PressEthic

Online media, the convergence of multiple formats including audio, video and script and the nascent promises of technology yet to be invented all promise to eclipse the current media landscape and shed a dawning light on the new age of information. But let's not forget, this has been said before.

The Observer broke a story this morning about New York Times Publisher Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. sending out an email to staff, reminding them about the Times' policy on gifts.

In response to the expansion of different forms of media being utilized by newspapers on their websites, the Pulitzer Prize announced this week that it will now accept video and interactive graphics as part of their submissions.

The convergence of media continues as television moves online. Democracy Television, an internet TV platform, allows users to freely share and watch videos from the internet in one convenient interface. This could potentially change the face of television by putting it out of business.

The NYT City Section apparently has a curious way of preventing its writers from stealing stories.

As the situation in Iraq destabilizes, it becomes clearer that the voices that questioned the war in its infancy were given little play, either in the news or in the editorials of major newspapers.

Since the advent of the internet there has been buzz about incorporating user created content with traditionally produced media. In the field of journalism, it's commonly suggested that video and other interactive content on websites will lead the way out of print and into online. Now Reuters and Yahoo have taken a major step towards integrating the work of citizen journalists with that of professionals.

The Associated Press is reporting that the Wall Street Journal will reduce the overall size of the paper to meet widely used industry standard and save $18 million annually.

Even the most idyllic ownership models for newspapers can’t stop the wave of change looming ahead. The St. Petersburg Times will layoff 80 – 90 employees—a step it has managed to avoid until now.

Rush Limbaugh's blatant bigotry hardly raises eyebrows anymore. Despite the vast popularity of his nationally syndicated radio talk show, the general understanding is that the shock-style conservativism of hosts like Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck differs from actual journalism or even other commentary broadcast programs. It seems, however, that his chauvinism has crossover appeal.

The Nation commends the Countdown With Keith Olbermann anchor for calling out the media and becoming the antithesis of the Bill O'Reillys of the media world.

Last week, radio host Dennis Prager posted a lengthy blog at the conservative Townhall.com, about the decision of the United States’ first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison, to take his oath of office on the Koran. In his view, "America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."

An article in the New York Times on Thursday talks about Wal-Mart's recent decrease in sales in November due to many of its overhaul strategies. To me, the article read more like an opinion piece.

Layoffs, buyouts, hiring freezes, bureau cuts have all become common occurrences in our nation’s newsrooms. With newspaper circulations down, budgets are being slashed across the board. But now some journalists are fighting back.

On 27 December 2006, the Lowell Sun will publish a special supplement to mark local Congressman Marty Meehan's 50th birthday. Already, this sounds a bit too cozy for comfort. But what's more, a portion of the advertising revenues generated by the special section will be donated to the Marty Meehan Educational Foundation. Since when do newspapers enter into business deals with the politicians they cover?