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This week a federal judge heard arguments to determine whether to approve the settlement between Google and two major arms of the publishing industry over Google Books. Many groups used this week's hearings to air grievances with the project. Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig argues an unintended consequence of the settlement could alter print culture as we know it.
Who controls the internet? Well, at the moment a trade agreement known as ACTA is being negotiated by the U.S., Japan, the European Union, Canada and more than a dozen other countries, and, if ratified, would significantly regulate what you can and can’t do online. ACTA’s rules will supersede each country’s local laws. Oh, and the whole affair is secret. Danny O'Brien of the Electronic Frontier Foundation explains the possible impact on net users worldwide.
Imagine a place where an ironclad shield law protects sources and reporters, where a state-of-the-art FOIA helps assure government transparency, where the strongest whistleblower protection in the world protects leakers, and where First Amendment rights guard against frivolous libel suits. Iceland may become that place. Wikileaks editor Julian Assange explains.
In a study conducted recently by The Nation, many of the talking heads on cable news were found to also be working as paid lobbyists, often with stakes in the issues they're invited on-air to discuss. Author Sebastian Jones says the problem is much more widespread than we may have suspected.
If you've spent time watching cable news shows, there's a good chance you've seen Terry Holt. He's a prolific talking head, and, also, frequently lobbies on behalf of health insurance companies. He says that he tells cable news producers about his lobbying work, but whether they disclose that to viewers is up to them.
The winners of the George Polk Awards in Journalism were announced this week. Among many familiar names – 60 Minutes, The New York Times, CNN – was one surprise. The award for videography was given to the anonymous person or persons responsible for the video of the death of 26-year-old Iranian Neda Agha-Soltan during protests last year. Polk Awards curator John Darnton explains why.
Just about every week, a TV news segment or magazine cover scares us with the prospect that new media technology is damaging our brains, our social skills and our culture. But, says neuropsychologist Dr. Vaughn Bell, take a long look back and you’ll see that every new development – from the printing press to radio to Facebook – has been regarded with suspicion.
In her new book, author Marilyn Johnson argues that, even in the Google age, human beings, namely librarians, are still the best resource for accurate answers. In fact, Johnson says librarians are more important now then ever before. Plus, they're fascinating! They compete in dance competitions and blog about the quirky and downright disgusting behavior of patrons.
Highlights from Past Shows
In recent weeks Toyota has struggled with the mechanics and the mea culpas of a successful product recall. What’s a global company to do when faced with a high profile consumer crisis-of-confidence? Veteran PR crisis manager Gene Grabowski says look no further then the ur-successful recall – Tylenol in 1982. And Japanese international relations expert Roland Kelts explains why for Toyota it’s so hard to say ‘I’m sorry.’
The week, The Lancet formally retracted a deeply flawed study that suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The 1998 study has provided fuel for the anti-vaccine movement for years. The Lancet's editor Richard Horton describes how this debacle has forever changed the way the journal will deal with the scientific community and the media.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
