Media Matters
March 30, 2007
Web campaigning
Washington Post on Edwards' internet efforts.
March 24, 2007
Ribbing: PD Blows
Anyone checking out the home page of Post-Dispatch's website on Saturday morning [March 24] might have noticed something odd -- a total lack of any reference to what was easily the biggest story of the morning, the previous day's vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to impose a timetable for pulling American troops out of Iraq.
Sure, the site's lead story (as of 8 a.m.) did have to do with military matters, but it was a feel-good piece titled "Jefferson College Donates Computers to Soldiers," replete with a photo of a crew-cutted serviceman in cammies lugging PC gear from the trunk of a parked car.
The historic House vote didn't even make the Post-Dispatch site's "top headlines" list on the right-hand side of the home page. "U-M Rolla proposes name change" qualified for this lofty placement, as did "Ex-treatment center worker is accused of sex with boy" and six other stories.
However, not one of these "top headlines" happened to be the one that mattered most to the nation and the people of St. Louis, many of whom happen to have loved ones stationed in the Persian Gulf. There was no indication that a house of Congress had undertaken what the Washington Post (in its website's lead story that same morning) called "one of the toughest antiwar measures ever to pass a house of Congress during combat operations."
Regardless of one's stance on the war, there is something bizarre about such blithe ignorance on the part of our sole daily newspaper. It has been clear for quite some time that Joseph Pulitzer's journal, once among the finest daily publications in the United States, has chosen a long sleep, abdicating its role as the paper of record for the metropolitan area.
This morning's website shows, once again, that the among the greatest public services any St. Louisans could provide their community would be the purchase and overhaul of the Post-Dispatch -- or the establishment of a competing multimedia daily that actually wakes up with its eyes open to the world around it.
Mark Ribbing
March 20, 2007
Real World Casting
On Tuesday, April 3, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Casting Directors from Bunim/Murray Productions will be holding an open casting call for MTV's "The Real World" at Harry’s Restaurant and Bar, 2144 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103.
Applicants are asked to bring a recent picture of themselves (which will not be returned) and photo ID. Must be 18-24 years old.
March 19, 2007
Someone call Safire
Jo says GOP gigs McCaskill.
Gigs? Is that some new slang the kids are using? Maybe she meant digs, though it doesn't quite work either.
February 26, 2007
Mr Smith Movie Showing on PBS this week
Tues. Feb. 27th at 7:30 and Friday March 2, at 8:00 on channel 9 - KETC our PBS station.
February 16, 2007
In this week's American
Black aldermen lobbied Green to pass BJC deal.
February 07, 2007
StL Biotech
January 27, 2007
State Legislators on My Space
Jolie Justus
Mike Talboy
Jason Holsman
January 23, 2007
Rep. Blunt on CNN for SOTU
Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Southwest MO, will be a guest on CNN's Situation Room for their expanded State of the Union coverage. Other guests include DNC Chair Howard Dean, Senator and Pres candidate Chris Dodd, D-CT , and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY.
Mr. Smith Doesn't Go to the Oscars
January 20, 2007
Changes at Buzz Blog
Headed towards subscription model.
January 14, 2007
Trips to Cuba
So who in St. Louis is getting offers for Department of Defense junkets, and where can I sign up?
A writer for the popular national politics blog Talking Points Memo relayed a conversation with an employee of a St. Louis television station about a recent public relations trip the DOD arranged to visit detainee conditions in Guantanamo.
I heard from TPM Reader WS, who works for a St. Louis television station and says he was invited by the Department of Defense to fly down to Gitmo last month for a tour of the detainee facilities.The conversation between TMP's David Kurtz and the unnamed St. Louisan was sparked by Kurtz's coverage of the fallout from comments by Charles Stimson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs. Stimson suggested to Federal News Radio Thursday that corporations should re-evaluate doing business with law firms that allow their lawyers to do pro-bono representation of detainees at Gitmo. The lawyers hail from some of the top firms in the country.
…
Incidentally, WS has no idea why he in particular was invited on the trip, but he couldn't resist the chance to go to Cuba. He has no plans to air an account of his trip.
The trip itself was led by Stimson in an effort to demonstrate the quality conditions the detainees are kept in.
The American Bar Association and others have loudly criticized Stimson for his comments saying the tradition of pro-bono representation is an important part of ensuring the protection of legal rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. Stimson's comments were viewed as potentially having a chilling effect.
ABA President Karen J. Mathis:
Lawyers represent people in criminal cases to fulfill a core American value: the treatment of all people equally before the law. To impugn those who are doing this critical work -- and doing it on a volunteer basis -- is deeply offensive to members of the legal profession, and we hope to all Americans.
The Pentagon itself has disavowed Stimson's comments.
Stimson's comments came after conservative talk radio host Monica Crowley sent a FOIA request to obtain the names of the lawyers and firms representing the detainees. Stimson's comments were reflected in a Friday op-ed by Robert Pollock in the Wall Street Journal (not available online).
January 12, 2007
52nd City
Release party tomorrow (saturday) at Snowflake, Comtpon & Cherokee, 2-5 p.m
January 08, 2007
Lewis Reed on the air
Eight weeks out and he's running TV commercials. One just spotted on CNN.
UPDATE: French has put the spot up. From the content of the ad some had wondered if Local 73 paid for the it. The disclaimer is impossible to read, but the Reed campaign confirms it is theirs - paid for by Committee to Elect Reed.
January 05, 2007
Former Post Editor Campbell Dies
Former editor-in-chief of the Post-Dispatch, Cole Campbell, died in an single-car accident in Reno, Nevada this morning. Campbell was editor of the St. Louis daily from 1996 to 2000. He was working as dean of the journalism school at the University of Nevada, Reno.
From the AP.
December 26, 2006
DiatribeR
will sign off with the year's close.
December 21, 2006
Cacchione Website
December 19, 2006
Saller's Site is Up
here.
December 07, 2006
Kacie's Website
UPDATE: Whoops. It's no longer up. Guess they were just testing it. Look for the roll-out Monday.
November 03, 2006
Who's Your City
Thanks to Meridith for passing this along:
Richard Florida is working on his new book called WHO'S YOUR CITY: Why the Place You Choose to Live is the Most Important Decision You'll Ever Make. He's looking for people's stories about why they've picked the places they live. He needs as many stories as possible so go ahead and send him your's!
Just send 100 or 200 words (300-500 words could be even better) to: whosyourcity@gmail.com.
October 26, 2006
Combest partners with Hotline
Part of a new network of political coverage.
October 24, 2006
Mr. Mayor
The book's a classic; now comes the documentary.
It will kick-off the St. Louis Film Festival, and we'll have a review of it in our next issue, on the streets next week.
October 16, 2006
NYT on MO Senate and Stem Cell
October 01, 2006
Blunt got bumped
Deb's bit that the Blunts rode first class while the Carnahans sat in coach is true. But we're told the Blunts bought coach ticket and were bumped up to first class by the airline.
September 20, 2006
Hotline Reviews Mr. Smith movie
The story will certainly be enjoyable for political experts, but is also a good enough movie on its own for everyone else.
Link.
UPDATE: Mr Smith starts Friday in DC at the E-Street Cinema and then opens in Atlanta on the 29th at the Plaza, 1049 Ponce De Leon.
You can see the current schedule here.
September 19, 2006
New Danforth book
September 12, 2006
PD moves up.
I never did put much stock in these type of lists.
September 07, 2006
Jo Goes Blurb-land
New format to her weekly column.
Couple of web sites
City Dems is redesigned and back up.
Faithful Democrats shows the depth of the religious left.
August 15, 2006
Comblog
Combest starts a blog.
August 13, 2006
Popper Interview
August 07, 2006
Wanna Talk Elections?
Tonight. 7pm. French and I will be on 88.1 talking about tomorrow.
August 02, 2006
2nd CD
July 26, 2006
Mr. Smith Movie
First two-a-half minutes are up as a preview clip.
We have a review of the movie in the current edition of the Arch City Chronicle which will be up online later today.
Tomorrow morning we'll blog the three scenes most likely to embarass the 4th SD candidate.
By the way, tomorrow night's 7:15 showing is sold out but there are seats still
available to the 9:30. Friday it runs at 5:15pm, 7:15pm, 9:30pm and over
the weekend it will be playing at 2:30pm, 5:15pm, 7:15pm, 9:30pm.
July 17, 2006
Discussing School Board
I'll be discussing the school board situation tonight on KDHX, FM 88.1, 7pm.
Feel free to tell me what you think I should say...
Should be a busy day here on the blog, so check back.
July 12, 2006
Jeff Smith documentary
Opening night of the Jeff Smith documentary (Thursday 27th) is sold out.
They've added a panel (Jeff and film-maker Frank Popper) for the next night though.
July 11, 2006
Bosley Round-up
Beatle Bob Doc coming?
July 10, 2006
KC Buzz Blog
Becoming a fun place to visit:
Claire's husband finances and Sarah Steelman's looks.
June 29, 2006
Making Political Movies
New Cervantes documentary. See a clip over at KWMU.
And, the Jeff Smith film played at Woodstock in the City last night. We hear the audience reaction was even more overwhelming than Silverdocs.
June 27, 2006
StL makes the Onion
June 21, 2006
Jeff Smith documentary
Won Audience Award at Silverdocs.
Here are some blog reviews:
Chutry Experiment.
Photos from the showing at Silverdocs are in the photo gallery.
Finally, the movie will play here in St. Louis for eight days starting July 27. Tickets are available online and are expected to go quickly.
UPDATE: Chutry has updated its review. And Royale's Steve Smith tells of his DC trip over at stlstreets.
June 09, 2006
On CSPAN tonight
This week's program:
SILVERDOCS Film Festival
Friday, June 9, 2006
7:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on C-SPAN
Guests:
* Christopher Quinn, Documentary Film Director, "21 Up America"
* Frank Popper, Documentary Film Director, "Can Mr. Smith Get to
Washington Anymore?"
* Patricia Finneran, Festival Director, SILVERDOCS
May 26, 2006
Baton Bob on CNN
May 15, 2006
48hr Film Project
May 12, 2006
Friday Afternoon Web Surfing
May 09, 2006
James Beard Award
Congrat's to Kristen Hinman of the Riverfront Times.
Hinman was awarded the James Beard Journalism Award in the Newspaper Feature Writing Without Recipes category at Sunday's awards dinner. Hinman was nominated for her article, "Something Fishy" in the March 16, 2005 issue.
James Beard is considered the father of American gastronomy. The foundation named in his honor holds regular dinners featuring world-class chefs and burgeoning American talent that leave foodies in tears. If they can get a seat at the table, that is.
May 08, 2006
KDHX Pledge Drive
I'll be on Collateral Damage tonight, 7pm. 88.1 FM.
May 04, 2006
KWMU stories
Planning Commission OKs BJC-FP deal.
May 02, 2006
New duties for French
Antonio French, of Public Defender, has taken over as the editor of St. Louis Schools Watch. Newly-elected School Board member Peter Downs had run the watchdog newsletter for several years. French and Downs had been working together on the newsletter's blog.
April 24, 2006
The Wire's Lineup
Mayor Slay on The Wire!
Monday, April 24, 7:30 - 8:00, 88.1 fm
Listener questions encouraged via e-mail: wire@kdhx.org.
- then -
Jim Shrewsbury
Monday, May 1, same time and channel
April 14, 2006
Couple of Thomas Crone Links
Thomas runs with the younger set at St. Aloysius.
Thomas and Wire partner Amanda Doyle are interviewed on mayorslay.com.
April 11, 2006
StLJR finds donor
April 07, 2006
Marston's Family Tree
His Commonspace commentary gets reprinted in this week's American.
April 05, 2006
Sherman Parker's Blog
March 28, 2006
I'll be on Reality Now tomorrow night
Wednesday, 7pm, KDHX, 881. FM.
March 24, 2006
Sylvester Brown is blogging
Three columns a week and still has time?
March 20, 2006
Blog-world StL
Jim Shrewsbury's website did a piece today on political blogs - highlighting ACC, Pub Def and StLToday's Fix. Jo says her blog is running behind the sports section's Tipsheet, but it looks like she beat it pretty handily yesterday which you'd think would have been a hot day for sports folks.
March 18, 2006
Local Foodies Get the Nod
The James Beard Foundation (one of the original gastronomic groups in the country. Gourmonds, chefs and professional eaters all vie for tickets to dinners at the foundation) announced its nominations for the 2006 James Beard Award in journalism.
Kristen Hinman of the Riverfront Times was nominated in the Newspaper Feature Writing Without Recipes category for her article, "Something Fishy" in the March 16, 2005 issue.
Post-Dispatch food editor Judith Evans was nominated in the Newspaper Section with circulation under 300,000 category.
The awards will be presented May 7th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.
Congrats and good luck.
March 15, 2006
State of Radio
The National Federation of Press Women, Missouri Affiliate, and The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis are co-sponsoring a Luncheon Forum
at Webster University Library, Conference Room
101 Edgar Road, Webster Groves
Thursday, March 30th at 11:45 a.m.
"The State of Radio Today"
Moderator: Frank Absher, Saint Louis University journalism instructor, Columnist, St. Louis Journalism Review
Panelists: Bernie Hayes, Webster communications instructor and author of Death of Black Radio;
Dave Ervin, Vice president and General Manager of KMOX Radio;
Annette Bevel, General Manager of WILY/WRXX;
Mike Anderson, Editor/Publisher: http://www.STLMedia.net and former St. Louis radio personality and performer
Box lunch:
NFPW & PC members: $10, non-members: $12
RSVP by 3/28: stlpressclub@logan.edu or 636-227-2100, ext. 1973.
Send checks to Press Club of Metro. St. Louis, Logan College,
Room 111, P.O. Box 1065, St. Louis, MO 63006-1065
WSJ: StL "Untouched"
by housing boom. "Gives more residents a crack at the American dream."
February 24, 2006
"Red Headed Stepchild"
Some 25 Post-Dispatch employees traveled to the Quad Cities to talk with Lee chairman, Mary Junck, and Post publisher, Terrance Egger, about problems with the transition. From the Quad City Times.
As Davenport-based Lee Enterprises touted 2005 as a landmark year for the newspaper publishing company’s revenue and readership growth, a group of disgruntled St. Louis Post-Dispatch employees circulated flyers Wednesday that called the newspaper “the Lee family’s red-headed stepchild.”(Via Romanesko)
Learn more about SJR's uncertain future
This coming Monday night, St. Louis Journalism Review founder Charles Klotzer will be the guest on The Wire, hosted by Amanda Doyle and Thomas Crone. The show airs from 7:30-8:00 p.m. on KDHX.
February 21, 2006
Sporting news
Via Romanesko, the New York Times is reporting that St. Louis-based Sporting News is up for sale. Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, bought the publication six years ago.
February 20, 2006
Seely on KDHX tonight
Mike Seely will be on Collateral Damage tonight. 7pm. 88.1 FM.
February 15, 2006
Future of SJR
From Webster University Journal.
February 13, 2006
Sherman Parker's website
Novak writes about Talent's Switch
February 10, 2006
McMillan's Website
Thanks to Jake's kind words about the ACC.
Btw, here is Mike's website.
February 08, 2006
MO Dems on Daily Kos
Benton Park on Nightline
The appearance, mentioned in Deb's column, will be tonight.
February 03, 2006
Seely to Seattle
Commonspace says, Seely to Seattle.
February 02, 2006
Retro Donnybrook
They ran a Donnybrook classic tonight, circa 1987.
Topics of the day then:
• Drug testing in the workplace
• Public funds for private businesses (Admiral)
• Right wing versus Democrat (Buchanan and Gephardt running in '88)
• To few city publications (demise of the Globe-Democrat, No Arch City Chronicle yet!)
• Football (Then St. Louis, now Arizona, Cardinals)
Some of the hair is a bit lighter now, but its the same ol' Donnybrook.
Danforth in the Washington Post
"St. Jack" and the Bullies in the Pulpit.
January 30, 2006
8th Ward Dem Website
Novak's column
January 17, 2006
Shrewsbury unveils new website
January 16, 2006
China Post picks up Ortmann Urination Bill
January 04, 2006
McGuire Returns
Former P-D features writer John McGuire (now going by John Michael McGuire) has joined St. Louis Magazine as "writer at large." His first work with the publication appears in the January issue.
January 03, 2006
Cop Talk meets O'Fallon BOA
December 20, 2005
St. Stan in WSJ
St. Louis Centre - No Photo Zone
ACC Photographer Harassed at Downtown Mall
Handcuffed for Taking Pictures of the Holiday Shopping Scene
Tom Lampe's first-hand account:
Uggh.
I guess that's a good way to start out this email.
I just got back from the esteemed St. Louis Centre (or is it center?) after being handcuffed and threatened with arrest.
That's right. I had gotten several photos outside and inside of vacancy, poor architectural value, lonesome escalators, an isolated shopper here and there, when all of a sudden a security guard approached me and told me I couldn't take photos of vacant storefronts. I told her sure I could. She told me I had to get permission at the office.
I went to the office where the mall manager told me to delete the pictures. I refused, and attempted to leave the mall. The security guard chased me as I ran through the mall carrying my tripod. The few people that were there watched with interest. I'm sure they thought I was a shoplifter.
I could here her calling for backup. All of a sudden I was surrounded like a hardened criminal, and one of the guards called the police.
They dragged me to a back hallway, took possession of my camera, cell phone and tripod. They attempted to handcuff me, and at that point I was so pissed off that I fought it. I learned the hard way, it hurts worse when you struggle.
My wrists are killing me.
They led me back through the mall in handcuffs, back to the office to wait for the police. While I was in there, I asked them if I deleted the photos, would they cancel the police call, as I really didn't feel like being arrested on my vacation. She (the mall manager) agreed, and I deleted everything. She then went on about how everyone's trying to portray the mall in a negative light, and they're in the process of trying to do good things, ie. Gold's Gym on the first floor just opened last week and they already have 20 members, and there's an art gallery on the top floor, blah blah blah. They got my name, took the cuffs off, cancelled the police, and let me go on my "merry" way.
Man my wrists hurt. What an afternoon. Sorry I don't have any photos...
December 08, 2005
Handlin to report on Bauer
In the Friday, Dec. 9 edition of the Vital VOICE, Larry Handlin will report that some residents of the 24th Ward, consisting of Dogtown and Franz Park, are concerned over an alleged association between Tom Bauer, who is running for the ward seat from which he was recently ousted, and self-described White Supremacist Frank Weltner who was affiliated with the neo-Nazi group National Alliance.
Suburban Journal endorses Barnes
Post endorses Barnes
December 04, 2005
Wal Mart Protest
In today's Post-Dispatch, Mary Jo Feldstein reports that Wake Up Wal-Mart is beginning a three-week media buy. The organization is buying locally-targeted television spots only in St. Louis.
Update: For those looking for some data on retailers and their labor costs, Business Week ran a comparison of CostCo and Wal-Mart from an investor's perspective. The magazine noted that despite higher labor and benefit costs, Costco has higher productivity. The piece focuses on the fact that Wall Street drives the decisions many businesses make. A focus on keeping labor costs low is rewarded by shareholders despite other measures of business success.
Update 2: According to an analysis by Mark Schmitt, a senior fellow at the New America Foundation and former policy director and speechwriter for Sen. Bill Bradley, a $45 billion expansion in entitlement programs between 1984 and 1999 has effectively subsidized the expansion of the low-cost labor market in the U.S. Reader Lori might be correct, we may already cover the difference in price for our low-price products.
November 27, 2005
Mannies talks to Young Republicans
Jo Mannies will speak at the St. Louis Area Young Republicans monthly meeting on Thursday, December 8, 2005 at 7:30 PM in the Executive North Ballroom of the Howard Johnson Inn by the airport, 4530 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
November 05, 2005
"Deadline Schmedline"
With a heavy heart and a full clip of wit, the Post-Dispatch newsroom staff roasted and toasted some of its longest-serving, and most beloved writers and editors at Maggie O'Brien's Friday night.
Departing and current Post employees honored the over 700 years of collective experience represented by the departing newsroom staff in a series of touching and uproariously funny tributes.
The roast of Jim Hanselman and his "135 year" career at the Post may be one for the books.
The sudden departure Friday afternoon of editor-in-chief Ellen Soeteber who, as one Postie quipped, "got us back on track," was taken in stride. Soeteber took the reins following the departure of Cole Campbell and his Public Journalism tangent. Speculation as to her ultimate reasons for leaving, however, bobbed up throughout the evening.
Soeteber's departure, which was partly motivated by disputes over finances and newspaper resources, likely confirmed the concerns of some readers and staff that revenue tops journalism under the new leadership.
Columnist Kevin Horrigan emceed the farewell and ended with a reference to the climactic scene in Apollo 13. As the space capsule plunged into the atmosphere, the astronauts did not know if their heat shield would function. Facing the unknown the astronauts strapped in and actor Tom Hanks' character, Jim Lovell, said to his colleagues, "Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure flying with you."
"It's been a privilege flying with you," said Horrigan, expressing the thoughts of the employees remaining at the Post and acknowledging their own trepidation.
Continue reading ""Deadline Schmedline""November 04, 2005
Egger's answer
Dear colleagues,
This afternoon, two very important announcements were made, with mixed
emotions.
Ellen Soeteber announced her resignation as editor of the
Post--Dispatch; and I appointed Arnie Robbins to replace her as editor.
Ellen and Arnie have done a great job working together as a team leading
our newsroom, so it is not easy to see the tenure of this team come to
an end.
As only the sixth editor of the Post-Dispatch in our 127-year history,
Ellen made major contributions to our newspaper and to St. Louis. She
inspired the people she worked with and, perhaps most important, was
passionate about, as she eloquently put it, "changing our focus to
serving readers' needs more than our own, and in looking more to the
future than the past."
During her tenure, she also spearheaded numerous investigative projects,
innovative news and feature sections (such as "Business Friday,"
"NewsWatch," "Let's Eat," and "Healthy &Fit,") and the recent strategic
repositioning and redesign of our newspaper.
Ellen is a great journalist and a great person, and we are a far better
company because of her time at the helm. We will all miss her. Her
last day with us will be November 30th.
Arnie is the perfect choice to follow Ellen as editor.
Approaching his ninth year in a leadership role in our newsroom, Arnie
is a well-regarded team player who brings experience, energy and strong
working knowledge of our market to the job. He also brings a sense of
continuity that will help build on the improvements we have seen in the
past five years.
This is an exciting and challenging time in our business, and I am
thrilled about having someone of Arnie's caliber to call upon to keep us
moving forward.
Please join me in thanking Ellen for all that she has given us, which
was always her very best, and wishing her and her husband, Dick, great
happiness in their future.
At the same time, let's congratulate Arnie as he assumes his exciting
new role as editor of the
Post-Dispatch.
Thanks,
Terry
Soeteber's resignation
Dear colleagues,
For those of you who were unable to be in the downtown newsroom this
afternoon, here's a copy of the announcement I made to staff. I'll be
around till the end of the month and hope to get to see each of you during
that time.
My best wishes to you all, ellen
I am sorry to announce to you today that I am resigning from the
Post-Dispatch.
I do so with sadness – because I am quite fond of you all, because I
enjoy working with you and I respect you, and because our news operation
clearly remains on a strong and upward course.
I am confident that you will continue to build an ever-better
Post-Dispatch.
But it is simply time for me to move on.
I believe I have contributed meaningfully to this newspaper. But
it’s time to pass its leadership along to someone else to steer it to the
next levels.
It is true that I was unable to come to terms with management on the
conditions that would have encouraged me to stay here. These included some
personal financial considerations, as well as some issues involving
newspaper resources.
But I don’t want to dwell on those aspects, as they were not the only
factors in this decision.
It’s just time to go. Sometimes, things are as simple as that and as
complicated as that.
There’s one thing I do want to note: I’ve been in high-stress,
all-consuming jobs for 18 straight years – four years as metro editor in
Chicago, three as deputy editorial page editor at the Tribune, 6 ½ years as
managing editor in South Florida, and nearly five years as your editor
here.
So, I’m ready for a break, and for some time to think and regroup.
I feel a sense of melancholy about leaving – but I have no regrets
about my service here. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.
Together, we have transformed the Post-Dispatch in a myriad of ways,
and the most important are these two: our focus on serving readers’ needs
more than our own, and in looking to the future more than we look to the
past.
I am confident that the recent repositioning of the Post-Dispatch
gives you a strong base and a great opportunity to maintain this forward
movement, to be creative and enterprising and muckraking, and to create
journalism of high quality, impact, and meaning.
I expect to be leaving on Nov. 30. After New Year’s, I expect to go
back to Florida to rebuild my garden – which Katrina and Wilma combined to
ravage -- and then decide what to do in the next stage of my life.
Dick and I plan to keep our St. Louis condo, and I hope I’m welcome
to visit here occasionally. This will enable me to remain a Post-Dispatch
reader and to keep track of your ongoing progress and good work.
It has been an honor to work with you all.
Maybe Zogby will have better luck
with TV than he did last year.
November 01, 2005
Independent Voice
Via Romenesko, the alt-weeklies are not so alt anymore.
Free Bill McClellan
Four columns a week is just too much. It forces mediocrity. And too often, the readers are stuck with meaningless crap. We deserve better!
Easy solution: Hire another columnist. Two columns a week; and make them good.
October 26, 2005
Combest looks at state party expenditures
latest In the Loop.
October 25, 2005
My Mistake
Accidentally omitted the great John McGuire from the group below. He will also be missed.
October 24, 2005
Thinning PD Newsroom
Larry Williams, Carolyn Kingcade, Pat Corrigan, Linda Eardley, Gene Fuhrig, Cleora Hughes, Randy Kessler, Rich Krechel, Jan Paul, George Richardson, Marianna Riley, Tommy Robertson, Art Voellinger, Terry Ganey, Aloysia Hamalainen, Joan Little, Avis Meyer, Ron Norton, Charlene Prost, Pat Rice, Carolyn Bower, Laszlo Domjan, Bob Duffy, Margie Freivogel, Becky Homan, Gary Mueller, Jon Sawyer, Florence Shinkle, Joe Tannian, and Dick Weiss have taken the Post's early retirement offer.
RFT's New Step-Sister
The New York Times reports that New Times Media, owners of the Riverfront Times, announced today a merger with the company that publishes The Village Voice and five other alternative weeklies. The new company will retain the name Village Voice Media. New Times effectively acquired Village Voice Media, though no money will change hands, New Times will own 62 percent of the new company.
Though there are assurances that the pugnacious and iconic Village Voice will not be negatively affected, at the least it will start taking a more apolitical stance and ending its tradition of endorsing candidates.
Similar assurances were floated following Ray Hartmann's sale of the RFT to New Times in September of 1998. Devoted readers of the RFT then predicted that the alignment of the RFT's design with the national chain's image signaled a coming abdication of the paper's role as an credible, combative, and alternative hometown voice. Many pre-sale RFT supporters hold that that time has come to pass, though others believe it still contributes a good deal despite questionable editorial decisions and significant staff shuffling these past seven years.
As for the Voice, we'll have to wait and see.
Matthew
Crime Blog
Via Blog KC, The Star has started a crime blog.
October 23, 2005
Congrats to Larry Handlin
But really congrats to the Vital Voice for snagging LH to do a political column.
October 18, 2005
City GOPs, Dems suffer web setbacks
UPDATE: City Dems back up.
October 12, 2005
Bishop to host new show on KDHX
Starting Wednesday, Oct. 12th! St. Louis Journalism Review's new show, REALITY NOW, will shine a spotlight on the media on Wednesday evenings at 7pm on KDHX 88.1 FM. Ed Bishop, the editor of the SJR will host of the new program.
October 05, 2005
Combest's Ten Campaign Commandments
Some brilliant, some hilarious.
October 02, 2005
Jihad of Umar
ACC contributor Umar Lee has begun blogging.
September 29, 2005
Combest: Talent to start podcasting
According to Combest's podcast.
September 28, 2005
Break from Old St. Louis
Death, taxes and KMOX - in the Washington Post.
September 26, 2005
Should Wash U tolerate homophobic professors?
A question asked by a contributor in the current issue of Wash U's Student Life, about Prof. Katz.
September 23, 2005
Warren Rosenblum blogging from Berlin
Nelly shopping a reality TV show
Show viewers a day in the life of a rapper.
September 21, 2005
Bauer blames media
Would have won if it was just a "campaign against locals."
September 19, 2005
New Podcasts
MayorSlay.com talks to Personnel Director Rich Frank about the city's gay-friendly culture.
Meanwhile Combest has a new podcast up. I feel sheepish that after downloading it right away, I just listened to it. He gives the ACC a nice plug. Thanks John! Then goes on to talk about GOP problems attracting Blacks to their party.
September 14, 2005
Poger to feed Mannies
Howard - let the "Is this a prank" debate begin.
Fred Hessel is blogging
September 08, 2005
Restaurateur Steve Smith on Food Network
"Food Network: Recipe for Success”
AIR TIMES:
September 13, 2005 9:30 PM ET/PT (8:30 PM CT)
September 14, 2005 1:30 AM ET/PT (12:30 AM CT)
A young boxing promoter decides to throw all the punches to open a retro diner in St. Louis. He sells his house and convinces his parents to throw their retirement savings into the ring. Will the restaurant go down or become a knock out success?
UPDATE: Smith also featured in Mayor's latest podcast.
September 07, 2005
Combest starts podcasting
Combest says that Democrats "get" new media and the internet while MO Republicans still need to find their web voice. Here it is.
September 02, 2005
Claire Online
47,701 hits on August 30, the day she announced. Not bad.
September 01, 2005
StlToday Blogs
Political Fix and others go blog-style allowing reader comments!
August 31, 2005
Bogetto's site up
August 28, 2005
Blurbed by Petterson
August 25, 2005
Washington Post reporters are in town
August 24, 2005
Nation's largest Bosnian-American newspaper coming to StL
By year end Sabah will relocate from NYC to StL. Look for them in the Bevo Mill area.
August 22, 2005
Here come the cuts
I thought Lee was planning to "grow revenues."
In case anyone's keeping score
Last Saturday's PD business section once again had zero (0) PD bylines.
August 17, 2005
Bravo to Jamala
Last week's column in the St. Louis American.
August 16, 2005
Approaching 300,000?
Is it approaching when you used to be above it and now you're below it?
August 15, 2005
Another Smith
Steve Smith gets nice play on the front page of of the PD's Everyday section.
ACC contributor Lee on Glover show today
ACC contributor Umar Lee will debate Robert Spencer August 15 from 5:06-5:45 PM on the Dave Glover show on 97.1 FM.
Spencer is the author of " A Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades." Lee operates a web site, American-Islam.org.
August 11, 2005
Black Republicans
Sylvester sits in a Bread Co conversation.
Blog highlights Sherman's moderate stem-cell position as he ponders the 2nd CD.
Please bring back the speechwriter
Sure budget times are tough. But if St. Louis going to be a great city again, we need a little punch in our mayoral addresses. Unveils a plan to end chronic homelessness and the best rhetoric to match that noble goal is the "hand-out, hand-up" cliche?
August 10, 2005
Here come the Pie Charts
The Post's upcoming "face-lift" happening next month is said to be eliminating the "zone" sections, folding everything into the new bigger Metro section.
Heavy emphasis on graphics, USA TODAYish look.
August 09, 2005
ONSL featured yesterday
A nice story that only northsiders get to read about because it only appeared in the North Post, and therefore not in other parts of the city or outside the city. The Post operates under the assumption that its southside readers aren't interested in such stories. I don't think that's true. But more importantly, it does civic damage. The Post reinforces the North-South polarization by keeping both sides oblivious of the happenings on the other side.
August 06, 2005
Saturday Post-Dispatch
Again the Business "section" doesn't have a single PD byline. Just a collection of wire stories. I guess it's an editorial decision to go news-less on Saturday.
Jennifer Joyce ends the prosecutors' residency requirement. Perfect timing. Dump it out with the trash on a Friday afternoon, and it's a blurb in the unread (no reason to read it, it's news-less by design) Saturday Post.
July 31, 2005
New OBS web site
Jamala Roger's Organization for Black Struggle has a new web site.
July 30, 2005
Not one.
Today's Post-Dispatch business section didn't have a single PD byline. Not one. It was a collection of AP and Bloomberg reports.
July 22, 2005
Party Cove makes the NY Times
July 19, 2005
J Joyce makes front page of NY Times
Investigating if Larry Griffin was executed for a crime he didn't commit.
July 18, 2005
Sladky busy jamming TV
David Sladky, vice chair and outreach coordinator for Two Rivers Greens, has been very active in getting progressive television programs (nine of them at this time) scheduled on area public access and community access cable channels. A list of those programs appears here.
July 15, 2005
If you can stand Jeff City
this might be a job for you:
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
The House of Representatives has an immediate opening for a Director of Communications for the Democratic Caucus, in the office of the Assistant Minority Leader in Jefferson City. This position will handle message formation and media relations for the Minority Caucus, and must be willing to work extremely long hours. Applicants should have a thorough knowledge of and experience with the legislative and political process. Applicants should have strong written and verbal communication skills, an ability to prioritize and meet deadlines under pressure. Applicants should be able to exercise discretion and confidentiality.
Resumes and letters may also be submitted electronically to: househr@house.mo.gov.
July 14, 2005
Better BOA site
Urban Review calls attention to the new and improved Board of Aldermen site.
July 13, 2005
Continuing Claire Watch
Claire McCaskill met with Post editorial board today, discussed her tangles with the Blunt administration about audits.
UPDATE: McCaskill tell Post, she will decide by Labor Day.
July 05, 2005
Building 26
Former St. Louisan Eddie Roth innovates at the Dayton Daily News with a video editorial posted on their website.
A brief explanation from Roth:
I offer for your consideration a link to an effort here at the Dayton Daily News to converge the traditional editorial with new media.
I reported and wrote the editorial, and photographed, produced, edited and narrated the video companion piece, in one 12-hour day. I used an ordinary digital camera and the iMovie software that comes with the Mac that's on my desk. I dug the archival photos that appear in the video out of our photo library, and photographed them -- a picture of a picture.
I had been thinking about this process (conceptually, not with any particular editorial in mind) for about six months before taking the plunge last week.
Two main premises of my efforts so far:
* I am trying to develop practical strategies and methods for ordinary editorial writers to self-produce micro-documentaries as part their daily journalism routine - more-or-less on deadline, rather than as some big project. The technology now is such that it's possible without special training.
* Editorial copy that appears on the opinion pages should be identical with what's used in the on-line video documentary version. The narration of this video conforms with the editorial that appeared on today's editorial page (except for one phrase, due to my misspeaking).
In other words, I believe in the primacy of the freestanding written narrative, the 500-word editorial form. Under my approach, the on-line video elements don't substitute for, or "drive," the opinion piece. They are offered for added depth and texture.
That's not to say that the video elements don't influence the written product during the process. Approaching the writing from this visual perspective, I believe, helped enliven what appeared in the paper, better connecting with readers by, as they say, showing rather than telling.
July 04, 2005
Thanks to Mannies
Though Combest gets top billing.
June 29, 2005
Tuft suspended for 5 days
Danforth on NPR today
Via Fix, Former Senator Danforth will be on "Fresh Air" today. For those of us who are the KSHE 95 types, that's FM 90.7 at noon.
June 24, 2005
Public Broadcasting Budget Vote
June 23, 2005
Congressmen get phonecalls
In the wake of local Public Broadcasting affiliates KWMU 90.7 and KETC Channel 9 making appeals to their listeners and viewers to contact their congressmen and ask them to fight proposed funding cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , the Arch City Chronicle contacted the Missouri Representatives from the surrounding three districts to see what type of response they have been receiving.
Spokespersons from Representative Lacy Clay's, Representative Russ Carnahan's and Representative Todd Akin's offices all said that they have been receiving a significant number of phone calls in support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
Steve Taylor, Representative Akin's press secretary, said there were a lot of NPR listeners in the 2nd Congressional District, but that the Congressman was a strong fiscal conservative and was elected as such.
"I don't think the Congressman will be voting in the manner many of the callers would like," said Taylor.
Taylor did mention that the Congressman was an occasional listener of NPR himself, but that fiscal conservativism is a matter of principle and that he is unlikely to support restoring federal funds for the CPB. Taylor said the Congressman needs to weigh the desires of constituents and the principles that the voters elected him to represent.
"You have to strike a balance," said Taylor.
Representative Carnahan has also received a significant number of calls, and he strongly supports fully funding Public Broadcasting.
"He's hopeful that funding will be restored before the [appropriations] bill reaches the floor [Thursday] or Friday," said Heather L. Todd, Carnahan's Press Secretary. "And if not, that an amendment could be added to the bill."
While there have been a large number of phone calls, the numbers at Carnahan's office were on average, if a bit more, with any issue that got people's attention.
Carnahan is not alone in his support of the CPB.
"[Congressman Clay] is fighting very hard to restore the funding," said Steve Engelhardt. "He's very upset."
Engelhardt said their offices in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis were receiving a high volume of calls all urging the Congressman to work to restore funding.
The potential funding reduction for the CPB is part of a appropriations bill. While the appropriations committee has passed on its recommended version of the bill, which includes the cuts, the bill can still be modified before the House of Representatives votes on it.
The bill is expected to be introduced today or tomorrow.
June 21, 2005
Funding Cuts loom for Public Broadcasting
Public Broadcasting may face funding cuts of up to 45%, $220 million, next year. The House of Representatives will first take up the issue Wednesday, June 22nd. Both local public broadcasting stations, KWMU 90.7 and KETC Channel 9, face significant funding cuts due to the reduction in federal fund.
While both KETC and KWMU both rely upon members for a major portion of their operating budgets, the reduction in federal funds will pose a major challenge for the stations.
Both KETC and KWMU are appealing to their viewers and listeners to contact both Missouri Senators Bond and Talent as well as Missouri Representatives Carnahan, Clay, Akin, Hulshoff and Emerson. Illinois listeners and viewers are asked to contact Senators Durbin and Obama as well as Representatives Shimkus, Costello and Evans.
KETC has a contact list here, and KWMU has a contact list here.
June 16, 2005
LA Times continues to innovate
NY Times reports on editorial page changes.
May 28, 2005
Newspapers continute to grow their Webness
May 27, 2005
Some blogs out there, you might want to take a look at
You know the usuals we refer to often: Syndicate members, Combest, Oracle.
Here are some others that might be new to you.
The Skirt, by a fundraiser at a local non-profit.
Mound City, by one of our favorites.
May 19, 2005
Cool idea
Playback has a contributor blogging from the Cannes Film Festival.
May 17, 2005
Conference on Media Reform
There was a wealth of material to take away from the conference. It would be impossible to cover it all, and we wanted to stay with topics that would be of most interest to our readers.
This is the first of several stories about the conference and its potential impact.
While the attendees were swapping stories, honing tactics and discussing policies related to media reform actions across the country as well as the world, real world events were unfolding that highlight the reason the Free Press is holding these educational conferences.
"The quality of democracy and the quality of journalism are deeply intertwined," said Bill Moyers.
Click below to read the story.
Continue reading "Conference on Media Reform"May 15, 2005
Lee - Pulitzer Purchase Agreement
May 10, 2005
Mannies starts new daily column
Or maybe it's a blog?
May 02, 2005
Book recommendation...
Usually we restrict ourselves to St. Louis matters here at the Arch City Chronicle, but occasionally we want to make note of national matters. One such incident was Rev. Pat Robertson's statement on one of the Sunday talk shows. Robertson hosts the 700 Club which airs during the week on KPLR, Channel 11:
Federal judges are a more serious threat to America than Al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 terrorists, the Rev. Pat Robertson claimed yesterday.
"Over 100 years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings," Robertson said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
This incident, as well as recent barrages against the U.S. legal system by cable-news pundits inspired me to review a book I read recently by James Wolcott, Attack Poodles, and Other Media Mutants: The looting of the news in a time of terror. The book was published last summer, but given the continued prominence of the screaming-class punditry, as well as the upcoming National Conference for Media Reform which is being hosted here in St. Louis, I thought it might be something our readers may enjoy.
To read the review, follow the link below.
Continue reading "Book recommendation..."May 01, 2005
revolution or "revenge of the amateurs"
It now has about 2,200 bloggers. Setting up a blog is reserved for subscribers only -- currently some 60,000 -- but they can be read by all."
April 29, 2005
Democratic Underground
Looking for a place to pick up some more rumors / chatter / ear-to-the-ground comments? I just stumbled on this place which has a forum about Missouri Democratic politics.
April 26, 2005
Jensen responds...
Michael Jensen, publisher of the Sikeston, Mo Standard Democrat, responds to the Political Eye's criticism of one of Jensen's recent columns. The Political Eye had this to say about Jensen's column:
Remember the "welfare queen"? That invention of the Republican Right who siphons money from upright taxpayers and blows it on hooch and hair rollers? Well, she is back, according to Mike Jensen, publisher of the Sikeston, Mo., Standard Democrat. But, in this incarnation, she is the Medicaid queen, and she is rolling with the Medicaid baller.
In his response, Jensen dismisses the Political Eye's criticism and decides to try and describe the facts in order to explain how the Medicaid cuts will force people to take on more personal responsibility.
Well, despite their asinine rhetoric, I remain convinced that far too many people look for the government to provide their every need…So let’s revisit the Medicaid crisis in Missouri. Just absorb the following information and then decide for yourself … Today there are over one million Missourians on Medicaid - one in five Missourians today are on some form of state welfare.
Jensen never answers Political Eye's criticism of his comments. Jensen's characterization of medicaid recipients as urban blacks blowing their money instead of paying for healthcare is linked to his misunderstanding of the medicaid system. He characterizes the system as a form of welfare which he seems to equate with urban blacks. A characterization that is the favorite straw man of those who oppose social programs.
Jensens' misunderstanding is two-fold. Not only are the majority of medicaid recipients non-urban whites, but medicaid is a service provided to anyone who needs it and meets the requirements. One-in-five Missourians are not on welfare, but one-in-five do benefit from medicaid. It covers working families who can't cover the incredibly high costs of taking care of a paraplegic child, as well as poor families who simply can't afford to pay for insurance.
Medicaid and the medical care system as a whole need to be examined in order to bring costs down. However, misidentifying the medicaid system as a handout ignores the countless services it provides. Medicaid provides not only acute help but also provides preventative care which drives down the costs of health care by keeping people in better health which cuts down on expensive more intensive treatments.
April 18, 2005
Let's count the votes
Two recent Post articles (Bryan and Wagman) proclaim the police residency rule will soon be relaxed. Rumored for a couple of weeks, they must have it nailed down since the Post doesn't make a habit of going out on a limb.
But neither article lists how the members of the board might vote.
So let's try to count heads.
The board members are: Mike Quinn, Bart Saracino, Jo Ann Freeman, Chris Goodson, and Mayor Slay.
Mike Quinn is on the record in favor of lifting the requirement. Folks are assuming that Goodson is a "yes" vote as well. Did the Guv ask Goodson about residency before making the appointment?
Still that's only two. From the newpaper it sounds like the mayor is the third, willing to take 7 and Out rather than risk something more dramatic from Jefferson City.
It does look like the mayor - if I may go out on a limb - thinking beyond the immediate situation to a different (worse) scenario in the future, orchestrating a compromise, leaking to the press to soften the blow and failing to tie it to some meaningful reforms like the civilian review board.
April 17, 2005
Red State / Blue State
The Discovery Channel will be in town in town April 27-30, working on a reality special called something like Red State, Blue State.
Premise: Two families with different political beliefs exchange homes for 10 days to experience life in either a red or blue state.
Program will air sometime around Labor Day.
April 16, 2005
Friday news release?
I thought Friday was the day you released things that you wanted to hide in the Saturday news cycle.
Unless this thing has legs - it doesn't - it's headed for black hole oblivion.
April 04, 2005
Pope Octavian
SLU professor emeritus William B. Faherty wrote this slim novel a couple of years ago which takes the reader behind scenes of a fictional papal election.
April 03, 2005
Cover Girl
On St. Louis Magazine's cover this month - the daughter of John Paul Frisella, committeeman of the 10th ward.
March 30, 2005
Tucci in the Times
Linda Tucci writes about StL's DT revival in the Times today.
March 23, 2005
Bonetti Booed
Over on the Critical Mass email list, they're smarting over PD Visual Art Critic David Bonetti's recent comments - specifically, "By rights, there probably shouldn't be any art galleries in St. Louis. The city and region have only a small artists community and relatively few collectors whose needs could be, and are met elsewhere."
One poster there compares Bonetti to a restaurant critic who visits the same place time after time and disparages the rest.
"Consider this scenario. In a city as large, as vital, as diverse, and as original as St. Louis, the major newspaper hires a restaurant critic. This individual in the several years he has covered the restaurant scene, has reviewed perhaps at most a dozen restaurants. And for those few he has visited, he has repeatedly returned, at the expense of others that equally deserve his opinion. But there’s more. Beyond this narrow, limited focus, this restaurant critic constantly avoids, dismisses and most importantly criticizes all the remaining local restaurants, cuisines and people working in the field. With broad generalizations, this critic indicts nearly the entire regional restaurant community for lacking innovation, variety, quality, and commitment. With this blatant bias and inaccuracy, is this a restaurant critic St. Louis Post-Dispatch readers would tolerate? I rather doubt it."
March 21, 2005
Julia Piscitelli
Roll Call ran a nice article about Julia Piscitelli who worked Dolley's campaign last year.
An excerpt:
Getting Religion
By Nicole Duran
Roll Call Staff
March 17, 2005
Julia Piscitelli, a Washington, D.C.-based Democratic consultant, has put a new spin on the concept of Democrats reaching out to the religious community.
Last year, Piscitelli successfully shepherded Charlie Dooley (D) into the St. Louis County executive’s chair in Missouri, making him the first black candidate to win a countywide race there.
Piscitelli said she ran Dooley’s campaign along broad moral themes and hopes that other Democrats take notice and learn how to avoid wars over social issues.
“Our theme was protecting what we value most,” she said. "We talked about how St. Louis County is a safe, great place to live and raise a family, to get a good education and a job so that you can stay in the community.
“I see a lot of hope in what we accomplished in Missouri last year. The message of the races that I ran is there is a way to talk about what we all value as a society, American values, such as taking care of people, [expanding] health insurance, home ownership and education; these are important values that everyone shares.”
March 17, 2005
Survey St. Louis
From Combest, these St. Charles Republicans have a 2008 presidential tourney going.
March 16, 2005
Black Republicans Blogging
New Leadership Blog, brought to our attention via email by State Rep. Sherman Parker who it appears is pals with one of the bloggers there, Christopher Arps.
March 15, 2005
New Buzz Bissinger Book
Many a urbanologist adored Bissinger's amazing