On The Media

November 20, 2009 (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:11 GMT

The media's coverage of the President's trip to China; a blow to investigative journalism in China; a play about a Seattle newsroom.

Obama In China (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:58 GMT

The President returned from his first trip to China on Thursday. The Atlantic’s James Fallows talks about the trip, and the mostly negative U.S. press coverage it received.

Unfinished Business (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:26 GMT

For over a decade one of the few places to read investigative reporting in China was the bi-weekly business magazine Caijing. That effectively ended last week when Caijing’s editor abruptly resigned along with dozens of the magazine’s top staff. Chinese media analyst Jeremy Goldkorn explains how Caijing broke journalistic ground and what China has likely lost.

Waiting for Info (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:12 GMT

In 1989, The National Security Archive requested documents from the CIA regarding the Iran-Contra affair. This year, the CIA released them. President Barack Obama promised a new era of transparency and adherence to the Freedom of Information Act, but has he followed through? Yvette Chin, FOIA coordinator for the NSA, tells the story behind the long, long wait for information.

Sixth Sense (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:53 GMT

Futuristic films like "The Terminator" and "Minority Report" imagine a time in which the virtual world can be projected onto the physical world. This technology, known as augmented reality, will be commercially available in the form of glasses sooner than we think, says Jamais Cascio, of the Institute for the Future. But, he warns, don’t necessarily believe they’ll be rose colored.

Online and Isolated? (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:19 GMT

Social scientists have long suspected that the internet contributes to our growing isolation. But Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, set out to test that assumption. He says they found that Americans aren't as isolated as we thought and that being active on the internet might actually help prevent social isolation.

Letters (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:54 GMT

Brooke and Bob read a few of your comments.

Count Down (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:08 GMT

When Republican Senator David Vitter introduced an amendment that would require the U.S. Census Bureau to ask residents whether or not they are citizens, the Senate voted it down along party lines. As former Washington Post reporter D’Vera Cohn told us, controversy has often followed the count.

It's Not in the P.I. (On The Media: Friday, 20 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:04 GMT

When The Seattle Post-Intelligencer printed its final edition last spring, Seattle lost a newspaper and more than 100 journalists lost their jobs. One of them, science reporter Tom Paulson, solicited area-playrights to produce "It’s Not the In the P.I.: A Living Newspaper About a Dying Newspaper."

November 13, 2009 (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:44 GMT

The dismal state of health and medical reporting on morning news shows; why the internet is not a doctor; Venezuela bans violent video games

Prognosis Negative (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:45 GMT

Blue M&M's may cure paralysis! That’s just one claim made recently in a health segment on network TV. For more than three years, HealthNewsReview.org editor Gary Schwitzer has been methodically reviewing TV health news claims for accuracy and responsibility. But no more; he’s found the vast majority of TV consumer health reports sickening.

The Good Doctor (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:44 GMT

According to Gary Schwitzer, there are a few TV M.D.’s who are trying to do good work. Dr. Jonathan LaPook , medical correspondent for "The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" is one of them. He explains how he struggles to do more with less.

Web Sickness (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:43 GMT

Cyberchondria refers to the practice of using Internet search engines to wrongly diagnose oneself with serious illnesses. Carolyn Butler, columnist for The Washington Post, talks about how cyberchondria came to be and she discusses her own bout with the dread disease.

Health Craze (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:43 GMT

If you planned this year to celebrate National Headache Awareness Week, you’ve already missed your chance. But don’t fret – the country’s health observances calendar is slated with more than 200 awareness days and weeks and months to satisfy even the choosiest of hypochondriacs. Be hip, be informed and be aware! In 2006, Bob explored the latest health craze.

Oopsies! (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:41 GMT

The Disney Corporation recently announced that it'll offer a full refund for parents who bought Baby Einstein DVDs, which are reputed to make infants smarter. Bob's excited for a new product which promises to fill the vacuum.

Political Games (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:40 GMT

The National Assembly of Venezuela passed a law this month that will outlaw the sale of violent video games in the country. Journalist Clive Thompson says bans like these have more to do with political gamesmanship than preventing violence.

Big Enough to Fail (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:39 GMT

Last week, Comcast moved one step closer to acquiring NBC-Universal when the two companies reportedly agreed on a valuation of NBC-Universal at around $30 billion. The idea of combining distribution and content has always seemed like a good idea to media moguls, but Craig Moffett, analyst at Bernstein Research, says it never really works out.

Bye Bye Lou (On The Media: Friday, 13 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:39 GMT

CNN's Lou Dobbs surprised his viewers this week when he announced he was leaving the network after three decades. While speculation is circulating about where he'll land, we revisit this 2006 interview in which Bob asked Dobbs how he gets away with advocating from behind the anchor desk.

November 6, 2009 (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:52 GMT

The ethical dilemma of reporting from Waziristan; say hello to pay walls; the real story of a famous Berlin Wall moment

Covering the Third War (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:28 GMT

The US is (unofficially) at war in Pakistan, where reporters face pressure to cover the search for Al Qaeda in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan. But the area is virtually inaccessible to most journalists and information is tightly controlled by the Pakistani military. Journalist Shahan Mufti says reporting from the region poses several ethical dilemmas.

A Higher Power (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:30 GMT

While there were only a handful of U.S. unmanned aerial drones in 2003, there are now some 7,000 that the military relies on for many of its objectives in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But P.W. Singer, author of Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century explains that these robots are hardly risk-free and have a profound impact both at home and abroad.

TV's Unlikely Ally (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:29 GMT

As the DVR became more and more popular, many in the TV industry feared that commercial-skipping would destroy the medium. But it turns out many DVR-users still watch commercials. Bill Carter of the New York Times says the numbers are startling and the DVR actually helps ratings.

Is Paid Content Nigh? (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:31 GMT

News Corp and The New York Times have suggested they might start charging for web content. Last week Newsday did start charging for access to its website. Does this mean the days of completely free news websites are over? Steven Brill is founder of Journalism Online, a company that works with over a thousand news organizations to help monetize online content. He says the moment has come to pay up.

Refusing to Pay (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:58 GMT

Accessing full Newsday articles online costs $5 per week if you don't subscribe to the print edition or Optimum Online. When Newsday columnist Saul Friedman found out he quit. After 13 years of writing for the paper, Friedman says many of his readers will no longer be able to read his column and so he'd rather blog elsewhere.

Finding Utopia (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:58 GMT

Last month, John Harris, a legendary reporter for the National Enquirer, died at the age of 76. One of his colleagues, David Wright, talks about Harris's most famous assignment for the Enquirer: a search for Utopia.

Update (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:00 GMT

The photos depicting the mistreatment of Abu Ghraib prisoners shocked the world. New photos of detainee abuse are known to exist, and the Obama Administration initially said they would share them with the public. But then Obama changed his mind, arguing the nature of the images could endanger U.S. soldiers. Last week he signed a law to keep them secret.

Shields Up (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:01 GMT

This month, the White House and the Senate reached a compromise that makes it likely the nation will pass a federal shield law. CW Anderson, a blogger for Harvard's Nieman Journalism Lab, talks about who the law will cover, and the compromises journalists have made to get it enacted.

Tear Down This Quote (On The Media: Friday, 06 November 2009)

onthemedia@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:52 GMT

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. While President Ronald Reagan famously told Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," another more mysterious quote attributed to Gorbachev would dominate the communist narrative of the fall of the Berlin Wall. WNYC reporter Brian Zumhagen tells the story and impact of both.