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In light of yet another bad week for newspapers, it seems appropriate that a Senate committee held a Future of Journalism hearing. Publisher of the Dallas Morning News Jim Moroney testified there. He explains one idea he raised at the hearing: giving newspapers anti-trust exemption so they can collaborate on pricing and payment schemes.
A new and larger version of Amazon’s e-reader, the Kindle, was unveiled this week. The Kindle has been touted as the harbinger of all manner of changes; to reading, to publishing and to journalism. Anyone can try to predict the near-future, Brooke does one better and speaks with technology forecaster Paul Saffo about the longer-term future of a Kindled world.
For documentary filmmakers the ‘fair use’ of copyrighted material is a protection that allows them to create much of their work. But in recent years the terms of ‘fair use’ have been hotly contested. Gordon Quinn, producer of "Hoop Dreams," explains why he and a group of award winning documentarians are headed to D.C. this week for the next round in the fight.
On Wednesday, Time Magazine threw a party for the world’s most influential people. One attendee was Christopher Poole, founder of the website 4chan. What set Poole apart from the guests was his mode of entry: he hacked his way in. Mattathias Schwartz has written about Poole and 4chan's dark culture.
In big and small screen thrillers law enforcement is able to track you via your cell phone signal in seconds flat. But how real is that capability and what are the privacy safeguards in place when everyone’s got a cell phone? Al Gidari, Seattle privacy attorney, explains how your cell phone signal may know you better then you know yourself.
Do the wealthy have a PR problem? Doug Gollan, editor in chief of Elite Traveler Magazine, says they do. Gollan wrote a letter to his readers urging them to spend extravagantly during the recession. He talks with Bob about the letter and about the media's fascination with the rich.
Stephen Colbert parodies an outraged conservative TV host every night on Comedy Central. A recent study looked at liberal and conservative reactions to his satire. One of the study's authors, Heather LeMarre, explains that both liberals and conservatives actually think Colbert shares their political beliefs.
Highlights from Past Shows
While some news outlets have been trying to put the H1N1 flu virus in perspective, others just can't resist a good panic story. They've been contacting New York University Sociology Professor Eric Klinenberg asking him to talk about the widespread panic in reaction to the flu. Only problem, there is no widespread panic. Klinenberg explains.
While some in the media wondered if Obama flip-flopped when it comes to prosecuting Bush Administration officials who authorized torture, the White House tried to get its media message straight ... all without actually using the T-word. Columbia University law professor and Harper's Magazine contributing editor Scott Horton explains why the Administration, and some members of the media, are backing away from "torture."
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
