Another stinging criticism

This time, it's the New York Times' Paul Krugman weighing in on the inadequate relief efforts in New Orleans...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/opinion/02krugman.html

A warning unheeded?

An interesting article from the Los Angeles Times that suggests there was ample warning -- based on media reports -- that New Orleans was a natural disaster waiting to happen.

http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/
cl-et-rutten2sep02,0,1982966.column?coll=cl-calendar