The Daily Herald sets five conditions for permitting the use of an anonymous source in our reporting. The New York Times editorial board’s decision to permit the writer of a scathing insider view of the Donald Trump administration clearly met three of them. On two others, there’s much room for debate — and, though we Read More …
Category: Daily Herald Newspaper
Looking for a new way to define ‘debate’
I’m not sure what I’m about to say is realistic, but I think it merits some thought. It occurred to me as I was listening to a fellow speaker on a panel discussion in which I participated this week in Arlington Heights. The speaker, Jeannine Love, a social policy professor at Roosevelt University, was answering Read More …
Two interviews and a look at real news
The notion of objective, truth-seeking journalism is a hotly debated topic these days, often under the umbrella of the term “fake news.” If you want a vivid examination of the issue, consider two separate interviews on the Trump-Putin press conference in Helsinki — both, interestingly, from Fox News. One is real news; one is not. Read More …
Two interviews and a look at real news
The notion of objective, truth-seeking journalism is a hotly debated topic these days, often under the umbrella of the term “fake news.” If you want a vivid examination of the issue, consider two separate interviews on the Trump-Putin press conference in Helsinki — both, interestingly, from Fox News. One is real news; one is not. Read More …
It’s not always so easy to know what is, is not news
It could be said this week that if you want to understand news, you would consider Jimmy Fallon. Here’s what happened: In 2016, the late-night comedian playfully tousled the hair of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, who was a guest on his show. Sometime recently, Fallon told the Hollywood Reporter podcast he regretted doing that, and Read More …
Book Review: Leonardo Da Vinci
I must confess to some minor disappointment in this book. I don’t know much about Da Vinci and have been looking for an opportunity to learn more. Isaacson’s biography was excellent in part of that goal but incomplete. The book would be better titled “The Works of Leonardo Da Vinci”, for it does an exceptional Read More …
Information, misinformation and a viral G-7 photograph
The job of news and copy editors at a traditional newspaper today is fraught with more hand wringing and fear of second guessing than I can recall in more than 40 years in the profession. As they work to select pictures, edit stories, write headlines and organize the presentation of all this material, editors are Read More …
Another lesson of Barr scandal – written word needs extra care
I have spent my career devoted to the written word, so far be it from me to disparage it. But as Roseanne Barr found this week – and as sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and more prove every day – we’ll all be better off if we stop for a moment to consider the Read More …
Share in a real, constructive conversation about safety
In a front-page editorial on Wednesday, we on the Daily Herald editorial board vented our frustration over continued school shootings with a call for a statewide panel that would research potential solutions and produce specific recommendations before school starts again next fall. At the end of a contentious General Assembly and the beginning of a Read More …
The power of the press – and its limits
Google “the power of the press” and you’ll get thousands of responses – many extolling the ability of mass media to effect change by influencing public opinion, a growing number debating how that power is (take your pick) declining/growing/transforming and some decrying how the entire subject has been swallowed up in the confusing conversation over Read More …