On The Media - People In The News

The Listening Life (On The Media)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:17 GMT

In his 84 years Tony Schwartz produced over 30,000 recordings, thousands of groundbreaking political ads, media theory books and Broadway sound design, invented the portable recorder, delivered hundreds of lectures and had full careers as an ad executive and a pioneering folklorist. And he did it all without leaving his zip code. Schwartz died in June and we offer a piece from the Kitchen Sisters, looking back at his life spent listening.

Tim Russert (On The Media)

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:31 GMT

NBC News Washington bureau chief and moderator of “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert died Friday at the age of 58.

Happen Stance (On The Media)

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:30 GMT

In his new book, What Happened, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says he was misinformed and misled and, surprise, so too were the American people. Too little, too late?

Inside the Mind of a Talking Head (On The Media)

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:21 GMT

When news happens, and even when it doesn't, Rachel Maddow is there to discuss it. She has a radio show on Air America and often appears on MSNBC as a sidekick, guest, or panelist. Maddow gives a pundit's-eye-view of Tuesday's primary coverage and discusses the compromises of professional punditry.

Object Lesson (On The Media)

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:54 GMT

Think you know reality? Ayn Rand did, and through her novels and nonfiction she gave legions of followers a practical philosophy by which to live. Brooke looks at the enduring legacy of the original Objectivist.

Illegal Sects (On The Media)

Mon, 05 May 2008 22:11 GMT

The story of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been irresistible to the news media for weeks, with images of FLDS women living as though in another century. But now the sister wives are fighting back in a very 21st century way. Salt Lake Tribune’s polygamy reporter Brooke Adams reviews the narrative.

Jungle Love (On The Media)

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:38 GMT

Fidel Castro resigned this week. Before his lengthy tenure began, New York Times reporter Herbert L. Matthews interviewed Castro in the jungle—and fell in love with his cause. Years later, reporter Anthony DePalma wrote about the exchange and joined us to talk about it.

Public Affairs (On The Media)

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:54 GMT

Sex, diamonds and rivalry. Just a few ingredients of the permanent reality show that is the personal life of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Daily Star opinion editor Michael Young says Sarkozy’s constant courting of the press may be vulgar but it’s working.

En Passant (On The Media)

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:58 GMT

From brash beginnings to cold war heroism to tragic final years, former world chess champion Bobby Fischer was a magnet for public admiration and criticism. Biographer Frank Brady of St. John's University followed Fischer's complex relationship with the media.

Daughter of the East (On The Media)

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:30 GMT

In the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, the Pakistani press faced the question of how to remember her. Was she a symbol of hope for Pakistan’s future or a corrupt figure from the past? The Christian Science Monitor’s Shahan Mufti describes coverage of Bhutto’s life and death in the Pakistani media.

Get Happy! (On The Media)

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:26 GMT

Bob offers his appreciation of one reporter's global search for a journalistic rarity, happy stories.

The General in His Labyrinth (On The Media)

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:27 GMT

Images of Pakistani protesters in recent weeks have vividly portrayed the ‘state of emergency’ called by President/General Pervez Musharraf. But what images are being shown inside Pakistan? From Islamabad, journalist Shahan Mufti explains why independent media that Musharraf helped create are coming back to haunt him.

A Year of Wars (On The Media)

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:31 GMT

Yahoo! News correspondent Kevin Sites spent a year reporting solo from the world’s war zones - nearly every one of them. His new book, In the Hot Zone, tells the story of that year. Bob spoke with Kevin before he left. Now they catch up.

Heckuva Job (On The Media)

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:00 GMT

Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes announced her resignation this week. Her tenure brought funds and attention to public diplomacy, but America’s image abroad is worse than ever. Price Floyd, who served as director of media affairs under Hughes, grades her performance.

The Fed, the Mobster, the Mistress and the Reporter (On The Media)

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:08 GMT

The case against former FBI agent Lin DeVecchio, alleged co-conspirator in four mafia murders, ended abruptly last week after Village Voice reporter Tom Robbins showed up at court with exculpatory evidence. Robbins dug up two ten-year-old cassette tapes that impeached the credibility of the prosecution's star witness, and then wrestled with whether to come forward.

Empty Vessel (On The Media)

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:13 GMT

For the Dalai Lama, emptiness is not just a Buddhist concept—it’s an enormously successful P.R. strategy. Attacks from China don’t hurt his image either. In the wake of his Congressional Gold Medal, we look at the Dalai Lama’s enduring rock-star status in the American media.

Picking Up the Pieces (On The Media)

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:33 GMT

This week a dozen-and-a-half news organizations formed the Chauncey Bailey Project – to continue the work of the Bay Area journalist killed in August. Editorial coordinator Robert Rosenthal says reporters will not be cowed into silence.

Extreme Political Makeover (On The Media)

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:16 GMT

Last weekend in Ukraine, Vicktor Yanukovich's party won the most votes in parliamentary elections, which may be hard to imagine for those who remember him as a villain during the Orange Revolution of 2004. Clifford Levy of the New York Times says Yanukovich got a new image with the help of American political consultant Paul Manafort.

The Only Story Ever Told (On The Media)

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:38 GMT

British media have been obsessed with the story of missing 4-year-old Madeleine McCann since her disappearance last May. And when her parents became suspects in the case, it seemed there was no other news in England. Guardian media editor Matt Wells says he's never before seen this much press coverage of a single story.

When the Messenger Was Murdered (On The Media)

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:46 GMT

Chauncey Bailey, editor of the Oakland Post, was killed last month allegedly for investigating Your Black Muslim Bakery, an establishment long connected to violent crime. East Bay Express editor Steven Buel says the murder has brought much needed attention to a dangerous organization that his paper covered in 2002.

Cruel Britannia (On The Media)

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:01 GMT

When Tony Blair became Britain’s prime minister a decade ago, his nickname was “Bambi,” a reference to his doe-eyed optimism. Now tarnished by the “low skullduggery” of politics, Blair left office on Wednesday deeply unpopular among his people. Longtime Blair spokesman Alastair Campbell points a finger at the press.

Clink-Stained Wretch (On The Media)

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:30 GMT

San Francisco videographer Josh Wolf has earned the distinction of being the journalist jailed longest for refusing to cooperate with prosecutors. Wolf's lawyer, Martin Garbus, reviews the case.

Home Field Disadvantage (On The Media)

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 21:32 GMT

Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is known as “America’s Mayor.” But reporters who covered him as Gotham’s mayor know there’s more to Rudy than one day in the rubble. Newsday’s Ellis Henican and The Village Voice’s Wayne Barrett talk about covering Giuliani.

Whoa, Presidente! (On The Media)

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:10 GMT

As Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez begins his third term, U.S. editorial pages are chiding him for nationalizing a major telecom company, and not renewing the broadcast license of one of his biggest critics. But Council on Hemispheric Affairs director Larry Birns argues that the editorialists are missing the point.

Fellow Traveler (On The Media)

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:38 GMT

Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski died this week. Kapuscinski built his reputation as an unobtrusive, lyrical observer of seismic changes taking place throughout the developing world. But his narrative style also led to charges of blurring the line between fact and fiction.

The Mourning After (On The Media)

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:31 GMT

Last weekend, investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya was found dead in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building -- shot in the head at close range. No one knows who killed her or why, though few doubt it had something to do with her documentation of human rights abuses. Dissident and journalist Boris Kagarlitsky tells Brooke that Politkovskaya's death may, contrary to claims, embolden the Russian press.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:24 GMT

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert emceed the White House Correspondent Dinner, giving a 20 minute irony-drenched jab at the president (who happened to be sitting next to him). Bob gives his take on Colbert sticking it to both the president and the press corps.

Give Back the Muck (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:43 GMT

Over the course of several decades, investigative reporter Jack Anderson managed to break some of the era’s biggest political stories, and to alienate some of Washington’s most powerful men, among them J. Edgar Hoover. Now, it appears that Anderson’s antagonism with the Feds has followed him to the grave. The FBI is demanding access to Anderson’s papers… and the family is refusing. Brooke speaks with Anderson biographer Mark Feldstein.

Bench Press (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:11 GMT

Fresh off his on-air vendetta against a Vermont judge, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly last month set his sights on an Ohio judge who had sentenced a sex offender to probation instead of jail. The national media attention generated local media outrage in Ohio, as well as powerful calls for Judge John Connor’s impeachment. Never mind that much of O’Reilly’s reporting on the case included significant inaccuracies. Bob speaks with Judge Connor about the experience. He also hears from Bert Brandenburg of Justice at Stake, a nonpartisan group dedicated to preserving judicial independence.

Stand Up and Take It (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:43 GMT

Over the years, Bob Garfield has been many things. Shoe-leather beat reporter. Itinerant NPR storyteller. Acerbic columnist and take-no-prisoners critic; media and advertising big-shots cower at the rattle of his pen. He's aspired to country music stardom and Hollywood fame, and still, he doesn't rest. And so when the call went out last month for the Funniest Reporter on the Planet, Bob didn't miss a beat. Listen as he recounts his quest for the title.

Past Imperfect (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:16 GMT

Several days ago, it was revealed that James Frey's booze-and-drug-fueled memoir A Million Little Pieces was not, strictly speaking, based on truth. Frey took to the airwaves to defend his bestseller, and a frenzied press debated what, exactly, readers should expect from a memoir. Brooke discusses the uproar with Andrew Goldberg, managing editor of the website that broke the story, and with New York Sun book critic Adam Kirsch.

Surveying Sharon (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:21 GMT

This week, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a severe stroke that threatened his life and effectively ended his political career. International Editor of the Week Magazine, Susan Caskie joins Bob for a look at how the news was covered in newspapers in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.

From Tarzan to Statesman (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:22 GMT

Ariel Sharon has been a public figure in Israel for most of the state's history, so his relationship with the national media runs deep. The likely final chapter began this week, as the press covered his exit from power and started wrestling with his legacy. The Jerusalem Post's Amotz Asa-el joins Brooke to reflect on how Sharon shook his image as a belligerent young "Tarzan" and developed a working relationship with the media.

William Proxmire, 1915-2005 (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:53 GMT

Before there was Senator John McCain, there was Senator William Proxmire. Like McCain, he often stood apart from his party, favored campaign finance reform… and was a media darling. Proxmire died on Thursday at the age of 90. Brooke reminisces about the Wisconsin Senator's long career of media stunts, born of equal parts tenacity and conviction.

Go West, Young Man (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:07 GMT

In May, we spoke to the editor of the Spokane Spokesman-Review, which had just netted the city's mayor in an online sex sting. This week, Spokane voters recalled Mayor Jim West in a special election.

Lloyd's Sourcery (On The Media)

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:22 GMT

When Supreme Court Justice Scalia spoke recently at Time Warner headquarters, he insisted it be "off the record." And so gossip columnist Lloyd Grove, who attended the event, published a "hypothetical" account, describing what Scalia "might have said." Bob and Lloyd discuss his end-run around the rules.

Tabula Rosa (On The Media)

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:52 GMT

As the nation mourned the death of Rosa Parks this week, most obituaries focused on the story we all know: how the humble seamstress changed history by refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. But while that account is accurate, it's only part of her story. Bob talks to University of Wisconsin historian Tim Tyson about the construction of an American hero.

Don't Drop the Anchor (On The Media)

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:41 GMT

The news media took time out this week to honor one of its own. As news organizations pondered the life and legacy of Peter Jennings, there seemed to be one especially recurrent theme. Jennings was the last of the big three, we were told, and with him passes the Era of the News Anchorman. But might this obituary within the obituary be premature? Bob reflects on the enduring power of the human messenger.

Remembering Roche (On The Media)

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:39 GMT

Ever since Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was deposed last year, violence has wracked the country. At least 600 people have died at the hands of armed gangs in the past year, and in recent months, random kidnappings have been common. Most end with a ransom payment, but not in the case of the popular Haitian journalist and poet, Jacques Roche. Michael Kavanagh reports from Port-au-Prince that outrage over Roche's death has calmed the spasms of violence in the capital - at least for now.

A Novel Approach (On The Media)

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:22 GMT

This week, the L.A. Times ran a five part series, telling the story of a young boxer as she fights the odds to victory. The series looks to narrative non-fiction for its structure, reading like a novel and placing the he-said, she-said of attributions in footnotes at the end. Bob talks to reporter Kurt Streeter, the series' author, about defying readers' expectations.

The Ransom Method (On The Media)

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:05 GMT

When Daniel Solis and Greg Stolze invented a game called "Meatbot Massacre," they weren't quite sure how to market it. So they decided to hold it ransom. When potential gamers had sent a total of $600 to the creators, the game was released to anyone who wanted to play it. Solis and Stolze explain their novel business model to Bob.

Berlusconi Has a First Name – It's M-O-G-U-L (On The Media)

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:27 GMT

Silvio Berlusconi has been Italy's prime minister for the past four years. He's also the man who owns and controls 90 percent of Italy's television stations. And a major publishing house. Plus national papers and magazines. For the most part, Italians, and journalists, have quietly put up with this near media monopoly. Until now. As Megan Williams reports in Rome, the political tide may be turning for Silvio Berlusconi. And it seems this time, TV isn't keeping him afloat.

Critical Acclaim (On The Media)

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:28 GMT

In October 2003, after an internal review triggered by the Jayson Blair scandal, the New York Times hired Daniel Okrent to the new post of public editor. Okrent agreed to take the job for 18 months only, and since then he's written a lively and widely-discussed column investigating reader complaints. Nearing the end of his tenure, he's taken on what he rightly calls the hottest button: Times coverage of Israel and Palestine. Okrent joins Brooke to reflect on his term and saving the best for last.

False Dichotomy (On The Media)

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:55 GMT

Anybody watching TV coverage of the Terri Schiavo legal wrangling this week was most likely left with the impression of a nation divided down the middle over what should be done. But that picture doesn't match public opinion poll data, which suggest an overwhelming majority of Americans side with Shiavo's husband. Brooke talks to Salon senior writer Eric Boehlert about why news organizations are ignoring their own research. David Berkman “Tiny Prairie Landscape” Album: Handmade Label: Palmetto Jazz

Updates (On The Media)

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:05 GMT

Bob and Brooke relay the latest in the ongoing Valerie Plame investigation. Journalists Matthew Cooper and Judith Miller continue to face jail time for not revealing their sources. Legal appeals on First Amendment grounds have failed, however, according to some, it is possible that no crime was committed by the leaker who revealed Plame’s identity as a CIA official. No crime, no case. David Berkman “Mayor Of Smoke” Album: Leaving Home Label: Palmetto Jazz Chris Lightcap Quartet “Big Mouth” Album: Bigmouth Label: Fresh Sound New Talent

All About Dan (On The Media)

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:35 GMT

On Tuesday, veteran CBS newsman Dan Rather announced that he will soon be leaving the anchor chair. Over the course of his 24 years behind the evening news desk, Rather's critics have found plenty to take issue with. But where some see bias, Brooke sees the sincere, if overly raw, expressions of a man who just couldn't keep his feelings to himself.

Face the Nations (On The Media)

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:58 GMT

On Monday, the world learned that the United States would soon have a new representative in charge of diplomacy abroad. What's been the reaction to National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice's ascension to Secretary of State? Brooke turns for answers to our trusty foreign media watcher UPI editor in chief Martin Walker.

The Good Soldier (On The Media)

Tue, 20 May 2008 18:01 GMT

And so Colin Powell won't be taking part in Bush Term Two. His legacy is uncertain, but while in office, he was by far the cabinet's most popular member. Sympathetic observers attribute Powell's positive ratings to his up-by-the-bootstraps bio, straight-talking manner, and air of loyalty. But might he have been more manipulative with the media than he is given credit for? Brooke examines the reality and representation of Colin Powell.

The Pistol and the Olive Branch (On The Media)

Tue, 20 May 2008 18:32 GMT

For 40 years the father of the Palestinian independence movement, Yasir Arafat carefully cultivated – some might say crafted – an effective image as the face and symbol of his people’s struggle. If everything is controversial when it comes to Arafat, it is also contradictory. Depending on which Arafat you choose to focus on, he is either terrorist or pacifist, fanatic or negotiator, murderer or martyr. Brooke examines the evolving media portrait of an iconic and inscrutable figure.

The Sound of Ashcroft (On The Media)

Tue, 20 May 2008 18:38 GMT

This week, John Ashcroft tendered his resignation as Attorney General of the United States. From his fractious confirmation, through September 11th and the passage of the Patriot Act, he has left a lasting legal legacy. Goodbyes are never easy, but as Ashcroft sings his swan song, Bob takes the opportunity to look back at the times we’ve shared.