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President Obama made the case for his Afghanistan plan this week and talking heads were quick to gauge whether the speech was a success. But according to research by political scientist George Edwards III, it doesn't matter. Presidential speeches, he says, rarely, if ever, change minds.
As the “War Stories” columnist for Slate, it is Fred Kaplan’s job to have strong opinions about the tough military issues of our day. But last week, Kaplan (who happens to be Brooke’s husband) admitted to readers that when it comes to Afghanistan … well, he’s just not sure what to do. Kaplan talks about his ambivalence.
Another week, another conference on how to save the journalism industry. But what do they accomplish? Former newspaper editor and blogger Alan Mutter has been to more than a few. He says they're full of aspiration and opinion but short on the business data that'll help the industry.
In the copy-and-paste world of the internet, stealing is a simple mouse click away and newspaper articles are easy pickins. A group called the Fair Syndication Consortium has, for the first time, identified just how widespread the problem is. Editor & Publisher’s Mark Fitzgerald explains.
For more than 25 years Mike Penner was a sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, employing a signature deft style. In 2007 Penner used his column to announce that he would be returning from a brief break with a new byline and a new identity, as Christine Daniels - perhaps the first transsexual sportswriter. Penner died this week at age 52, and colleague Mike James remembers his grace under pressure.
The newly elected government in Japan has made early but unsuccessful attempts to reform the unique, often troubling press club system. There are thousands of press clubs in Japan - known there as Kisha Clubs - attached to everything from government agencies to corporations. Many argue that Kisha Clubs foster a dangerously close bond between reporters and those they cover. In this piece, which we originally aired a year ago, OTM producer Mark Phillips went to Tokyo to explore the Kisha Club system.
Highlights from Past Shows
Too many books, not enough profits. That is the lament of many publishers these days. Plus, there's the fear and loathing engendered by e-books. So, what is the state of the book industry and what can we expect in the coming years? Brooke takes a look at the present and future of books.
The President returned from his first trip to China on Thursday. The Atlantic’s James Fallows talks about the trip, and the mostly negative U.S. press coverage it received.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
