Rony Abovitz also attended the World Economic Forum, invited as a “technological pioneer.” But when he arrived in Switzerland, he was asked to write his impressions as a first-time attendee in the forum’s web log. In his first-ever blog entry, Abovitz described his shock at Jordan’s charge against the U.S. military. If true, he wrote, “it would make Abu Ghraib look like a walk in the park.” Eleven days later Jordan had resigned and Abovitz was credited with igniting the storm that ended his long career at CNN. Bob speaks with Abovitz about inadvertently inciting the blogs.
So it seems that, without ample evidence, CNN’s Eason Jordan made damning insinuations about the U.S. military … and, without knowing precisely what he said, right-leaning bloggers made damning insinuations about Mr. Jordan. But what about the actual substance of Mr. Jordan’s claims? The Committee to Protect Journalists tracks documented cases of aggression against reporters in conflict zones. Bob speaks with Joel Campagna, CPJ’s program coordinator for the Middle East.
Artist: Duke Ellington, Track: The Mooche, Album: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Play 22 Original Big Band Recordings
Artist: Charlie Haden and Carlos Paredes, Track: Asas Sobre O Mundo/Nas Asas Da Saudade, Album: Dialogues, Label: Antilles
Long before the army of online citizen journalists known as “bloggers,” there were online magazines. Namely, there was Salon.com. Ten years ago, when David Talbot started Salon, it was a brand new animal – a publication that had good writing and good thinking and existed only on the Internet. It seemed revolutionary not to mention a little implausible. But today, it is not only still going, but we hardly even consider it a fringe source. Maybe that’s why it was time for David Talbot to move on. Bob speaks with Talbot as he leaves his Salon.
Artist: Bill Frisell, Track: Little Brother Bob, Album: Lookout For Hope, Label: ECM
Despite some very public media malfeasance and mea culpas lately, it turns out that we in the press employ an ethical standard that is significantly higher than in most other professions. No, seriously. That’s according to a study co-authored by Renita Coleman, a professor of communications at Louisiana State University. She makes the case to Brooke that her findings refute the conventional wisdom that ethically, reporters rank just above used car salesmen.
So it turns out journalists are better than average at untying ethical knots. But some of those knots require extra help. So a few years ago the Chicago Headline Club and the Center for Ethics and Social Justice at Loyola University Chicago launched a service called the Ethics Advice Line. Reporters could dial 866-Dilemma for ethical help in a hurry. But what journalist is going to outsource a decision that could break a career? Brooke checks in with Dr. David Ozar, co-founder of the Ethics Advice Line.
Artist: The Bloomdaddies, Track: Shelter, Album: Seamus Blake, Label: Criss Cross Jazz
Artist: Charlie Haden and Carlos Paredes, Track: Song For Che, Album: Dialogues, Label: Antilles
This week the investigation into who leaked the name of Valerie Plame was back in the news, with two journalists sentenced to jail. Bob and Brooke provide an update and read from listener’s mail.
Artist: The Bloomdaddies, Track: Shelter, Album: Seamus Blake, Label: Criss Cross Jazz
Although the identity of the Watergate figure known as “Deep Throat” has remained a secret for 30 years, interest remains unabated. Last month a new round of sleuthing began when former Nixon White House Counsel John Dean said his secret source told him Deep Throat was ill. Not to be outdone, last week Editor & Publisher held their own "name Deep Throat" poll. But a few years ago a journalism class at the University of Illinois claimed, once and for all, to have definitively solved the mystery. Bob spoke to Professor William Gaines about their project.
More then 30 years ago another “Deep Throat” changed the country - “Deep Throat” the hardcore porn film. “Deep Throat” reemerged this week as the subject of a new documentary called “Inside Deep Throat” And later this month, “Deep Throat” returns to about 20 theaters, presumably for midnight screenings. A few years ago, John Lewis, author of “Hollywood vs. Hardcore,” wrote about the longstanding relationship between Hollywood and the porn industry and he spoke with Brooke about censorship and the bottom line.
Highlights from Past Shows
Five years ago the Federal Communications Commission authorized low-power FM, opening up the FM airwaves to thousands more community broadcasters. But the National Association of Broadcasters and NPR both testified to Congress that low-power FM would interfere with existing signals. The FCC had done its own tests proving otherwise but Congress put on the brakes, stalling LPFM …until this week. Seen as an antidote to media consolidation, LPFM has been exhumed in a bill co-sponsored by John McCain that seems likely to put Low Power back on the fast track. Or will it? Media Maven Rick Karr joins Brooke to survey the state of the spectrum.
When President Bush used his inaugural address to vow an end to ‘tyranny worldwide,’ the international reaction ranged from sympathy to amusement to fear. But after the successful elections in Iraq this week the Bush administration’s agenda is being reconsidered yet again. Martin Walker, our intrepid media watcher and Editor in Chief of United Press International, brings us the coverage of both the Iraqi elections and the State of the Union from the overseas press.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
