AltWeeklies Wire
Last Chance for Daily Papers: Close Their Websites
Daily newspapers have embraced the "information wants to be free" ethos of the internet, and it has led them to the brink of ruin. The answer? Make the news they give away now expensive and scarce.
A Not-Independent Analyst Might Have Skewed Media Coverage of Sprintnew
In June, when Sprint introduced the Instinct, its rival to the iPhone, industry analyst Jeff Kagan gave the launch a good review. The glowing review shouldn't have been much of a surprise -- that's what Sprint has paid him to do.
Election '08: Stupid McCampaign Tricksnew
With Obamapalooza in full swing, John McCain shouts into the media void.
L.A. Weekly |
Marc Cooper |
07-25-2008 |
Commentary
'Free Ride' Dissects a Media Smitten With the McCain Mythosnew

Brock and Waldman hypothesize that the media, weary from covering a corrupt government and the self-centered politicians that are its lifeblood, suffers a hero-sized vacuum that needs filling. Enter McCain. After Clinton's semantics and Bush's chickenhawk warmongering, a straight-talking former POW cuts quite the dashing figure.
Artvoice |
Matthew Miranda |
07-25-2008 |
Nonfiction
The Orlando Sentinel Quietly Hacks Its Newsroom Staffnew
The disassembling of this city's once- proud daily newspaper, as foreshadowed almost a year ago when its parent company was taken over by a multimillionaire businessman with zero media experience, is now in full force, although the paper's powers that be would rather you didn't know about it -- at least not yet.
Orlando Weekly |
Jeffrey C. Billman |
07-24-2008 |
Media
David Carr: From Crackhead to Potato Headnew

We investigate the New York Times reporter's odd, ongoing obsession with the spud.
New York Press |
David Blum |
07-24-2008 |
Media
Nipple? We Don't See No Stinkin' Nipplenew
The most shocking thing about the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl was its brevity. And yet somehow in that split second, an America that was still reeling from the realization that it was not invincible, that it too could be attacked, found a way to fight back. At what exactly we were never quite sure. But, boy oh boy, did it ever cause a bustle in our collective hedgerow.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Haire |
07-23-2008 |
Media
What Publishers Don't Want You to Know About Door-to-Door Magazine Salesnew
That kid at your door with a magazine order form will tell you a story -- part sad, part hopeful. The truth will be infinitely worse than you can imagine.
Houston Press |
Craig Malisow |
07-22-2008 |
Media
What Political Reporters Wantnew
In the end, what the media wants is A Story. How they get it is determined by little things that most often don't really matter. Which is why the AP last week ran a story on how its joint poll with Yahoo! News shows that among pet owners John McCain beats Barack Obama 42 percent to 37 percent. Which doesn't mean squat.
Baltimore City Paper |
Brian Morton |
07-22-2008 |
Commentary
Those of Us Who Care Ought to Fight to Help Keep Newspapers Goingnew
If it sounds like I'm angry, I guess I am. I'm angry that newspapers are falling into disrepute. I'm angry that people don't respect the quality control that goes into news reporting; they seem to think any idiot with internet access is worth listening to.
How a High-gloss Mag About Mixtapes is Actually Making Itnew
Foundation was started by three street-smart guys with no publishing experience, no money and no distribution.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Kate Kilpatrick |
07-21-2008 |
Media
'First City Review' Brings a Bit of Lit to Phillynew
If you think about Philadelphia the way some natives do, you might not think it's the best place to start a new literary magazine. But Michael Pollock, editor of the stellar new First City Review, out of Northern Liberties, thinks differently.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Liz Spikol |
07-21-2008 |
Media
Tags: media
Tomato Terror: Avoid Falling Victim to Hype About Salmonellanew

It's certainly important for public-health agencies to find the source of the outbreak and for producers, purveyors, and consumers to take the appropriate precautions. It's equally important, however, to keep a realistic perspective about the situation and distinguish between facts and media hype. Is there any real reason to panic or completely quit eating these fresh vegetables?
Illinois Times |
Julianne Glatz |
07-21-2008 |
Food+Drink
David Sirota is Leading a Populist Revolution ... Why Haven't You Heard About It?new

Sirota is for unions and against NAFTA -- so how did he get a nationally syndicated column?
Boulder Weekly |
Dylan Otto Krider |
07-19-2008 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Tim Russert Didn't Deserve the Accolades Heaped Upon Him After His Deathnew
Russert was never interested in journalism: He was interested in power and influence. His background, career choices and, most significantly, interviewing style bear this out.
Tucson Weekly |
Connie Tuttle |
07-18-2008 |
Media