Open door on editorial meetings

Today's issue of Al's Morning Meeting had an interesting discussion about televison stations that hold open editorial meetings which are available for online viewing.

Blogging slowdown

I want to apologize to my few loyal readers for my lack of posting over the past two weeks.

Like Amanda, I've just been insanely busy of late.

All my time outside of work has been concerned with freelance book reviews, program planning, Web site updating and class preparation.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I must have been crazy when I thought the end of grad school meant the end of being busy.

Kudos for News Librarians

Courtesy of Doug Fisher and his Common Sense Journalism blog and Liz, who sent the link to the listserv my colleagues and I use to keep in touch.

Cronkite: "Need for high-quality reporting is greater than ever"

Former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite spoke to journalists and journalism students at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism today and addressed the challenges journalists are facing in the midst of budget cuts and job losses. Cronkite argues that these changes mean journalists are having "to do ever more with ever less," but that "in this information age and the very complicated world in which we live today, the need for high-quality reporting is greater than ever. It's not just the journalist's job at risk here. It's American democracy. It is freedom." He added that "consolidation and cost cutting may be good for the bottom line in the short term but that isn't necessarily good for the country or the health of the news business in the long term."

"News War" debuts next week on PBS

Today a colleague at work pointed me to a series that will be on PBS' "Frontline" next week. (The series can also be viewed online.)

"News War" explores "the political, cultural, legal, and economic forces challenging the news media today and how the press has reacted in turn. Through interviews with key figures in the print and electronic media over the past four decades -- and with unequaled, behind-the-scenes access to some of today's most important news organizations, FRONTLINE traces the recent history of American journalism, from the Nixon administration's attacks on the media to the post-Watergate popularity of the press, to the new challenges presented by the war on terror and other global forces now changing -- and challenging -- the role of the press in our society."

It looks like this will prove to be an interesting look at the challenges facing journalism and what this means for its future.

* Addendum, 2/12: Producer Lowell Bergman was interviewed today on NPR's "Fresh Air."

Future of The Times

Arthur Sulzberger, owner, chairman and publisher of The New York Times made some interesting comments recently about the future of his newspaper.

On whether or not the Times will continue to be a press publication: "I really don't know whether we'll be printing the Times in five years, and you know what? I don't care either."

On the role of bloggers: "There are millions of bloggers out there, and if the Times forgets who
and what they are, it will lose the war, and rightly so ... the paper can integrate material from bloggers and external writers. We need to be part of that community and to have dialogue with the online world."

Courtesy of Lost Remote.

"Stay and fight" for newspapers

With all the uncertainty that hangs over the heads of those working for newspapers, it was nice to read a hopeful comment from Howard Weaver, Vice President, News for The McClatchy Company.

When asked recently whether or not he would continue working for a newspaper company if he was 30 or 35 years old, Weaver responded that he would and added "stay and fight, because it's worth it."

Well said Mr. Weaver.

With thanks to Romenesko.

Florida Times-Union implements hiring, salary freeze

The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Florida has implemented an immediate hiring and salary freeze in an effort to, according to the staff memo from Publisher Carl Cannon, "control our costs, while at the same time seeking new ways to improve revenues."

Courtesy of Romenesko.

Have you heard the one about the astronaut?

By now, I'm sure all of you have heard about Lisa Nowak, the astronaut who was arrested and is now facing attempted murder charges after she drove 900 miles from her home in Houston to Orlando to confront another woman who Nowak perceived to be a rival for the affections of a male astronaut.

It seems several newspapers had fun developing headlines regarding this story for their respective publications. The Newseum offers "Today's Front Pages Analysis," where you can read about and view examples of several paper's headline choices.

"Lust in Space" is good, but I must admit my favorites were "Dark Side of the Loon," from the
New York Daily News and "From the rocket to the docket," from the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram.

SheSource

SheSource is a Web site where you can search an online database of female experts who are available to comment on events in the news. Check out the promotional video for more information.

With thanks to my colleague Liz.