CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

Would You Care If Your Local Paper Stopped Home Delivery?

LibertySugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:00:25 -0800

Detroit's major newspapers the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News will no longer greet residents on their front porches every morning, as these papers are the first in the US to end daily home delivery. The newspapers decided to cut service down to three days a week, thanks to the cost of ink, fuel, and paper. Since 2002, both papers have seen about a 20 percent decrease in circulation. Newspaper delivery boys and girls (or adults) will still be able to make a dime on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. In addition, print addicts can pick up a tangible copy at the newsstand. For $12 a month, subscribers will get the three day delivery service, as well as a daily email delivery. The papers can also be read online. It doesn't sound so bad! Considering the popularity of email, maybe home mail delivery will be the next to go, requiring everyone to go to the post office when they need to pick up an item.Source

Would You Care If Your Local Paper Stopped Home Delivery?

Yes. I look forward to the paper delivery every day!

No. If for some strange reason I need a hard copy, I'll go to the newsstand.

Maybe. I would be happy with just the weekend edition.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Briefing Book! Chris Matthews in 60 Seconds!

LibertySugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:30:49 -0800

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Cable: Can you imagine this on the Senate floor? Chris Matthews in a minute! — 23/6
Brooklyn: Not Kosher? Hasidic Jewish community not cool with bike lane because hipster girls show too much skin as they drive by. — Good
Recession: Party's over? New survey shows that 2008 will have the lowest percentage of holiday functions seen in the past 20 years. — SavvySugar
Unions: How do they compare to private sector workers? Including benefits to retirees, union workers cost Big Three $70 per hour. — RedState

Source

How to Pick Which Election Coverage to Tune Into on Tuesday

CitizenSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:00:49 -0700

With less than a week left until election night it's time to start making plans — not what election parties or events you're attending, this is a much, much more important decision— who you're spending the evening with, teevees-wise. The media has been as important this campaign as the candidates — and since McCain is saying they've all been fooled as to the real state of the race, I can't wait to see the results. I know who I'm watching, I've been so CNN-loyal the whole campaign, the thought of abandoning my Wolf wouldn't happen by a hair of his chinny-chin-chin. I might peek to see what the other kids have going on though, so luckily there's a whole passel of lists to help us decide who to watch.

To see them,

Biden to Florida Reporter: "Are You Joking?"

CitizenSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:45:52 -0700

Biden to Florida Reporter: "Are You Joking?" During her interview with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Orlando’s WFTV News anchor Barbara West came right out with some familiar-sounding questions: Is Barack Obama ashamed of his close ties to ACORN? Isn’t Barack Obama kind of just like Karl Marx? The reactions to the interview have been very strong and mixed.

What Did the Pundits Get So Very, Very Wrong?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:00:07 -0700

God bless 24-hours of news for giving us the "something happened, here's a boatload of people to tell you how to think about it" model of reporting. After all, where would we be without pundits? Thinking for ourselves? Well that clearly just won't do at all. So what happens when what we've been told by the experts turns out to be a little, uh, wrong? Salon rounded up a list of "bum calls" from pundits this election. Here are a few:

Everybody Loves Sarah: For a while there in August everything was coming up Palin — leading the heads to speculate she was a masterful pick that was going to snare the Hillary voters and make a big splash with feminists. Polls out this week however show that 60 percent of women under 50 have negative feelings about her.
Steve Schmidt Rules: After McCain topped the polls following the convention, the world beat a path to strategist Steve Schmidt's door. But with the decision to suspend the campaign and focus on the day to day rather than building a brand, the strategy seems to be coming up shorter than expected

They were wrong about Obama too. To see how,

MSNBC Teams Up With Liberal Special Interests For Nov. 4 News

LibertySugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:07:00 -0700

MSNBC Teams Up With Liberal Special Interests For Nov. 4 News MSNBC has launched an exclusive partnership with a variety of left-wing special interest groups to boost their Election Coverage and help viewers experiencing problems at the polls. Phil Alongi, executive producer of NBC News' Election Coverage in an Oct. 22 press release stated: "Not only will we be able to direct voters who are experiencing problems with a hotline to call, we will also have our team of reporters and producers follow up on the information Election Protection is gathering." Election Protection, the group it will work with, claims to be nonpartisan. None of their listed partner groups, however, lean conservative.

Rachel Maddow Coming to a NYT Magazine Near You

LibertySugar — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:00:04 -0700

Rachael Maddow is to Keith Olbermann as Stephen Colbert is to Jon Stewart. And just like Stephen, Rachel's new pseudo-Countdown spinoff is acquiring a fan base potentially more dedicated than its predecessor's. This weekend's New York Times Magazine caught up with the Stanford and Oxford grad-turned-progressive-MSNBC host, visiting her home in western Massachusetts where she lives with her partner Susan.

Some items to look forward to:

Rachel, a TV personality, has no TV.
Some of Rachel's favorite objects include: a squirrel sculpture, four kinds of mustard from her fridge (“I am a mustard person"), a sneaker, two ashtrays from the Watergate hotel, and her 7-year-old red Ford pickup.
Fictional character she identifies with: "Wally Cleaver. Cause he is a dork.”
If her show doesn't make it Rachel has a backup. "I am a hobbyist bartender. I have a a liquor cabinet. I research classic drinks from the golden age of American cocktails and I make them for me and Susan.”
Rachel's favorite movie? The Manchurian Candidate, original version.

Are you a fan of Rachel?

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Disses Ann Coulter, Says She's Staying on the View

CitizenSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:07:35 -0700

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Disses Ann Coulter, Says She's Staying on the View Elisabeth Hasselbeck emphatically dissed Ann Coulter while clearing the air regarding rumors that she is jumping ship to Fox News, telling the ladies and the viewers, "I am not going anywhere." When Behar predicted that Sarah Palin would die her hair blonde and join Fox News if John McCain loses, she enumerated a list of famous blond Republicans: "Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Elisabeth Hasselbeck." "Whoa, whoa, whoa, please don't put me in the same sentence as Ann Coulter!" the proud Republican erupted.

ABC Refuses to Air Gore's Ad: In the Tank For Oil Companies?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:00:12 -0700

With all the talk lately about who's "in the tank" for whom, this is one story where the imagery just might fit. The CEO of Al Gore's big We Campaign is accusing ABC of putting the concerns of big oil over their message of planetary goodwill by refusing to run the latest Al Gore ad, called, "Repower America."

In a scathing email the CEO said:

“Did you notice the ads after last night’s presidential debate? ABC had Chevron. CBS had Exxon. CNN had the coal lobby. But you know what happened last week? ABC refused to run our Repower America ad – the ad that takes on this same oil and coal lobby.”

The We Campaign is striking back with an online petition aimed at getting the ad on the air during Friday's airing of 20/20. The petition has over 80,000 signatures.

To see whether ABC has an agenda,

Katie Couric Talks Palin Interview: "We Gave Her A Lot Of Opportunities"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:25:57 -0700

Katie Couric Talks Palin Interview: "We Gave Her A Lot of Opportunities" Katie Couric was out shopping in midtown with her daughters when she was caught by TMZ over the weekend. The cameraman quickly engaged with the CBS anchor and followed her down the street to ask about the Sarah Palin interview. Asked what she thinks of Sarah Palin "going after" her, Couric responded: "You know, I, I, don't know what to say. You know? I think, I feel we did a really good job. We gave her a lot of opportunities, so . . ."

Conservative Columnist Got "Vicious And Threatening" Hate Mail For Saying Palin Unqualified

CitizenSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:25:24 -0700

Conservative Columnist Got "Vicious And Threatening" Hate Mail For Saying Palin Unqualified Allow me to introduce myself. I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a dumpster, but since she didn't, I should "off" myself. Those are a few nuggets randomly selected from thousands of emails written in response to my column suggesting that Sarah Palin is out of her league and should step down. Who says public discourse hasn't deteriorated?

Fox News Ratings Soar On Politically-Themed Programming

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:24:59 -0700

Fox News Ratings Soar on Politically-Themed Programming Political-themed programming this week has worked wonders for the already high ratings of the Fox News Channel. Special Character & Conduct profiles of the two presidential candidates scored high in the cable news ratings taking the place of the vacationing Bill O'Reilly. On Monday, the Barack Obama documentary hosted by Bill Hemmer averaged 2.3 million viewers, Nielsen Media Research said.

Discussing Obama, Limbaugh Suggests Dems, Media Believe "You Can't Criticize the Little Black Man-Child"

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:53:23 -0700

Discussing Obama, Limbaugh Suggests Dems, Media Believe "You Can't Criticize the Little Black Man-Child" On the Aug. 20 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh asserted of attacks by McCain against Obama: "These have been benign. Even the Britney Spears/Paris Hilton ad was funny. It was benign." He later added: "It's — you know, it's just — it's just we can't hit the girl. I don't care how far feminism's saying, you can't hit the girl, and you can't — you can't criticize the little black man-child. You just can't do it, 'cause it's just not right, It's not fair. He's such a victim." Listen for yourself.

87% of Fox Viewers for McCain: News Watchers Discriminate?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:00:03 -0700

Though media may or may not be biased (depending on your perception of it) viewers it seems might be. In a recent Rasmussen poll, the cable network of choice was a big indicator of how a viewer plans to vote in November.

The network that was most closely tied to a candidate? Fox News, with 87 percent of viewers saying they're likely to vote for John McCain. (The results are similar to 2004 when 88 percent favored Bush.) Though Fox has an anecdotally popular niche among conservatives, they're not the only ones with pals; other networks lined up as well. Over at CNN, 65 percent said they'll vote for Obama compared to 26 percent for McCain, and at MSNBC it's 63 percent to 30 percent for McCain, with the major networks showing similar results.

The results do bring up an interesting question about coverage — to see what it is,

Iran Executes Journalist Convicted Of Terrorism

CitizenSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:50:23 -0700

Iran Executes Journalist and Child Activist Convicted of Terrorism Iranian journalist, Yaghoob Mirnehad, convicted and sentenced to death on terrorism charges has been executed, the country's judiciary said Tuesday. Iran accused Mirnehad of being involved in the armed Jundallah group, which operates along the Iranian-Pakistani border. Authorities said he set up a group to "cooperate" with Jundallah. Mirnehad was a reporter for a Tehran-based daily newspaper, Mardomsalari and ran a charity that focused on childhood education.

Luke Russert Joins NBC News as Correspondent-at-Large

CitizenSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:25:00 -0700

Luke Russert Joins With NBC News as Correspondent-at-Large NBC News announced Thursday that Luke Russert, son of late Washington Bureau Chief and moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert, will be joining the network to serve as a correspondent-at-large for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, focusing on youth issues. Russert said, "I believe youth issues will continue to play a significant role during this election and I want to do my part to report them honestly and objectively."

Bill O'Reilly Takes On Scott McClellan Over Talking Points Claim

CitizenSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:53:17 -0700

Bill O'Reilly Takes On Scott McClellan Over Talking Points Claim Bill O'Reilly took on Scott McClellan on Monday night's O'Reilly Factor over claims made last week on Hardball that McClellan and the Bush White House would funnel talking points to the Fox News host (and his colleague, Sean Hannity). After calling McClellan a "liar" and an "idiot" on his radio show Monday, O'Reilly promised to have some fun with the former White House Press Secretary on his TV show that night.

"News," Comedy Worlds Collide on The Soup

CitizenSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:40:58 -0700

"News," Comedy Worlds Collide on The Soup In a bizarre mash-up of some of our pop culture touchstones, professional opinion-haver Keith Olbermann made a cameo appearance on The Soup this weekend. Olbermann popped up on E!'s pop garbage digest hosted by the lovable Joel McHale. Check out the video.

CNN Uses Fake Republican to Hit McCain? Real Ones on Road!

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:45:17 -0700

In a doom-and-gloom message from CNN today, it seemed like all was lost for the Republican candidate — no young voter was ever going to be inspired by time-tested McCain. Except, it's all a fake! According to a press release, CNN used a phony College Republican to dummy up the story.

The CNN piece quoted Eric Pearlmutter, a supposed College Republican at USC. Pearlmutter said, "We try to get people out to our College Republican meetings, but we can't seem to get the same amount of support." Seems damning — except that the real USC College Republican President Ben Myers says, "I have never met Eric Pearlmutter. I have never seen him at a College Republican meeting. He is not on our membership roster. I don't know why someone would think he speaks for us. As far as I know, he could be a Democrat." Whoa!

Update: According to TruthCaucus, the disputed CNN story was taken down for a period this evening. The name of the source, Eric Pearlmutter, may have been misspelled (the real spelling is possibly Eric Perlmutter-Gumbiner) though even so, Perlmutter isn't listed as an officer of the USC College Republicans. Plus his quote sounds very familiar. . . .

Update II: Interestingly, there seems to be a producer at CNN named Bruce Perlmutter. I wonder if he's related to the source of the quote?

Update III: CNN has admitted the error, via the LA Times saying, “Eric Perlmutter appeared on today’s American Morning segment about young Republicans on college campuses. While he attends USC and says that he is a registered Republican, he was inadvertently identified on-screen as a member of the USC College Republicans organization. We regret that error. We have invited Ben Myers, the president of the USC College Republicans organization, to appear on American Morning at a future time.”

In the meantime, there are real young Republicans on the road, crossing country for McCain. To see their story,

Rapper Nas Gives Petition to "Propaganda Machine" Fox News

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:55:15 -0700

Rapper Nas joined with the Color of Change and MoveOn to deliver a petition to the offices of Fox News yesterday. Just after his controversial album hit number one, Nas took the podium protesting the racist attacks he sees coming from Fox against Black Americans and Barack Obama.

Delivering over 600,000 signatures to the network, Nas delivered a prepared speech saying, "We already knew that Fox is not a news network; they are a propaganda machine . . . Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try to call it news. This should outrage every American that Fox uses hateful language to talk about the person that may be the first black president."

Fox declined receipt of the signatures, but issued a statement: "Fox News believes in all protesters exercising their right to free speech, including Nas, who has an album to promote."

That album now called Untitled had an original, much more controversial title. Does this affect his statement against Fox?

To see clips of the Fox language Nas finds offensive — served up on last night's Colbert Report (where the petition was delivered after Fox refused to accept it) — plus Nas's interview with Stephen,

CBS News Edits Out McCain's Misunderstanding of Iraq

LibertySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:40 -0700

John McCain may mock the media's love affair with Barack Obama, but CBS attempted to give him a generous pass by editing out McCain's incorrect account of crucial events in Iraq. Last night CBS replaced the plainly wrong assertion that the "surge" prompted the Sunni (Anbar) Awakening, which happened before the idea of a surge even existed, with a completely different answer.

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Here's how it actually went down:

Katie Couric: Senator Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as — such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel MacFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar Awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history.

The record overwhelmingly shows that McCain was wrong. For example, the military official cited by McCain actually discussed the Anbar Awakening four months before the surge was even announced. To see how McCain's camp responded,

Morning News Anchors Drink McDonald's Coffee (For Cash)

LibertySugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:15:00 -0700

Each morning news anchors on Fox's Las Vegas affiliate sit in front of very visible McDonald's iced coffee cups, part of a product-placement deal. The fast-food chain sponsors the two-hour morning news-and-lifestyle segment, but instead of commercial breaks, the advertisement happens during the news.

Since advertisement dollars already influence networks, I think the product-placement deal raises some old conflict of interest concerns. The producers say they would pull the cups if they had to report a negative story about McDonald's, just as they would pull a regular commercial. Still, the covertness of the promotion could deceive some viewers not aware that McDonald's paid for the cups' placement.

To find out how political parties are incorporating product placement, and how the industry sees it,

Top Ten Newscasters That Push My (Remote) Buttons

CitizenSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:00:38 -0700

Think you have a pretty good idea how TV news insiders would talk about Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann behind their backs? Radar went looking to confirm those suspicions in their feature "Head Trauma: Insiders Reveal Television's Most Hated Pundits." Sounds good, right? There are juicy quotes aplenty like this about Keith Olbermann: "He's just a full-blown, red-in-the-face screamer," followed by, "his disregard for those beneath him is almost comical." Ooh. And we thought O'Reilly was the screamer. The Radar list of hated new folks reminded me of the Maxim list of sexiest news anchors (hey, I have a brother. I hear things) and I'm convinced that surely there must be a middle ground. What's between love and hate? Ah, the all powerful remote button. Here are the top ten newscasters, that while I'm sure are lovely people, make me change the channel.

What Will Happen To Newspapers? Are They Going Extinct?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:00:38 -0700

Do you get a newspaper thumping onto your front porch? If you do, chances are the number of people creating that paper has been considerably slashed. A new study shows that 85 percent of daily papers have cut newsroom staff in the last three years. Fewer journalists, means fewer stories — the papers surveyed have cut foreign news by two-thirds and national news by half. Part of the reason for the shrinkage, is the move toward the web. No longer able to cash in on the lucrative classifieds and ads that fueled a traditional paper, the speed with which the news happens online is causing quite a vortex of information and people to produce it. The study shows that while editors realized the advantages of the web, the energy to produce the material leads to a limited scope of questionable value — not a great trade-off. And about that move to the web. Traditional once only-paper news sources, like the New York Times now allow comments on certain stories. It's a welcome mat of reader input following in the example of blogs and nonprint media like CNN — allowing unprecedented — and sometimes questionably thought out commentary, once screened by an editorial staff. Should newspapers allow comments on their news stories? Can the sunset of the newspaper trade be buoyed by adopting more web-friendly tactics — or should newspapers stay insular and impartial? What's the future of the black and white and read all over?Source

What Will Happen To Newspapers? Are They Going Extinct?

Nope. We'll always need papers — there's more competition, but they're irreplaceable.

Yup. Pretty soon all news will be broken and reported online, who can wait for print?

Either way, they'll have to fully adapt to the web to survive — that includes comments.

Other. I'll report my opinion in the comments!

Keeping Them . . . Honestly, Just Read the Fine Print

CitizenSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:20:41 -0700

Keeping Them . . . Honestly, Just Read the Fine Print CNN took out a full-page ad for Anderson Cooper 360 today in the New York Times, touting the show being, "#1 at 10 p.m." Then there's the fine print — the demographic they used is unbelievably small. And so far in July, Fox leads in all categories during that time slot.

Media Stars Flood Obama Iraq Trip: Wildly Unfair Reporting?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:00:35 -0700

Though only 36 percent of you said Obama should pack his bags and head off to Iraq ASAP, he's going — and along with him, a bevy of high-profile journalists, to cover the trip from stem to stern. Who's hopping on board? All three major network news anchors for starters, meaning that evening newscasts will be broadcast from Obama's Middle Eastern vacation, undoubtedly giving it huge play. And about 200 other journalists for good measure.Who went with McCain on his last trip to Iraq? Only a handful of reporters, plus NBC's Brian Williams (who's actually going on the Obama trip) reported on McCain's from the comfort of New York, in the "other political news" segment. Hmm. That scale seems a little out of balance. In fact, McCain has taken three foreign trips in the past four months, and not one network anchor has accompanied him. And it's not just trips, the arguably smaller stories swirling around Obama, Jackson's nuts-gate for one, have all but eclipsed coverage of McCain, even though he is indeed still campaigning, and making policy declarations — like the fact that he thinks the Social Security system is an "absolute disgrace." The story disparity between Jackson and Social Security? 126 to 20. Is it becoming clear that mainstream news has tipped the balance to focusing on all-Obama, all the time? Is the Fairness Doctrine looking more and more necessary? Source

Media Stars Flood Obama Iraq Trip: Wildly Unfair Reporting?

Yes! The inequity is ridiculous and doesn't service anyone. He's a candidate, not a star.

There's just coverage of what gets attention and people want. It seems that's Obama.

No way. Obama only gets the attention he earns. If McCain wants attention, do more!

Other. I'll give you my coverage in the comments.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Cries After Sparring With Whoopi Over N-Word

CitizenSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:50:44 -0700

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Cries After Sparring With Whoopi Over N-Word Thursday morning on The View, during a discussion on the N-word prompted by the revelation that Jesse Jackson used the slur in his controversial Fox News tape, Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had a heated back-and-forth that ended with Elisabeth in tears. Whoopi, who earlier in the broadcast had used the n-word repeatedly, sending the censors into overload, argued that the word is only as powerful as a society allows it to be and advocated for using the word to give it new meaning. With video of the exchange.

Iran Missile Photos Digitally Altered

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:55:32 -0700

Iran Missile Photos Digitally Altered As news spread across the world of Iran's provocative missile tests, so did an image of four missiles heading skyward in unison. Unfortunately, it appeared to contain one too many missiles, a fact that had not emerged before the photo appeared on the front pages of The Los Angeles Times and The Financial Times as well as on BBC News, MSNBC, Yahoo! News, NYTimes.com and many other major news websites.

Who Do You Consider a Media Hero? Collect and Trade Them!

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:42 -0700

If your Garbage Pail Kids cards are long forgotten (or Pokemon perhaps?) it might be time for a new set to collect and trade. Who might be better than a pack of media luminaries who've changed the tenor of discourse? The folks at Reclaim the Media know that it takes more than a .400 batting average to make a difference and wind up on a card — that's why they've created their own Media Heroes trading cards.

Here's what they have to say about why:

Media heroes are everywhere: journalists, activists, media innovators and educators making sure that we all have access to media that supports democratic values of justice, community and respect. Some media heroes are solitary voices keeping a candle of truth burning through a period of darkness. Others are organizers working to expand the range of people who can wield the power of publishing and broadcasting, or reveal hidden aspects of the media that is all around us.

The decks are $16 and feature original portraits of 21 different media heroes with biographies on the back. Who do they consider heroes? The Sesame Street pioneers, Children's Television workshop, which sought to combine education and entertainment as well as prioritizing service for lower-income kids who didn't have the leg up of preschool, for one. Also, Frederick Douglass who spoke out against slavery while writing for the newspaper, The Liberator, and PBS' Bill Moyers, who they say is "a singularly ardent advocate for journalistic ethics and the pursuit of authentic democracy."

Who are your media heroes? Would you put an Olbermann or a Nancy Grace into the mix? How about a Brokaw or a Cooper?

Bill O'Reilly Takes On New York Times, Cries Foul

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:10:37 -0700

Bill O'Reilly Takes On New York Times, Cries Foul On Monday's The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly took on the New York Times and defended Fox & Friends for their Photoshopping of Times reporter Jacques Steinberg. O'Reilly claims the Times caricatured him in a 2007 book review and called this "the most hypocritical situation we have ever seen." "Let me get this straight, New York Times-people" O'Reilly said. "We can't mock you, but you can mock us? Am I getting this? If the Times editor Bill Keller would wise up, perhaps their business might improve."

Fox News Gives NY Times Reporters Yellow Teeth, Big Nose

LibertySugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:00:02 -0700

When I came across these photos, I couldn't believe my eyes. Yesterday on Fox and Friends, Fox News aired photos of New York Times reporters, calling them "attack dogs." In the photos, reporters Jacques Steinbert and Steven Reddicliffe became the victims of yellow teeth, a receding hairline, and exaggerated features.

The Fox hosts were upset with Steinberg's recent article "Fox News Finds Its Rivals Closing In" which declared that CNN and MSNCB have added viewers at "far more dramatic rate" than Fox, so far this election. When asked if the NY Times would respond to the image doctoring, the paper's Culture Editor Sam Sifton said no thanks: "It is fighting with a pig, everyone gets dirty and the pig likes it."

Fox News has found some pretty creative ways to outrage me lately. What should be done to address this visual dishonesty? To see the video,

Sri Lankan Media Demand Security Amid Growing Violence

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:41 -0700

In the latest bout of violence Sri Lanka has seen since the ceasefire broke in January, 27 Tamil Tiger rebels and two government soldiers have been killed on the frontlines of their brutal civil war. This bloodshed coincides with an attack on a journalist and a British High Commission official from unknown assailants. The country's situation isn't often the lead story on Countdown but the mounting death toll makes it impossible to ignore.

Part of the reason for the media's silence is that it's a country that's not only dangerous for its citizens, but the media trying to report on the situation. The recent attack of a journalist has led the World Association of Newspapers to rank as Sri Lanka the third deadliest country for journalists. (Iraq and Somalia are ranked 1 and 2 respectively.) Though a reward has been offered for the assailants, media groups have said the government has failed to catch anyone. This year alone, a total of 12 journalists have been attacked including one who was hacked to death. To see the factions behind the violence,

New York Times Magazine's Sleepy Limbaugh Cover Story

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:55:26 -0700

New York Times Magazine's Sleepy Limbaugh Cover Story Right-wing talk radio host Rush Limbaugh is signing a contract with Clear Channel and Premiere Radio worth more than $400 million, the New York Times Magazine will report this Sunday. In addition to finagling a nine-figure signing bonus, Limbaugh has also taken to purchasing a new G550 jet and a pyramid of gilded skulls belonging to the financiers of Air America.

MSNBC, MySpace Team Up to Recruit Citizen Journalists

CitizenSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:55:25 -0700

MSNBC, MySpace Team Up to Recruit Citizen Journalists Citizen journalists, MySpace, and NBC News want you to help cover this summer's political conventions. MySpace, NBC News and MSNBC.com are running a contest among MySpace users for the job of covering the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

Tom Brokaw Will Host "Meet the Press"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:55:07 -0700

Tom Brokaw Will Host "Meet the Press" NBC moved quickly to stanch speculation about who would succeed Tim Russert as moderator of Meet the Press, announcing Sunday that Tom Brokaw, former anchor of NBC Nightly News, would fill the role for the rest of this election year. The president of NBC News said “when Tom proposed this idea, we jumped at it,” adding: “It was a huge relief. It offers us some time.”

Al Jazeera Buys German Clown to Entertain Arab Children

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:55:18 -0700

Al Jazeera Buys German Clown to Entertain Arab Children The Arabic news network Al Jazeera has signed a five-year distribution deal with Munich-based Studio100 Media to broadcast the live-action children's series "Bumba the Clown." Bumba is a moon-faced circus harlequin who plays the drums and imparts pearls of wisdom to the pre-K set.

Give Your BLT a Little NYC With a Gay Kiss?

LibertySugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:20:00 -0700

With gay marriages about to begin at 5 p.m. today in California, Heinz is using a kiss between two men to help the company sell some mayonnaise in the UK. The ad shows two kids getting ready for school, waiting for their "mom" (a man who looks like a deli counter worker and has a New York accent) to pack their lunches. The commercial, airing in the United Kingdom today, does what it can to make Brits accepting of a two-father household — and I'm not talking about the My Two Dads variety. After the kids' lunches are packed, in comes "dad" for a goodbye smooch.

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Will viewers become more open minded after seeing this traditional morning routine infused with a homosexual lifestyle? Perhaps it may have been more shocking to tradition if the lunchmaker was called "dad" and the parent going to work was called "mom."

Some may think Heinz simply wants to shock viewers for added publicity. Considering a straight couple would be completely un-newsworthy, I think it offers social commentary just by getting attention. Did it get yours?

Source

Media Watching Media: Are You Glad There Is More Scrutiny?

LibertySugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:45:01 -0700

By using the term "Obama's Baby Mama" to refer to Michelle Obama, Fox News has once again caused outrage. Earlier this week we discussed how a Fox News host referred to the celebratory fist bump exchanged between Barack and Michelle, as a "terrorist fist jab." There seems to be a trend: news stations are making the news. Today's Wall Street Journal examines how activist groups and everyday citizens are not letting these offensive statements slip by. The article states: In a campaign that includes the first viable African-American presidential candidate, the lines of appropriate speech have become fuzzy. News organizations are under pressure from a broad network of self-appointed watchdogs, including organized groups like Media Matters and individuals. These watchdogs are likely to remain vigilant about gaffes, misstatements, and potentially biased language through the November vote.

Since this campaign season has started, news organizations have issued at least 10 apologies. Even if you don't find anything wrong with poorly chosen words on television, do you think the public benefits from at least knowing about these incidents? Source

Media Watching Media: Are You Glad There Is More Scrutiny?

Finally! If we let it go, people will internalize this nonsense "news" as truth.

Yes! But, the media will continue to sensationalize race, etc. for ratings.

They can complain, but everyone has right to say ignorant things.

I think critics should calm down. The left and the right are both guilty of this.

No! This is just a clever tactic by the left to demonize people they disagree with.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Study: Young People Check Email While Checking News, Duh!

LibertySugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:00:38 -0700

The AP conducted a study in an attempt to figure out how best to get the news to young adults. The international study found that young adults are experiencing news fatigue, and overall information overload thanks to the Internet. Participants were also distracted from focusing on news because they were almost always multitasking with activities like reading email.

In order to get readers to see through the sea of headlines and facts, and eventually select the in-depth stories they actually crave, the AP will begin using a "1-2-3 filing" system.

To find out what that means,

Is Facebook Destroying the College Alumni Magazine?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:25:36 -0700

Is Facebook Destroying the College Alumni Magazine? Most people read their college alumni magazines for the class notes, immediately flipping to the back to see who was married, had a baby, or was promoted to an envy-inducing job. The advent of social networking on the Internet has created a quandary for these magazines. "Certainly as people do more Facebook-ing and MySpace-ing, how they do these things changes and evolves," said John Rosenberg, editor of Harvard Magazine.

Keith Olbermann Owes Thousands in Back Taxes

CitizenSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:55:36 -0700

Keith Olbermann Owes Thousands in Back Taxes Uh-oh. Is this enough to be crowned "Worst Person in the World"? Page Six reports that New York state has issued a tax warrant or judgment against the MSNBC host for $2,269.50 in back taxes owed by his personal corporation, Olbermann Broadcasting Empire Inc. Olbermann and Page Six have long been at odds but this item is also part of a growing feud between the White House/News Corp and GE/NBC News/MSNBC.

Arianna Huffington and Her Mysterious Private Eye Enrage Chris Matthews

CitizenSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:22:02 -0700

Arianna Huffington and Her Mysterious Private Eye Enrage Chris Matthews MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews apparently takes blog mogul Arianna Huffington's criticisms a little too seriously! "I will not be in the same f***ing picture as Arianna Huffington!! Not a chance of that!" he allegedly screamed during a photoshoot for Portfolio at MSNBC's DC studio Tuesday. Then he stormed out. Oh, and Tucker Carlson was there. Find out more odd and totally unsubstantiated stories from the shoot here.

Dunkin Donuts Pulls Ad Featuring Rachael Ray in a Scarf That Looks Too Arab

CitizenSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:55:31 -0700

Dunkin Donuts Pulls Ad Featuring Rachael Ray in a Scarf That Looks Too Arab: Dunkin Donuts has pulled a commercial featuring pitchwoman Rachael Ray wearing a scarf because Michelle Malkin and other conservative observers thought the scarf looked too much like a keffiyeh, what Malkin describes as "the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad." The Boston Globe reports that Dunkin Donuts caved to pressure from the conservative blogosphere — and the fear of a mass boycott — and removed the ad. Malkin has previously lauded Dunkin Donuts for its support of immigration laws.

JC Watts Planning Black Television News Network

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:55:24 -0700

JC Watts Planning Black Television News Network Former congressman J.C. Watts is behind a major push to launch an all-news channel for black people. The network, tentatively called Black Television News Channel and slated to launch in early 2009, already has an agreement with Comcast cable to be carried in several cities with large black populations including Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Baltimore.

Sydney Pollack Dies Of Cancer Aged 73

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:56:33 -0700

Sydney Pollack Dies Of Cancer Aged 73 Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay as director, producer and sometime actor whose star-laden movies like The Way We Were, Tootsie and Out of Africa were among the most successful of the 1970s and '80s, died on Monday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 73. The cause was cancer, said a representative of the family.

Front Page: IAEA Concerned About Iran, Zimbabwe Toll, Fox Commentator Apologizes

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:55:05 -0700

IAEA Concerned About Iran: The International Atomic Energy Agency issued an honest and specific report yesterday saying that Iran’s suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern” and that Iran continued to owe the agency “substantial explanations.” The report pegged Iran with a willful lack of cooperation, especially answering whether nuclear capabilities are intended more for military use than for energy generation. According to Western intelligence agencies, Iranians have ventured into explosives, uranium processing, and a missile warhead design — nuclear weapons activities. One official said of Iran's actions, “There are certain parts of their nuclear program where the military seems to have played a role. We want to understand why.”

Zimbabwe Toll: Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said today of the violence resulting from the contested election held in March, "Over 50 Zimbabweans have been killed in the past six weeks. More than 25,000 people have been displaced. I've been saddened that Zimbabweans are willing to shed the blood of other Zimbabweans over political differences." The runoff election between Tsvangirai and incumbent Robert Mugabe is to be held June 27.
Fox Commentator Apologizes: Over the weekend, Fox analyst, Liz Trotta, said while discussing Hillary Clinton's RFK remark “now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off Osama, um, Obama — well, both, if we could.” The Fox News anchor interviewing her was startled saying, “Talk about how you really feel,” as Trotta laughed. Yesterday Trotta went back on Fox News Channel to apologize. She said, “I am so sorry about what happened yesterday in that lame attempt at humor. I sincerely regret it and apologize to anybody I’ve offended. It’s a very colorful political season, and many of us are making mistakes and saying things that we wish that we hadn’t said.”

To see the video of the incident,

Letterman Mocks Sue Simmons in Series of Clips

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:55:23 -0700

Letterman Mocks Sue Simmons in Series of Clips Since WNBC anchor Sue Simmons dropped the F-bomb last week in an on-air tease, she's become the butt of many jokes. This week, David Letterman has used audio of her now-infamous expletive to create a series of local news highlights that, without fail, end in Sue's "what the f*** are you doing?" Check out the video.

Olbermann To Bush: "This War Is Not About You...Shut The Hell Up!"

CitizenSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:55:38 -0700

Olbermann To Bush: "This War Is Not About You...Shut The Hell Up!" Last night, Keith Olbermann unleashed what may well have been his angriest, most blistering Special Comment yet, aimed squarely at his favorite target: President Bush. Olbermann was responding to Bush's claim that he had given up golf in honor of the Iraq war — and his assertion that a Democratic president withdrawing from Iraq would "eventually lead to another attack on the United States" — a statement Olbermann called "ludicrous, infuriating, holier-than-thou and most importantly bone-headedly wrong." Olbermann continued in that vein for a full 12 minutes (or 2,000 words), frequently raising his voice and spitting out his words in disgust.

Michael Moore Making Fahrenheit 9/11 Sequel

CitizenSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:40:37 -0700

Michael Moore Making Fahrenheit 9/11 Sequel Michael Moore is taking America's temperature again. Moore, who won the top honor at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival with Fahrenheit 9/11 plans a follow-up to resume his examination of the nation's status in the world in the years since the Sept. 11 attacks. Fahrenheit 9/11, the only documentary to top $100 million domestically at the box office, was a harsh, hilarious critique of George W. Bush and his administration in the wake of the attacks. The as-yet-untitled follow-up will have a longer-term approach, film executives overseeing the project said Wednesday.

Bill O'Reilly On "Inside Edition": Vintage Meltdown

CitizenSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:55:51 -0700

Bill O'Reilly On "Inside Edition": Vintage Meltdown Here's a vintage Bill O'Reilly meltdown from his Inside Edition days (with vintage hair) that has just resurfaced (via Gawker), in which he freaks out over bad writing on the teleprompter and unleashed an obscenity-laced tirade. Warning: Language "Factor".