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Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes here at OTM? (Hint: Not everybody speaks as cleanly as it might seem.) A few years ago, we invited reporter John Solomon backstage to see how the sausage is made.
NBC News’s decision to broadcast Cho Seung-Hui’s final message earned the network major ratings, and a heap of criticism. But you had to look north of the border to find a major news outlet that didn’t follow NBC’s lead. CBC editor in chief Tony Burman explains why the CBC left the manifesto alone.
It had to be one heck of a slow news week for the media to be shocked by a show hiding in plain sight. Racist humor has been a staple of Imus in the Morning for decades, but somehow that never deterred journos and politicos from hawking their wares with the I-Man.
Black vernacular has so pervaded the wider culture that even older white men like Don Imus want to claim it. But American Skin author Leon Wynter says African-Americans themselves may no longer be able to afford their own self-deprecating humor.
Three years old and in bankruptcy, Air America lurches along. The brothers Green are buying the network, but industry watcher Brian Maloney says they’re not really buying anything at all.
This week, XM and Sirius announced plans to merge. The deal still awaits approval by regulators, whose license of the satellite radio companies explicitly forbids their merger. But despite the hurdles, telecom analyst Blair Levin says it’s likely a go.
Judging from our mail, the public’s biggest frustration with news media is about what is and what isn't covered. But complaints are anecdotal, unless you count column inches and airtime minutes. Enter the News Coverage Index. Mark Jurkowitz of the Project for Excellence in Journalism explains.
Fox News Channel is still cable news’ leader of the pack, but the competition is gaining fast. Some commentators see Fox’s ratings decline as a repudiation of partisan, fear-mongering media. But Rolling Stone contributing editor Matt Taibbi says hate media is alive and well.
