Is It Any of Our Business?

The news about Cindy Palin's pregnant daughter is re-igniting discussion about what is fair game for reporters and bloggers...and what is not. Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass has a strong opinion. What do you think?

Getting a Job...or a Better Job

The photo at right is legendary former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka.

There are coaches for broadcast journalists as well. Randy Tantano is one. And he writes what may be one of most useful blogs I've ever come across for TV news talent. His tvnewsgrapevine site is full of tips on how to get that first job, building a resume tape, acing the job interview, etc. He also has strategies for those moving up in the biz...things like negotiating a contract, when to use an agent, how to get ahead in the politics of the newsroom.

I suggest you read the archives. This is some good stuff!

"Patronizing" and "Mind Boggling"

That's what PBS's ombudsman says about the decision by The Newshour with Jim Lehrer to not run a piece about John Edwards' infidelity confession. Here's the explanation. What do you think?

TV News: The Tampa Rays or The New York Yankees?

Here are some interesting thoughts from Fred Young of Hearst-Argyle Television on the future of TV News. He uses the analogy of the two baseball teams' payrolls to explain what is happening within newsrooms right now.

Local TV News Has A Death Wish?

TV Consultant Dick Kirlander thinks so:

The death wish is most evident when actually watching a half-hour newscast. Local news is generally defined as crime, car crashes, minor house fires and endless weather hype. It's as if every day is a blank slate on the assignment desk. Whatever is easiest to cover with no real effort or manpower investment is today's news.

Read his full letter to the editor at tvnewsday here.

Lee and Gatehouse Struggling

The parent companies of most of Southern Illinois' newspaper properties are struggling with hard economic times and crushing debt. Lee Newspapers owns the Southern Illinoisan, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and about 50 0thers. Lee lost $713 million last quarter. It's stock price is down to $4 from $20 a year ago.

Gatehouse owns over 500 newspapers, including almost all of the smaller dailies and weeklies in Southern Illinois (Marion, West Frankfort, Benton, Murphysboro, Harrisburg, DuQuoin and several more). Gatehouse's stock has plunged 85 percent since last April.

More from the San Diego Reader.

What's the future of print journalism? I wish I knew.

45 Words

It's the foundation of what we do for a living. Moreover, the words of the First Amendment to the Constitution express the principles that defined our country from so many others...and still do today.

Have you read those words lately?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Happy Independence Day!