For all the concerns about TV news these days–from the economy to ethics–there’s plenty of evidence that it’s come a long way. That’s one of the many things that struck me as I toured the Newseum for the second time…
How far we’ve come
Month: June 2008
Anonymous sources
In the wake of the Jayson Blair scandal, the New York Times tightened its policy on using unnamed sources. Did it make a difference? According to a study by students at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, the answer…
Best newspaper Web sites?
As traditional news organizations try to reinvent themselves online, it’s worth taking a look at those that are doing it most effectively. A financial news and opinion Web site called 24/7 Wall St. recently evaluated the Web sites of the…
No intimate moments
Photographers who’ve been covering the 2008 presidential campaign have had precious few chances to capture truly candid moments with the candidates this year, says Temple University’s Andrew Mendelson, chair of the journalism department. Mendelson told a gathering a the Newseum…
The folly of “local local”
As news organizations try to figure out how to survive, many of them have latched on to the mantral of “hyperlocal” news. Now, the Wall Street Journal is calling one online experiment in that arena a “flop:” The Washington Post’s…
Wires and lights in a box
It’s been 50 years since Edward R. Murrow’s famous speech challenging television news to live up to its potential. At the 1958 Radio-Television News Directors Association, the best known, most respected broadcast journalist of his time warned that without a…
News fatigue
A new study finds that multi-tasking young adults really do care about quality news, but they have trouble finding it in today’s crowded, hyperactive media environment. Editor and Publisher reports on research commissioned by the AP that “analyzed the news…
Rock steady video
One thing that drives me crazy about a lot of news video is how shaky it is. In most cases, there’s no good reason for making a viewer put up with wobbly video. Sure, there are exceptions, but not many. …