Propaganda presented as credible news
Were I a new arrival in Canada who relied on major media, I would believe, as Canadian Press reported, Northern Gateway is a project that, “…will put billions of dollars…
Journalism
Fixing Cyncial Corporate Media
How to inoculate yourself against cynical corporate media. Corporate news media is not on our side. It is on the side of stoking fear, cynically eroding possibilities of a better,…
The decline of journalism…
“…It’s a fundamental existential problem for every society on earth today.” That’s in the opening comments of Dr. Robert McChesney when he was interviewed by Ian Jessop of CFAX 1070…
"Veritable sewer of skullduggery"
Reading through Diane Francis’ 1988 book Contrapreneurs, from which the title of this piece is taken, I noted repeated mentions of a person who was, for more than a decade,…
Sun News and sewer journalism
When Sun News hires the infamous Ford brothers to do a TV show, decent people cringe, but they shouldn’t be surprised. Aping Fox News, as Sun Media are inclined to…
Reflections on tumblr, facebook and social media
Going from specifics to depth and breadth, and from particularities to universals, here are some thoughts for your consideration, for anyone who may be interested. I’ve come to love the…
A Benchmark for Quality Journalism
Once in a while, but not frequently, someone does something in the media that helps me understand that there is still integrity in journalism. At least in some places. Squeaky…
Got PTSD?
September 12, 2013 PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is thankfully becoming less stigmatized due to increased awareness, but like most mental health issues, there stigma that prevents open discussion about…
Men: Never 100% Responsible for Rape?
I have no words, at least I thought I didn’t. It’s bad enough that men rape women, then modern culture shames women for wearing anything but a burlap sack. I…
You Aren’t Sufficiently Critical of the #Media
You need to trust the media less. Almost a year ago, and before the last US presidential election, Gallup determined that there has been a stunning decline in citizens’ mistrust…
Open letter to Cameron from European editors: Miranda’s detention threat to freedom of the press
Editors of a number of northern European newspapers have written an open letter to British PM David Cameron stating their concerns arising from the detention of David Miranda – partner…
Online Surveys, No Longer Much Fun
Once upon a time, it was fun to take online polls. For lots of reasons. But one of my favourites was to watch how poorly polls could be constructed. Once,…
Class War: US$11.5 Trillion Hidden in Tax Havens
Which tax haven is right for you? Class war is alive and well. I have this rose-coloured, nostalgic dream of history. Once upon a time we emerged from feudalism with…
Julian Assange: Bradley Manning is the quintessential whistleblower
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says Bradley Manning “is the quintessential whistleblower” after a US military court found him not guilty of “aiding the enemy”, guilty of 19 lesser charges. The…
Jeremy Scahill at Socialism 2013: free press under threat, al-Awlaki, dirty wars
Jeremy Scahill is National Security Correspondent for The Nation magazine and author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army. His most recent book Dirty Wars: The…
How social media has changed the news conference
This moment of snark brought to you by the incomprable XKCD. Alltop wonders if Google+ has a role to play.
Sun Media urged to reverse “self-destructive” plan to nuke 360 jobs
CWA Canada is urging Sun Media to reverse its “self-destructive plan” to nuke 360 jobs and 11 publications, and to instead focus on quality local jobs and journalism to boost…
Sunday Morning Links
Assorted content for your Sunday reading. – Lest anybody think the Harper Cons’ combination of dishonesty and secrecy is limited to political payoffs, Blacklock’s reveals (PDF) that they subsidized the…
Fearless photography explores the Egyption women of the revolution
The woman in a red dress being blasted by pepper spray in Gezi Park, Istanbul, is not an anomaly. Women are on the front lines of Turkey’s protest movement and…