Snap Judgments

What are the rules that govern journalistic portrait photography? Wide-angle lenses, nonstandard lighting, shooting from below – they’re all fair game and frequently employed by photogs working for major publications. But what obligation is there to the subject? Bob searches for answers.

***NOTE: Follow along with our slide show to view the photo portraits mentioned in this piece.***


Money Talks

Pharmaceutical companies spend millions on marketing. Some of those dollars end up in the hands of doctors, researchers and in one case, a public radio host from "The Infinite Mind." An article in Slate back in May led to an investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, whose findings ended up in a New York Times piece last week. We spoke with NPR's David Folkenflik and Sen. Grassley about the controversy.

Correction: Brooke and Bob make a correction to this story.


Gateway Drugs

A journalist’s non-disclosure of millions in pharmaceutical company payments is an obvious conflict of interest. But Gary Schwitzer, director of the University of Minnesota’s Health Journalism Program, explains that what’s ailing news consumers is all the other subtle, insidious ways that Big Pharma’s influence turns up in the news we use.


  • "Dinner Bells" Wolf Parade

The Paper Market

Term papers don't write themselves. Most college students pour hours of work into finding sources, crafting thesis statements and writing drafts. But some don't – they pay people to write papers for them. Author Nick Mamatas was a paper-writer-for-hire, and has few regrets about taking money from cheaters.


  • "The Bird Wave" Jimmy McGriff

God No!

No longer content to silently disavow religion, the so-called New Atheists are on the offensive. Borrowing tactics from the faithful, nonbelievers have taken to proselytizing in books and in the media. And yes, they’re even in foxholes.


  • "Mago" Medeski Martin & Wood

Snap Judgments

Cover Story (above)


  • "Chest Fever" The Band

You Are What You Is

Media are many. Indeed the word media is plural. That's why we say “are” and not “is” on the show (okay, we try anyway). But Brooke might be won over by the ranks, including Jeff Jarvis, who think ‘media is’ is acceptable. Will OTM make the change?


highlights from past showsHighlights from Past Shows

Risk and Return

November 21, 2008

For financial journalist Michael Lewis the desolation emanating from Wall Street is all too familiar. He’s edited a new book Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity that returns to five of the most recent market meltdowns and analyzes what reporters thought was happening before, during and after each of them. Lewis explains why the past isn't really past.


Show Me The Money

November 14, 2008

After months of asking The Federal Reserve to disclose the details of two trillion dollars in government loans to troubled financial institutions, Bloomberg News is suing The Fed under the Freedom of Information Act. Bloomberg News editor in chief Matt Winkler says taxpayers should know where their money is going.


On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.