Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com

Showing posts with label Media Commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media Commentary. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Condemnations of The New York Times antisemitic cartoon


Condemnations of The New York Times antisemitic cartoon

Hat tip: Julie Lenarz, “If an openly anti-Semitic cartoon
makes it into the international edition of @nytimes, you know how far Jew-hate
has creeped back into the mainstream. This cartoon was handpicked, signed off,
published. Not an honest mistake.”

Jerusalem Post Diaspora: FLOOD OF CONDEMNATIONS OF NEW YORK TIMES FOR ANTISEMITIC CARTOON

Congressmen join former ambassador to Israel and journalists in slamming the newspaper.

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN   APRIL 29, 2019

Condemnations of The New York Times increased over the weekend after the paper’s international edition published an antisemitic cartoon. The offensive image was of a blind US President Donald Trump wearing a yarmulke, being walked by a dog with the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wearing a Star of David collar. Despite the paper calling it an “error of judgment” to publish it, congressmen and Jewish organizations joined the chorus of outrage.

Read more here: https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Antisemitism/Flood-of-condemnations-of-NYT-for-anti-Semitic-cartoon-588044

https://dayhoffwestminster.blogspot.com/2019/05/condemnations-of-new-york-times.html

++++++
Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

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Thursday, July 10, 2014

George Clooney Blasts Daily Mail (FishbowlNY)


George Clooney has had it with The Daily Mail. In a letter posted by USA Today, the actor blasted the Mail for publishing a story (which originally appeared on its site) about him, his fiancée Amal Alamuddin and her mother. The Mail article said that Alamuddin's mother was against the two getting married based on religious beliefs. 

THR Clooney says he's accustomed to the Mail "making up stories." "They do it several times a week," he says. But Clooney avers that in this instance the stakes are higher: The paper is attempting to exploit religious differences and latent intolerance to attract clicks. 

HuffPost The Mail yanked the story from its website and issued an abject apology to Clooney. "We accept Mr. Clooney's assurance that the story is inaccurate and we apologize to him, Miss Amal Alamuddin and her mother, Baria, for any distress caused," the paper said. 

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Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Rick Steves: Greece in Economic Crisis and Your Travel Dreams

 Rick Steves checking out the impact of the economic crisis in Greece


June 11, 2012 http://blog.ricksteves.com/?p=7675 Retrieved December 2, 2012

With all the news about Greece’s economic problems, people are wondering whether it’s a good time to go there or not. I’ve surveyed my Tour Department and our Greek guides who live and work in Greece, and here’s my report…


My guides report that our Greece tours so far this spring have been as smooth and fun as ever — virtually unaffected by the local political and economic events


The big concern among the hotels and restaurants we use in Greece is whether they’ll be able to survive the downturn in tourism as many postpone their travels there, fearing “instability.” And many sights are running on their shorter winter schedules for lack of money to staff the longer summer hours.


… First and foremost, Greece is a safe place to visit. In fact, it’s a good time to visit because you will be made especially welcome. Tourism is Greece’s heavy industry and its leading employer.
It seems to me that US media coverage of Greece has been nothing less than hysterical — just plain silly at times, and woefully lacking in analysis. Greeks are emotional people, and they are given to outbursts of anger — as well as outbursts of joy. Their bad governments in recent times have given them plenty of reasons to be angry. The scenes in Syntagma, the big square immediately in front of the Greek parliament building, are a symptom of this — and act as a release valve. These scenes occur only when the parliament is voting on the hated austerity measures. When you see riots on TV, they are generally the work of a group of anarchists who are limited to Syntagma and know how to get on the news.

The big debate politically is austerity (from the right) versus no austerity (from the left). Until this all sorts itself out, I would recommend that travelers do not wear “Angela Merkel” masks. Regardless of how the debate turns out, and who emerges as the new government, Greeks of all political stripes will take care of tourism, so vital to its struggling economy. The Greeks, a welcoming people at any time, will be doubly appreciative of any visitors in these difficult circumstances.

The main impact on travelers as Greece struggles through this period will be: shorter hours of sights; intermittent strikes; and friends and loved ones back home wondering if Americans traveling in Greece are okay… http://blog.ricksteves.com/?p=7675
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Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff
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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Investigative Voice celebrated a birthday Wednesday night

Investigative Voice celebrated a birthday Wednesday night

By Kevin Dayhoff February 25, 2010 http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/investigative-voice-celebrated-birthday.html

Folks started crowding into a chic, trendy, upscale, restaurant and lounge, the Red Maple, in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, unfashionably early last Wednesday night as the Investigative Voice celebrated its first anniversary.

The outside of the building is relatively non-descript and brought back memories of the delightfully quirky Martick’s Restaurant Francais. Once located at 214 West Mulberry Street; it was the behind the blue door and ring the secret doorbell eatery that had, as my memory serves me, little on the outside that indicated the exciting adventures in eating that were to be found within.

I walked right by the Red Maple several times before I spotted the “930” above the door. It looked as if Ayn Rand has designed the outer egg of the experience – a grand post-modernist yet relatively unadorned objectivist gray edifice. Of course, all the TV videographers hanging around outside could have been a clue. Well, duh.

Outside, it was relatively quiet, but once the glass door was opened, one entered another world of multi-layered synesthetic commotion. After one’s eye became adjusted to the darkened interior, the sounds blended with the colors, you tasted the shapes, heard the colors, and saw the sounds of a wall of folks standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the top of the stairs – in the upper room.

It was an uncanny impression in consideration of the synesthetic commotion one observes in the burgeoning new – web-based – media phenomena of which the event was celebrating…

It has not been since the early 1960s that such a profound shift has occurred in information delivery systems. It was around 1960 that more Americans got their news from TV instead of newspapers…

Increasing in today’s brave new technology era, more folks are increasingly getting their news from internet media, such as Investigative Voice, than TV or print media…

Immediately inside the door, the front room was relatively vacuous – as if the upper room had sucked all the air out of the room in a rapacious fit of needing all the available oxygen - with the exception of a lone sentry sitting at what seemed a leftover, after-thought little table with a white tablecloth.

He was friendly and identified himself as the dutiful spouse of part of the Investigative Voice management team – and he was there to collect my 20 bucks, which I gladly forked over to support the cause.

At the top of the steps I immediately encountered retired Baltimore Police detective Irving Bradley, who seemed much larger than life as he stood by the doorway.

Just beyond Detective Bradley, I spotted Stephen Janis, who along with fellow defunct Baltimore Examiner refugees, Luke Broadwater and Regina Holmes, gave birth to the Investigative Voice – well – a year ago.

As the media attempts to re-invent itself and adapt to the mercurial changes in technology, the Investigative Voice has been a model that has been studied nationwide.

It began from the ashes of the Baltimore Examiner’s demise last February. The first stories went up on the website about a week or so later …

Word of the new adventure-in-journalism spread quickly in the uniquely small community of tech savvy writers in Maryland.

An article in the City Paper by Chris Landers on April 1, 2009, “New Media Player - Will the future of journalism come from journalists?” called to our attention:

“The 2009 State of the News Media report by the Pew Research center is about as uplifting as a suicide note, but it does contain some hopeful notes for what may be coming next.

“One of the more promising new trends identified by the report is a number of new independent online ventures springing up around the country--specialized outlets, ‘often led and staffed by refugees from the mainstream press,’ providing ‘original reporting meant to fill what they see as an expanding void in what mainstream media now offer.’

“‘For now,’ the report continues, ‘our sense is that they represent something complementary to the traditional news media.’

Hmmm, you know, one may argue that increasingly the traditional news media complements the new media…

Investigative Voice is good example of the evolution of meaningful web-based media that has - thankfully - evolved from tacky blogs and the traditional print media pasted on to a web site. There are many good examples in the Maryland area.

The “celebration party” and the panel discussion featured at the event is another good example of the vertical integration of web-based media into the structure of a community that has embraced a meaningful interactive relationship with readers, instead of remaining inaccessibly and condescendingly above it all.

By way of Facebook, reader comments, and Twitter, new media is developing a relationship with readers and events such as last Wednesday’s event further involves the public that journalism serves.

The mission statement of Investigative Voice explains that it “is dedicated to providing ongoing, in-depth, and thoughtful investigative journalism to the city of Baltimore and beyond. We believe that citizens should actively participate in their governments and that being informed is a civic duty.

“To that end, we strive to shed light on the local governments and agencies that affect our lives, and to hold them accountable to constituents. Never shying away from controversy, the Investigative Voice staff offers another voice to Baltimore residents.”

Last Wednesday evening, Mr. Janis was his usual peripatetic whirlwind blur of activity. I always like being near Mr. Janis – he makes me feel well dressed.

Making his way to a table immediately to the stage left of the upper room was former Baltimore Police commissioner Ed Norris and I noticed Baltimore City NAACP president Dr. Marvin L. “Doc” Cheatham being swallowed by the crowd off in the distance.

They were all there, in addition to president of the Union Square Community organization, Chris Taylor, City Paper writer ‘Murder Ink’ Anna Ditkoff and former Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon; for a panel discussion on Baltimore crime and the media.


In one way or another, all the panelists may quality as expert witnesses on Baltimore’s public policy approaches to crime.

Mr. Taylor is fresh at the table after being arrested for asking a question, err, ‘impeding an investigation.’ Not, that wasn’t it – the police finally settled upon ‘disturbing the peace’…

In an article by Investigative Voice by Mr. Janis on January 21, 2010, it was revealed that “on the eve of the trial,” prosecutors decided, ‘oh, nevermind,’ and dropped the charges…

The buzz was that the evening would be the first public appearance by former Mayor Dixon after she left office on February 4, 2010 as part of an agreement with prosecutors in the wake of charges of perjury, embezzlement, and the misuse of shoes while in office.

Mayor Dixon presented as her usual thoughtful intelligent self; a bit rested and articulate, yet still with her characteristic chip-on-her-shoulder ever-present edge.

However, in what was an otherwise wise, and indeed scholarly and academic hour-long discussion on the substantive, sociological, institutional, and public policy causality of crime; Mayor Dixon opened with an introduction that this was her second public appearance since she left office.

For the outside observer, it was a ‘cult of personality’ incongruous moment juxtaposed into a conversation about a city plagued with a nationwide perception of being dangerous and victimized with a ‘Mad Max’ or ‘Clockwork Orange’ variety of wonton, meaningless mayhem, and chaos.


In response to Mr. Janis’ opening question about the role of the media with respect to crime in Baltimore City, all the panelists had thoughtful statistics-filled, analytical responses.

Particular poignant was Commissioner Norris’ response that the media fuels a perception of rampant crime in a city that seems remarkably lacking in outrage over the matter that Baltimore is considered to “still be one of the most dangerous places in the U.S.”

In the ensuing discussion, the panelists identified a certain superficial approach to crime in the city - that there is a lack of thoughtful insight and analysis in the media coverage of crime. After the ‘breaking news,’ the public is dropped off a cliff as to the whys, hows and whats of a particular event, as the happy talk continues…

In a weird irony, after an evening of intelligent give-and-take about the underlying systemic causation of crime in the city; traditional media coverage of the event seemed somewhat superficially preoccupied with the public resurrection and apparition of Mayor Dixon.

There was little coverage of the intelligent conversation of the root causes and possible long-term solutions that were brought-out in the panel discussion.

Moreover, Mayor Dixon’s presentation was essentially trivialized in the traditional media as an attempt on her part, to establish her historical legacy of decades of public service.

A keen contemporary new media observer could not have scripted the coverage by traditional media outlets any better to drive home the point as to why information dissemination platforms such as Investigative Voice are attracting so much interest and attention.


In the panel discussion Wednesday evening, Mayor Dixon declared that there needs to be a balance in the media’s coverage of crime...

The former mayor explained her “three-prong” approach to crime, which included gun control, and a focus on the courts and prosecutor’s responsibilities for holding people who commit crimes responsible for their actions.

She explained the environmental, sociological, and educational impacts on crime and possible remedies as well as her third prong of prenatal care, childcare, and the responsibilities of the parents.

So when we talk about a cleaner, greener, healthier, and safer city, it wasn't just empty buzzwords, said Mayor Dixon.

In a follow-up question, Mr. Janis questioned the wisdom of, what is perceived to be, so many unwarranted arrests in which the charges are dropped or later proven to be without merit.

To which Dr. Cheatham explained that “we cannot arrest ourselves out of this (crime) problem.” We have to decide for ourselves, as a community, to address all the aspects of crime, said Dr. Cheatham. “We cannot police ourselves out of this problem.”

Doc Cheatham observed that during the administration of former-Baltimore mayor, now Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, crime did not go down in an era of record arrests.

However, Commissioner Norris was quick to note that many of the examples of unwarranted arrests – zero tolerance – occurred after he left office… “Everyone is referring to a time between my time and Mayor Dixon.”

As the discussion began to analyze comprehensive approaches to crime that go beyond simplistically putting all the blame on the mayor and the police commissioner, Mr. Taylor and Ms. Ditkoff only agreed to a point.

Each explained that the police department does have a significant responsibility. Everyone wants to pass the buck… It’s not my administration or my police department… We’re all responsible for this…, said Mr. Taylor.

“Politicians have destroyed this country,” decried Mr. Taylor.

Ms. Ditkoff volunteered an experience in which she was arrested at 6 a.m. one morning for failure to appear in court. In a story so often heard about Kafkaesque Baltimore experiences; she was not aware of the scheduled court appearance.

As a result, Ms. Ditkoff spend 19 hours in Central Booking and subjected to a humiliating strip-search, in which the door to the room in which she was bent-over and naked, was opened for her to be put on display.

The audience seemed to easily understand the points made Mr. Taylor and Ms. Ditkoff. That is, in a city that is perceived to be inundated with serious crime, why are their so many stories emanated from Baltimore about “a city parking agent … writing fake tickets,” bureaucratic ‘Catch-22’ nightmares, vexatious and meaningless arrests which result in a citizen being released without being charged?

All of which erodes the public’s faith and trust for their safety, further drives a flight of citizens and businesses from the city and perpetuates a perception of hopeless lawlessness and urban decay, while public officials bicker with each other as to who is to blame.

Mayor Dixon stressed a focus on the systemic issues underlying the cycle of crime. We need to develop a strong strategy… A long tern process… and we have to start somewhere. Each of us has to take responsibility and understand that it may not come from state and city government. We’ve got to focus on breaking cycles, articulated Mayor Dixon.

Commissioner Norris explained that in an environment when most Baltimore city school children do not graduate from high school, of failed social programs, and a variety of publicly institutionalized dysfunctia, police officers “work their asses off… the mayor’s office works their asses off…”

The police department (and the mayor’s office) have their role – but it is a role,” and not the role, said Commissioner Norris.

A further discussion developed about public drug policies after Mayor Dixon noted that Baltimore has been a drug-addicted city for 70 years.

Commissioner Norris said that doesn’t think any drugs ought to be illegal… As long as it is illegal, it will be in demand… We didn’t learn from Prohibition.

Detective Bradley backed him up by saying, “We have to take the profit out of drugs.”

After an hour-long discussion in which the role of the media, the police, the mayor’s office and how society needs to step back and take a comprehensive systemic approach to crime; Mr. Janis concluded the panel discussion portion of the evening.

The audience seemed quite satisfied with the in-depth and insightful discussion.

It should not go unnoticed that new media such as the Investigative Voice, is driving an analytical approach to not just what is happening in our community but why it is happening. A point not lost on Ms. Ditkoff, who explained that she always wants to know more than ‘what’ happened. “I want to know how things work.”

In addition to ‘how’ things work – or do not work, in the case of Baltimore - one point emphasized in the panel discussion is that we have to start somewhere to address the issues in our community. It would appear that although the Investigative Voice is only one year old, it represents that new media has taken one big step in the correct direction.

We all look forward to many more birthday celebrations.

####
~~~~~
Photo captions:

“An evening with Investigative Voice” Collage by Kevin Dayhoff February 24, 2010 [20100224 IV party collage 2sm] Investigative Voice celebrated a birthday Wed night By Kevin Dayhoff Feb 25, 2010 http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 #art
http://twitpic.com/15hxtx http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/416112944/an-evening-with-investigative-voice-collage-by http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12159&id=1040426835&saved#!/photo.php?pid=979276&id=1040426835

The Red Maple, at 930 North Charles St., in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, was the scene of a one-year anniversary celebration for Investigative Voice. Photo by Kevin Dayhoff [20100224 IVAnnivPrty (18) c sm 930 Red Maple] Red Maple was scene of 1-yr anniversary celebration for Investigative Voice http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 http://twitpic.com/15kxaf http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/416316780/the-red-maple-at-930-north-charles-st-in-the http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27398&id=1040426835&saved#!/photo.php?pid=979724&id=1040426835

http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 Investigative Voice co-founder Stephen Janis website brief bio: http://tinyurl.com/yf7ohxd http://twitpic.com/15p7oi
http://www.investigativevoice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=50 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25713&id=1040426835&saved#!/photo.php?pid=979196&id=1040426835 http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/416027521/http-tinyurl-com-ye6kkc4-investigative-voice

Investigative Voice Feb 24 Baltimore crime panelists included (left to right): Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Ed Norris, Retired Homicide Detective Irving Bradley, NAACP Baltimore City President Marvin L. 'Doc' Cheatham, Baltimore City Paper Reporter Anna Ditkoff, and Union Square Community Activist Chris Taylor, and former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. Photomontage By Kevin Dayhoff February 24, 2010 [20100224 IVAnnivPrtyPanelcomp sm] Investigative Voice Feb 24 Baltimore crime panelists included http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 http://twitpic.com/15lc5c http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/415008229/investigative-voice-feb-24-baltimore-crime http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/416032763/investigative-voice-feb-24-baltimore-crime http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13661&id=1040426835&saved#!/photo.php?pid=979586&id=1040426835

Investigative Voice co-founder Stephen Janis questions the panel about the role of the media with respect to crime in Baltimore City at an event last Wednesday night hosted by the new media news website. Photo by Kevin Dayhoff February 24, 2010. [20100224 IVAnnivPrty (12)c smJanis] Investigative Voice SJanis qs panel re media role w respect 2 crime n Baltimore http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 http://twitpic.com/15kzi5 http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/414945556/investigative-voice-co-founder-stephen-janis http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=25713&id=1040426835&saved#!/photo.php?pid=979574&id=1040426835

Former Mayor Sheila Dixon makes a point, as Chris Taylor, president of the Union Square Community organization, looks on, at the Investigative Voice panel discussion February 24, 2010 Photo by Kevin Dayhoff [20100224 IVAnnivPrty (11) c sm Dixon] A public resurrection and apparition of former Baltimore Mayor Dixon http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 #photo #writing http://twitpic.com/15hzk3 http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/414823036/former-mayor-sheila-dixon-makes-a-point-as-chris http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=979231&id=1040426835

http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/investigative-voice-celebrated-birthday.html

, , , , , , ,
Investigative Voice celebrated a birthday Wed night By Kevin Dayhoff Feb 25, 2010 http://tinyurl.com/ye6kkc4 #art

Investigative Voice celebrated a birthday Wed night By Kevin Dayhoff Feb 25, 2010 http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/investigative-voice-celebrated-birthday.html
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Monday, October 05, 2009

Inventing La: The Chandlers and Their Times

I’m watching Maryland Public Television – “Inventing La: The Chandlers and Their Times”

http://www.mpt.org/?q=schedule/detail/17904&chdate=2009-10-05

It is a fascinating tale of family, journalistic, and political intrigue… Also of note is the dynamic that in the very early days, up until the late 1950s to early 1960s, the media bias of, at least the LA Times, was conservative, pro-business and Republican… Part of the story of the documentary is the transition of the paper from conservative to straight-down-the-middle, if not a liberal tilt…

The MPT web site says:

This groundbreaking documentary traces the explosive emergence of multi-ethnic, modern Los Angeles during the single-family reign of four publishers of the Los Angeles Times. Each used the newspaper to pursue distinct agendas and impossible dreams, transforming the composition and character of Southern California itself; in the process, seducing a nation and the world with a new kind of American Dream.

20091005 sdosm Inventing LA The Chandlers and Their Times
US st California, US st California Los Angeles, Media Commentary, Newspapers Los Angeles Times, Media TV MPT
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Sunday, March 29, 2009

C Span2 Book TV A Slobbering Love Affair by Bernard Goldberg


C Span2 Book TV A Slobbering Love Affair by Bernard Goldberg

If Almost Astronauts: Thirteen Women Who Dared to Dream does not float your boat; at 4:45 PM - Politics A Slobbering Love Affair: The True and Pathetic Story of the Torrid Romance Between Barack Obama and the Mainstream Media Author: Bernard Goldberg will speak for 1 hr, 4 mins. http://www.booktv.org/schedule.aspx

http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=10278&SectionName=Politics&PlayMedia=No

The author chronicles how mainstream media actively affected the outcome of the 2008 presidential election because, he says, they favored Barack Obama.

About the Author Bernard Goldberg won six Emmy awards for his reporting at CBS News, and is now a Fox News media analyst. He is also author of four books, including New York Times bestseller "Bias."

http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=10278&SectionName=Politics&PlayMedia=No
20090329 C Span2 Book TV A Slobbering Love Affair by Bernard Goldberg
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Some thoughts on “Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun”

Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun” Thursday, November 13, 2008 Baltimore Business Journal - by Julekha Dash Staff



Hat Tip: The Gunpowder Chronicle



November 15th, 2008 - My thoughts, for what they are worth…



Lately the topic of another round of layoffs and adjustments in the business of Tribune and the Baltimore Sun has been the subject of some discussions among several of us who work for Tribune. (See my media disclosure here. I work for Tribune.)



I have also been a critic of the Baltimore Sun’s political coverage in the past and I agree that the widespread perception of bias on the part of the Baltimore Sun has been detrimental to the overall health of the paper.



Moreover I continue to believe that liberal media bias plagues too much of the traditional mainstream media.



However, when I read criticism that involves hyperbolic name-calling, the critic loses the argument with me. (And yes, I am aware of past columns and blog posts in which I have engaged in some name calling… I guess I am a recovering name caller…)



Nevertheless, the editorial board of the Baltimore Sun continues to promote the paper in an unfavorable light. The fact that I disagree with much of the editorial slant does not concern me. What concerns me is that all too often the position of the board is inconsistent, displays situational principles, and is personality driven.



Perhaps this is simply the nature of the beast, but I would much rather see objective consistent community-benefit-driven analysis and commentary, instead of a newspaper editorial board parroting the talking points and spin of a particular individual, political party, or ideology.



To say it clearly, anything Illinois Sen. Barack Obama or Maryland Governor O’Malley = GOOD. Anything conservative, Arizona Sen. John McCain, or former Governor Robert l. Ehrlich = BAD.



If you need a more recent example, take a look at slots: Slots under Governor Ehrlich = BAD. Slots under Governor O’Malley = GOOD. What changed…?



However, the local community newspaper arm of Tribune – The Baltimore Sun, the Patuxent Publishing Company, (Explore Baltimore Co., Explore Carroll Co. - the paper for which I write, and Explore Howard Co.,) continues to deliver quality news and reporting. Of course, part of the reason for that is that those of us on the local community level have a higher level of accountability in that we can often be found at the same pizza parlor and grocery store check out line with the very folks we cover.



Nonetheless, the current economic times are a strain on all businesses, including newspapers, the metros, and the community newspapers alike.



In spite of the bewildering approach of the Baltimore Sun’s editorial board, most all the reporters are quite professional, talented, and objective in their reporting.



In the end they all have families and unless a particular individual displays a personal animus or maliciousness; critics of the paper may benefit from a more constructive engagement with the reporters. And I hate to see anyone lose his or her job – especially these days.



And especially a writer: What do you call a writer without a significant other? Homeless.



There is a growing perception that the management of the Baltimore Sun is trying hard to adjust to the times – with more accessibility and less of the condescending arrogance that has manifested in the corporate personality of the paper in the past.



As an aside; whether I agree or disagree with the columnists, I like the sharp writing of most of the columnists (and most of the reporters) – and I like the paper’s recent foray into blogs. And I like the improvements in the web site.



The debate about blogger journalists versus traditional print media journalists has been getting increasingly boring – see 20070112 Some wisdom about the silliest debate in journalism. There are good and bad in both camps. If you don’t like a particular writer, don’t read them.



I read writers – not headlines - and not papers...



Attempting to promote blogs and new media by carelessly denigrating traditional print media is a disservice to all journalists and journalism and brings all of us down.



Considering the challenges at the local level, in Maryland and the nation; the press has, if anything, an increased responsibility and there is an important role for the Baltimore Sun to play.



We need greater cooperation, collaboration – and we need all hands on deck.



Kevin Dayhoff



******

Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun



Thursday, November 13, 2008



Baltimore Business Journal - by
Julekha Dash Staff


A
Baltimore Sun union said Thursday it expects another round of job cuts at the newspaper, and officials are preparing to fight any future layoffs.



The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild said it expects more job cuts within days. Angie Kuhl, a unit chair with the union, said she does not know how many job cuts are planned. But union officials don’t expect buyouts to be offered, as they have been in the past, and the cuts will impact the newsroom.



Renee Mutchnik, a Baltimore Sun spokeswoman, said Sun management has no comment.



The Sun eliminated 100 positions at the paper in August. It also recently eliminated its standalone Maryland and Business sections as part of an overall redesign.



[…]



Tribune Co., the Sun’s parent, posted a $124 million third quarter loss this month.



The newspaper, Maryland’s largest daily publication, saw its average Sunday circulation number fall 3.9 percent to 350,640 during the period.



Read the entire article here: Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun



Tribune Co. posts $124M loss



http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/11/10/daily53.html



20081113 Some thoughts on
Union says more job cuts coming at the Baltimore Sun

Thursday, May 08, 2008

20080503 Dog park not in Carroll County budget – but ya don’t mess around with Jim

Dog park not in Carroll County budget – but ya don’t mess around with Jim

May 7th, 2008


As if developing the Carroll County Budget is not difficult enough this year, here comes a debate and discussion about a “dog park” that is not even in the budget.

I have often wondered why newspapers print letters to the editor that state things that are not true by most accepted standards… In this case, the item was brought to the commissioners’ attention and they voted it down…

As far as the commentary as to what a paper reports upon and what it does not – that has been an item of discussion since the beginning of newspapers and that debate will continue for eons into the future.

Although I can certainly understand the writer’s frustration, writing so caustically about the paper’s sense of prioritization may very well not be a well-considered strategy.

I suggest that the writer pull out an old copy of the Jim Croce classic, “You Don't Mess Around with Jim” the next time he considers hitting the “send” button.

“You don't tug on Superman's cape/You don't spit into the wind/You don't pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger/And you don't mess around with Jim”

*****

Letters to the editor Saturday, May 03, 2008

Dog park not in county budget

by Carroll County Commissioner Michael D. Zimmer

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/05/03/news/opinion/letters/letters661.txt

Editor:

On April 28 the Times printed a letter to the editor containing inaccurate information regarding county funding for a dog park in our budget process.

The writer was under the mistaken impression that such an appropriation was supported by the Board of Commissioners. This is actually the direct opposite from the truth.

This was a proposal requested by our Parks and Recreation Department, but not recommended by the Budget Department in the recommended budget. Such items receive a direct appeal to the board from the department head and an up or down vote by the commissioners.

In this case when the Parks and Recreation head made his appeal I told him that I could not support such an appropriation under any circumstances and that I was not persuadable on this point.

On April 16 when the board deliberated and voted on various budget requests all three of us voted not to fund the dog park. There were a number of significant proposals from me that occurred at that meeting. As of the writing of this letter the Times has not reported on the content of this meeting.

For example the Times did not report on my suggestion that we offer tax relief during the meeting. It did not report my request to delete a future position from the County Attorney's office and cease having a designated liaison to the General Assembly from the County Attorney's office. And the Times hasn't reported that I suggested defunding the position of Planning and Development Policy Coordinator.

I don't blame the letter writer for not knowing the facts on the dog park being voted down. He's obviously using the Times as his primary news source.

Michael D. Zimmer Eldersburg The writer is a member of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners.

Dog park isn't worth the cost

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/04/28/news/opinion/letters/letters665.txt

Editor:

It was with total dismay and astonishment that I read the article on the county commissioners' support of a dog park costing over $70,000.

A dog park? Talk about government being involved in every aspect of our lives.

This is further evidence that county taxes should be lowered. The commissioners obviously have more money than they know what to do with.

How about giving some of it back to the taxpayers instead of blowing it?

William Yost Westminster