Versus fuck it, let’s all just write in cuneiform and complain about those kids today and their cave paintings: Last week, journalists reacting to the Associated Press’s announcement that it would replace “Web site” with “website” in the AP Stylebook pushed the phrase “AP Stylebook” onto Twitter’s trending topics list. (FWIW, OJR’s style for the past several years has been to use “website.”) Most journalists approved of the news, though a few skeptics, such as the University of Florida’s Mindy McAdams, demurred. Though I disagree with her on this, I loved the snark of her Twitter response: “Everyone but me … Continue reading SEO vs AP Style

OHFUCKSHITJESUSNOTTODAYOKAY: After describing the movement as dangerous Parker then said she wasn’t saying that it was dangerous: “I’m not saying the tea party people are violent or racist or any of that…I’m not saying that the tea partiers are bad people or dangerous, I just think we have to be very vigilant…and be extremely careful, because I do think there is a lot of anger and it could become something else.” Schieffer then injected the talking point of the internet as a source of such “danger”: “Some of this really nasty rhetoric that shows up on the Internet…the only vehicle … Continue reading Blogs are Like Terrorism

The unending allure of Politico: Even lazy-ass Jim Newell, who writes comedy for Wonkette, posted his version of the Gregory Craig/Goldman story a whole 10 hours before the magic Playbook email went out to a loathsome group of Beltway people who so hate their spouses that they need to scan Mike Allen’s Best of the Web links before saying “Good morning” or “Let’s get a divorce.” There is much to dislike about the Politico and its newsroom culture of pointless trivia and breathtaking lack of perspective, but pretending Mike Allen’s dumb email is anything more than links to the same … Continue reading Illiterate Picture Books Sell Very Well

1. Fire all sports columnists, especially thosewho talk about sexual assault as if it’s a disappointing character flaw instead of a crime. 2. Hire The Editors and printthat shit everywhere: Fuck Ben Roethlotsletters. He’s way overrated, he’s superboring to watch, he plays for a degenerate football team, his name is an overturned Scrabble board, and, even among pro football players, he stands out as an unlikable moron. Now we know his drinking habits offend the DA of Hicksville, GA, and that he is a shameless toilet tramp. These are certainly not the sorts of qualities a young gentleman should seek … Continue reading Two-Step World Domination Solution for Newspapers

Bloggers are dangerous: The overwhelming number of the blogosphere’s “citizen journalists” would benefit a great deal by adhering to traditional journalism’s best practices, starting with posting under real names and then setting out to verify, verify, verify. Gossip is not fact; at best, it’s a starting point for running down facts and unraveling rumors. Too many blog posts begin with, “I heard that…” and then launch into rants and speculation. No phone calls, no e-mails, no interviews to find out if what they “heard” is true. It’s the Internet version of the busybody neighbor, except far less benign. Meanwhile, in … Continue reading Student Journalism and What We’re Worried About

Newspapers continue to be insanely unprofitable: Gannett made $117.2 million, or 49 cents per share, compared with $77.4 million, or 34 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts expected 41 cents per share. Revenue fell 4 percent to $1.32 billion, matching forecasts. If only one could make moneyat this journalism business: Already Moody’s Investors Service sees better indications for the business. The debt-rating agency raised its outlook on the newspaper industry to “stable” from “negative,” saying that a recovery in ad spending will ease revenue declines. The rating change could make it less expensive for newspapers to borrow money. But … Continue reading Money Money Money