If I could one day have some personal impact on the world, it would not be to advance a social or political issue, even though, like anyone, I feel strongly about certain issues. It would be to advance the level of respect and self-control we all employ when we promote the social and political ideals Read More …
Tag: Newspapers
Reports of tragedy can be vivid, accurate and still show sensitivity
A news outlet confronts many conflicting demands when it comes to reporting sensational news. Some of them have to do with sensitivity. Some with service. Some with audience appeal. Some with raw competition. All have come into play in various ways this week. You may be interested in the Daily Herald’s approach, a policy that Read More …
Kneeling, patriotism, talking and the need to listen
“We need to talk.” It’s one of the most dreaded phrases in the English language. But when said, it’s usually true. Just as true and just as dreaded, though perhaps not as familiar, is its natural corollary: “We need to listen.” A newspaper or social media forum can easily — perhaps too easily — facilitate Read More …
‘Fake news’ and the link between skepticism, trust
Speaking with “Fresh Air” radio host Terry Gross a couple of weeks ago, British singer/songwriter Billy Bragg said something that resonates with me as I listen Wednesday to an expert on “news literacy.” More on that in a moment. News literacy. The concept is more likely to get your attention via the currently popular term Read More …
Eclipse, Hurricane Harvey show our better nature
Last week started with the a solar eclipse. It ended with a devastating hurricane that was historic even by hurricane standards. It’s easy to see why primitive societies looked for messages from the divine in disruptions of nature. Today, we will leave it to sources more in touch with metaphysics to determine whether any such Read More …
Donald Trump, Billy Squier and thoughts on honest reporting
Why is President Donald Trump reminding me of an experience involving classic rocker Billy Squier, and can the connection teach us something about “fake news”? Let’s see. President Trump spent much of his Phoenix speech Tuesday night berating “the truly dishonest people in the media.” He exhorted the crowd to boo the people there chronicling Read More …
As times change, technology standards are even more important
We had a problem online with a picture of Haley Reinhart this week. I’ll get to it in a moment, but first a relevant trip back to a small-town newsroom in 1978. It was a different time, but more in ambiance than objective. Mountains of newsprint and notepaper tumbled over the edges of ancient desks. Read More …
Spinner fad shows frivolity has its serious side
If Wednesday’s front-page headline “The fidget spinner: Tool or toy” had a familiar ring to you, this may be why: Aug. 31, 1997: Parents left holding the leash as schools ban cyber critters May 13, 1997: Fad turned learning tool Sept. 26, 1997: Leave the Pokemon cards at home, says area school May 6, 1998: Read More …
Publicity of police sketch more important than accuracy
Are we really helping police solve a crime when we publish a crude drawing of the face of a violent crime suspect as described by a distraught victim or momentary witness? Turns out, maybe so, but not for the reason you would think. For, it’s not that the rough drawing you often see in the Read More …
A reminder that best impulses show in all generations
It seems to be a routine function of the generations to disparage the young. I don’t share this inclination, or at least I try to resist it. One reason? Show choir. Not just show choir. Soccer, too. And speech contest and cross-country, These are the agents of my personal observations of youth, the particular gifts Read More …