Results tagged “journalism”

Here's some days-old news for you to chew on, folks. In a move that has some editors at The Chronicle defecating in their hermetically-sealed bubble, both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times plan on printing special San Francisco editions. (Brittle wit and over-labored angles, anyone?) In a strategy to win over fresh readers and advertisers, both publications are looking "to capitalize on the contraction of regional papers." And where better to start than in San Francisco, home to alleged progressiveness and people who don't own televisions. “'It's a highly educated, internationally minded audience, and our research out there shows there’s a market need for a quality news product,'” said Paul Bascobert, chief marketing officer of Dow Jones Consumer Media Group, the unit of the News Corporation that includes The Wall Street Journal, who plan on released SF editions in November or December of this year. Rick Edmonds, a media business analyst at the Poynter Institute, said, “I think the San Francisco area is the most obvious market to try this in, because it’s big, it’s sophisticated and it’s getting progressively more poorly served by its papers.” Oh snap. NYT, however, would not comment on plans for a scheduled SF release.

While j-schoolers at Cal are busy bemoaning the state of the Journalism and perfecting that well-worn journalist look (hint: spiral notepad, unkempt hair, elbow patches, lots of chin scratching), a hacker breached UC Berkeley's School of Journalism server in July. According to the Daily Cal, "500 applicants to the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism were notified [Tuesday] that their Social Security numbers and other private data may have been compromised in a recent campus security breach." This most recent hacking affects "people who applied to the school between September 2007 and May 2009." While, most likely, no one is at real risk of any serious identity damage -- real journalism students have neither a hefty bank nor decent credit -- students were notified weeks after the actual attack. According to Shelton Waggener, the school's "associate vice chancellor for information technology and chief information officer," a delay in notification is typical in these situations. "It just takes time to do the investigation," he said. "Once we were certain of as much info as we could be, we began the notification process and developing the notification strategy."

In an effort to get North Korea to release Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, former President Bill Clinton arrived in Pyongyang today to meet with Kim Jong Il. This "surprise" visit. Accordind to , "North and South Korean news outlets reported Clinton arrived in the capital of Pyongyang by charter jet after receiving word through back channels that Laura Ling and Euna Lee might be released to the former President after nearly five months in captivity. No word yet if Clinton managed the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee. After crossing the border into North Korea, Ling and Lee have been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye Gwan, "was among the official greeters on the tarmac," which could perhaps signal "that the Communist nation was also seeking a breakthrough on the standoff with the U.S. over nuclear disarmament." Update: Clinton will meet this morning with Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Fingers crossed. (An ABC source claims that they could come home tonight.)

Concerned that today's sentencing will land, if all goes horribly wrong, Current TV journos Laura Ling and Euna Lee 12 years of hard labor inside a North Korean jail, we asked formerly-jailed journalist Josh Wolf for his thoughts on the brouhaha.

Scene from yesterday's rally at Civic Center to free Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Both are on trial in North Korea for something ridiculous, facing 10 years of hard labor.

Maureen Dowd is kind of an idiot. And we mean that in the nicest way possible, because she seems so smart. But then she goes off and writes this. In her most recent op-ed piece for the New York Times, she attempts to show the world of online writing what's what. How so? Well, she attacks Twitter and other types of newfangled online internet world wide web sites, claims that journalists are "hot" in Hollywood right now ("Russell Crowe, playing a messy and morally ambiguous Washington investigative journalist, teaches the self-regarding blogger, Rachel McAdams, a thing or three, including why a pen is necessary" is just one example of print publishing's tenacity), and compares cumbersome newspapers to the ageless Norma Desmond.

Let's face it: The Daily Show blows now, and not in a good way. Comedy Central's fake news has turned into The Capitol Steps for Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. It's the kind of programming progressives and over-educated ilk claim to find hilarious. That is to say, it's the kind of programming they all agreed en masse to find hilarious. And if you watch the show every night, you know that that's not a reactionary statement.

Two Current TV journalists, reporter Laura Ling photographer Euna Kim, were detained by soldiers while on assignment near the North Korea's border with China. The journalists were taken into custody by border guards near the Tumen River. While there's no word yet as to the exact reason for Ling and Kim's detainment, State Department spokeswoman Julie Reside tells ABC News that "We are working with the Chinese government in the area to get information on the whereabouts and welfare of the Americans in question. We have also been in touch with North Korean authorities to express our deep concern about this situation. We have also been in touch with our protecting power, the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang." (Here's a recent report by Ling about the fate of deported gang members in Mexico.)

It was announced today that Hearst Corporation's other troubled publication, Seattle P-I, will roll out its final print publication tomorrow. Publisher Roger Oglesby just made the announcement on behalf of Hearst. The online version, seattlepi.com, will remain up and running.

Inexplicably managing not to spray the room with gunfire or hurl himself out of the nearest open window, TMZ's Harvey Levin spoke to students enrolled at the "elite" Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley. TMZ, for the few of you not in the know, is a fantastic celebrity news site where you can find images of a beaten Rhianna or a postmortem Anna Nicole Smith; and Levin, a former lawyer and television producer, runs the joint. A few revelations Levin unveiled at Wednesday's talk? He doesn't hire writers, prefers to employs reporters who look like this; was asked by a J-schooler if he would be doing "more serious stories" at TMZ (answer: no); and declared "local news is dying, newspapers are dying."

One of two things happened over at BAR.com: 1) Somebody hacked the interwebs, and posted this casual faux-resignation letter Sunday morning, or 2) news editor Cynthia Laird is peeved. Since Laird is a respected journalist in these parts, very much civic minded about her community, and too overqualified to spritz homosexuals with bronzer, we're going to assume the former.

Yesterday was Hug a Journalist Day. Yes, we know, we are a bit late getting back to you all on this. Forgive us. Anyway, we have decided to nix the poll because, as most of your comments made clear, you already picked a favorite. Tim Kingston, freelance East Bay Express and SF Bay Guardian scribe, is the winner. So, yeah, there you have it. Congratulations, Tim. SFist would also like to give A.C. Thompson an honorary tip of the hat for being a rad reporter and all-around swell guy.

Ever hug a bottle of cheap vodka caked with cocaine residue? That's what hugging a journalist is like. And this Sunday, Feb. 15, is Hug a Journalist Day -- at least according to this newly created holiday on Facebook.

Scott Beale over at Laughing Squid came across this gem. It's a 1981 KRON report on the Internet and newspapers.

After hurling his black dress shoes at President George Bush last week, Muntader al-Zaidi, a journalist for an independent Iraqi television station, is being hailed as somewhat of a hero. (Word is that he was given an award for courage in Libya.) Also, according to Tim Redmond over at SFBG, just after tossing his heels, Muntader al-Zaidi had the proverbial crap kicked out of him.

Fearing for his job in these tough economic times, Chronicle scribe C.W. Nevius tells CBS 5' Joe Vasquez that bloggers, it seems, are stupidheads. Ahem:

Remember when Oakland School District Police Chief Art "No, you're a pain in the ass" Michel detained is now calling for the police chief's firing. (You can see just why, right here.) Art claims the photog was inciting a riot after she accidentally tapped his cop car with her elbow -- which, really, wasn't the case -- detaining Tyska and confiscating her camera and videotape. (CBS 5)

While Dennis Richmond's farewell received much more attention, very little has been said about CBS 5's Barbara Rodgers is leaving CBS 5. Her final broadcast happens this Friday, and they're giving her goodbye a Richmond-esque promotion (though not quite as grand in scale).

J-Schoolers and other assorted graduate students, please stop clogging our inbox with shit like this, especially if you don't know our name or plan on getting us drunk beforehand. Thanks.

Michael Lacey--co-owner of Village Voice Media, the nation's largest alternative newspaper company--upset dozens of Arizona journalists last Friday after using the racial slur during a speech at the Society of Professional Journalists Awards gala. According to the East Valley Tribune, while peaking to the audience, Lacey jokingly referred to his buddy, the late Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Tom Fitzpatrick, as "my (n-word)."

Former editor of The Arizona Republic, vice president of The Cincinnati Enquirer, and top editor for the Reno Gazette-Journal and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Bay Area's Ward E. Bushee was just named executive VP and editor of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Yesterday, David Hazinski attempted to harness the awesome power of the world wide web with this colonel of wisdom about the currant state of journalism. In his op-ed peace for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he informs us that such journalistic mediums as CNN YouTube debates, political blogs, and cellphone videos are, in a word, crap. At least when it comes to giving and receiving accurate, Pulitzer-worthy information.

(Barry Bonds is on SFGate's Crime page. Ha!) -- A 19-year-old woman was shot -- "in the back today...at 5:39 p.m." Huh?-- during an attempted street robbery in SF's Visitacion Valley. Attacked at Velasco Avenue and Santos Street, she is currently at SFGH and listed in stable condition. And the two suspects? Are still at large. -- UC Berkeley journalism student Kevin Jones, 27, "pleaded no contest today to a misdemeanor charge of vehicular...

Last week's winner, the deceptive SF Weekly. Letters abound, either outraged by the fake Barry Bonds story or entertained by the elk. Why don't the negative letters have the names of the authors? Are you now questioning all the journalism you read in the Weekly now, or did you just think it was a good joke? Matt Smith says Gavin Newsom is supporting a cult. No, not the cult of Gavin, though no doubt Gavin supports that too. Cover article: a family that's had two kids shot near the Sunnyvale housing project. It's a really interesting story! This weekend alone: Litquake, the Zine Fest, and Tease-O-Rama. It's good to live in SF! Meredith isn't so happy with an appetizer bar; SFist Ced isn't so happy with Meredith! Mercredi, C'est Ravioli will continue!!!! Yay! Recent disaster concerts in the Bay Area -- at least Lady Sovereign and Lauryn Hill showed up, unlike MF Doom. We liked Let's Get Killed's pensive mature tone about the tough times Rogue Wave's gone through, we really did. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and the Bouncer deconstructs the dive bar.

Remember the Jamba Juice hepatitis A scare? And remember how we said there were gymnasts competing in a national meet in San Jose a few weeks ago? Well -- you guessed it -- it turns out the gymnasts might have been exposed to the virus. The hepatitis A carrier made smoothies for the gymnasts during the meet and in the trade shows outside. She claims she used good hygiene and food safety practices throughout (wearing gloves, for instance), so the chance of infection is fairly low, but they're warning gymnasts anyways. Hey, while we're on the topic of gymnasts, does anyone else remember the movie ? So good.

Beloved Jennine from The Coveted writes here about how this year’s San Francisco Fashion Week denied her and other bloggers precious invitations to cover the event or (worse) any of its VIP, open-bar parties. Enough to drop your coke bullet into the toilet, right?!

-- Power outages enrage your editor, city dwellers. [Chron, KGO]

We just heard on KGO newstalk 810 that Pete Wilson, the local channel 7 news anchor and afternoon talkshow host, died last night from complications in what was thought to be a routine surgery (hip replacement). According to what we just heard, he suffered a heart attack during the operation, was put on life support, and today was taken off. There's a corroborating article on KGO's site, here. Another's here on ABC's site

is pretty hilarious. Spanish food in Menlo Park (we got totally trashed on sangria at that restaurant once! Fond memories.) And the Metro also wants more late-night pastry places. We hear ya.

This story about the Berkeley family killed in Tilden Park by the husband over business problems is so sad. Friends of the family describe the husband, Kevin Morrissey, as "brittle," "desperate," and as having a "very controlling side," though by all accounts deeply in love with his wife. The wife, Mamiko Kawai, is described as a wonderful doctor and the two girls as adorable. The CIA will neither confirm nor deny the husband's claims that he worked for them (hey, let's ask Bob Novak!). The husband bought the gun two months ago and complied with the mandatory waiting-period provisions before taking it home.