Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
'Lizard Brain' Analogy Exposed
Arianna Huffington's theory on Morning Joe Friday was exposed clearly as hypocritical by Joe Scarborough. It involved Lizard Brains. And also, an interesting hope vs. fear analogy.
The Changing Face of Journalism
Cassettes to smart phones
A posting on the WTOP website notes at one point journalists used reel-to-reel tape decks and TeleType machines.
Now, WTOP radio reporter Neal Augenstein is the first in the country to use his iPhone to report, edit and file his broadcast stories directly from the field.
In an attempt to keep up with the perpetually evolving news industry, a Washington, DC summit seeks to better incorporate these cutting-edge tools of the trade.
The Online News Association is holding the meeting through Saturday to discuss how to incorporate modern tools -- such as Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites -- into traditional broadcast and online print news.
Other discussion topics include how to use digital technology to cover a disaster, the hottest smartphone apps for reporters in the field, whether news sites should charge for content, how the digital world is affecting journalistic ethics and training and if those who post online should have to reveal their real name.
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| WTOP photo |
A posting on the WTOP website notes at one point journalists used reel-to-reel tape decks and TeleType machines.
Now, WTOP radio reporter Neal Augenstein is the first in the country to use his iPhone to report, edit and file his broadcast stories directly from the field.
In an attempt to keep up with the perpetually evolving news industry, a Washington, DC summit seeks to better incorporate these cutting-edge tools of the trade.
The Online News Association is holding the meeting through Saturday to discuss how to incorporate modern tools -- such as Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites -- into traditional broadcast and online print news.
Other discussion topics include how to use digital technology to cover a disaster, the hottest smartphone apps for reporters in the field, whether news sites should charge for content, how the digital world is affecting journalistic ethics and training and if those who post online should have to reveal their real name.
KDKA Celebrates Its 90th Birthday
On Tuesday, November 2nd from 9am-3pm in the Great Hall at the Heinz Center: Special historic broadcast. KDKA will celebrate their first historic broadcast on election day in 1920 along with going back through time at KDKA (website). Admission costs apply. Its interesting to note KDKA’s 90th Anniversary Celebration is powered by Westinghouse, original owner of the station. KDKA is now a part of CBS Radio.
KDKA's roots began with the efforts of Frank Conrad who operated KDKA's predecessor 75 watt 8XK from the Pittsburgh suburb of Wilkinsburg, PA. from 1916. Conrad's musical offerings proved unexpectedly popular and his operations continued until his employer, the Westinghouse Electric Company, realized the commercial potential of this new medium and applied for an official broadcasting license.
The KDKA call sign was assigned sequentially from a list maintained for the use of US-registry maritime stations, and on November 2, 1920, KDKA broadcast the US presidential election returns from a shack on the roof of a Westinghouse building in East Pittsburgh. The original broadcast was said to be heard as far away as Canada.
Although KDKA claims to be "the pioneer broadcasting station of the world," the issue is disputed. According to an Wikipedia entry, contenders for initial broadcasts include:
- Charles Herrold of San Jose, California started broadcasting voices (as opposed to Morse Code) in 1909. He used several different call signs over time (FN, SJN, 6XF, and 6XE), but had to shut down during World War I. After the war, he started up again as 6XF/6XE. The station received a commercial license in 1921 and became KQW. The station broadcasts today as AM 740 KCBS, which, like KDKA, is part of the CBS radio station group.
- Lee De Forest's 2XG in the Highbridge section of New York City began daily broadcasts in 1916. Like most experimental radio stations, however, it had to go off the air when the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, and did not return to the air.
- Harold J. Power's 1XE in Medford, Massachusetts was an experimental station that started broadcasting in 1917. It had to go off the air during World War I, but started up again after the war, and began regular voice and music broadcasts in 1919. However, the station did not receive its commercial license, becoming WGI, until 1922.
- 2XN from the City College of New York
- 2ZK in New Rochelle, New York
- 8MK in Detroit, Michigan (now WWJ) which has had regular scheduled daily broadcasts since August of 1920 and is also currently a part of the CBS radio station group.
- WWV the U.S. Government time service, believed to have started 6 months before KDKA
- XWA, Marconi's broadcast station in Montreal, Canada, since 1919 (was CFCF, later CINW and shut down in February 2010)
- W2XQ, now WRUC, Union College, Schenectady, New York
- 9XM, now WHA (AM), University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
- KQV was one of Pittsburgh's five original AM stations, signing on as amateur station "8ZAE" on November 19, 1919, predating KDKA which was granted the distinction of being the nation's first commercially licensed station in 1920. KQV did not receive a commercial license until January 9, 1922, despite having started transmitting three years earlier.
- On August 27, 1920 the Argentina Station started the first transmission from Coliseo Theatre at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Later that station received the name LOR Radio Argentina, and finally LR2 Radio Argentina. That station was in service until 31 December 1997 at 1110 kHz.
Also Read here:
KDKA celebrates 90th at History Center (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Anonymous O’Donnell Post Defended By Gawker
But editor Remy Stern told Michael Calderone at The Upshot that Gawker ran the item because it's "a great story" and pushed back against the misogyny charge, arguing that the alleged incident was worth noting because O'Donnell's private actions”according to the anonymous writer”run counter to her public persona as an advocate of Christian conservative values.
"If it was any politician whose private life diverged from his public life in such an interesting way, we'd be interested in that." Stern said. "It had nothing to do with her being a woman."
Despite the sensational headline—"I Had a One-Night Stand With Christine O'Donnell"—the two never actually had sex. However, the anonymous writer describes O'Donnell's anatomy in detail, which let to some of the backlash.
Read more here.
Also read here:
Behind Gawker’s Christine O’Donnell ‘One-Night Stand’ Story (Forbes.com)
SPUN-employment: Nets Twist Reports
Gallup’s analysis argues things are even worse, with unemployment hitting 10 percent again – a number voters wouldn’t see until the Friday after the election. As Gallup explained, it’s “up sharply from 9.4% in mid-September and 9.3% at the end of August.” That means heartache and struggle across the United States.
However, according newsbusters.com, that’s not the story being told this election. What voters are left with are false impressions from the broadcast news shows – that somehow the worst unemployment in 25 years is not that bad. CNBC’s Steve Liesman called it “self-sustaining job growth,” on NBC’s April 2, 2010 “Nightly News.”That’s also exactly the opposite of how those same networks handled low unemployment during the last mid-term election. Then, with a Republican in the White House, journalists worked hard at undermining the positive news with the possibility that bad things might occur.
Read more here.
Olbermann Unleashes 20 Minute Tirade
On MSNBC Wednesday evening, Keith Olbermann delivers what he calls a “Special Comment” on the Tea Party’s midterm election candidates. In this nearly 20 minute-long segment, the Countdown host recites a long list of the movement’s affronts to progressivism before ending with a plea for all liberals, Democrats, disillusioned Republicans, moderates, and political neutrals to vote against the Tea Party next Tuesday.
At WS: "Give Me Some Pot And Some..."
Reporters from around the country are in San Francisco this week covering the World Series and that means the eyes of the nation are on on us, reports Lori Preuitt at nbcbayarea.com.
If the reporter from our sister station in Dallas is any indication, the country thinks we are potheads.Read more here.
Newy Scruggs from NBCDFW said during his live report that people next to him "are smoking weed." The anchors then asked, "Is it legal there?" Ask that question again next week.
Scruggs didn't do any real trash talking, unless you consider saying Giants fans are high on pot. He quickly added that we were "nice people," but said that was in part because we were "half buzzed out."
The anchors back in Dallas recommended Newy hold his breath.
Newy came back at the following newscast and went even further. He claimed to have found the location of the pot smokers behind a rock on the banks of McCovey Cove and whined, "Police aren't even doing anything!"
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Crist: Bubba Is Influencing the Election
Is Bubba the Love Sponge swaying next week's election?
The syndicated radio host (Bubba the Love Sponge is his real name; he had it legally changed) has been encouraging his listeners, known as "The Bubba Army," to vote for his preferred candidates. Among them: Charlie Crist.
According to browardpalmbeach.com, Bubba's influence is no joke: He consistently ranks high in ratings, and when he ran for Pinellas County sheriff in 2004, he won almost 30 percent of the vote.
Crist, Bubba pointed out, left the Republican Party shortly after siding with teachers and vetoing a controversial bill that would link their pay to student achievement. That, Bubba said, is because he has "'nads." He also cited Crist's efforts to force insurance companies to insure autistic kids, to protect women seeking abortions, and his support for police officers.
Twice this week, Gov. Crist called in to the show, which airs in South Florida on 93.1-FM. He said that whenever the economy gets tough, people get angry, and that "my former party, the far right wing" is capitalizing on that anger. He alluded to the fact that Marco Rubio has a hold on an estimated 40 percent of the vote, with the other 60 percent being split between himself and Kendrick Meek -- to the detriment of both.
"Sixty percent of Floridians don't want Marco Rubio," Crist said. "We need to unite those of us who want common sense."
Read more here.
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| Candidate Kendricks Meek |
According to browardpalmbeach.com, Bubba's influence is no joke: He consistently ranks high in ratings, and when he ran for Pinellas County sheriff in 2004, he won almost 30 percent of the vote.
Crist, Bubba pointed out, left the Republican Party shortly after siding with teachers and vetoing a controversial bill that would link their pay to student achievement. That, Bubba said, is because he has "'nads." He also cited Crist's efforts to force insurance companies to insure autistic kids, to protect women seeking abortions, and his support for police officers.
Twice this week, Gov. Crist called in to the show, which airs in South Florida on 93.1-FM. He said that whenever the economy gets tough, people get angry, and that "my former party, the far right wing" is capitalizing on that anger. He alluded to the fact that Marco Rubio has a hold on an estimated 40 percent of the vote, with the other 60 percent being split between himself and Kendrick Meek -- to the detriment of both.
"Sixty percent of Floridians don't want Marco Rubio," Crist said. "We need to unite those of us who want common sense."
Read more here.
Reality vs. Perception
Persons 12‐34 Use of Radio has Risen and Listening Remains Level
In light of all the chatter about how and whether or not young people use radio today, the Southern California Broadcasters Association (SCBA) asked Bill Rose of Arbitron for an analysis of 12-34 persons' radio listening in the 10 PPM markets that have been in existence since Sept 2008. He tracked changes in % listening and for how long they listened. His findings are based on nearly 5,000 persons 12-34 from just these 10 markets and come from passive measure Portable People Meters rather than questions about people's perception of their media usage habits.
Here are his findings:
"Radio listening among young people age 12-34 has remained steady in the ten PPM markets that have been currency during the past three years. An analysis of these ten PPM markets reveals that the percentage of people age 12-34 who have tuned for five or more minutes during the week (weekly cume rating) has actually grown from an average of 93.0% in September 2008 to 94.9% in September 2010.
In addition, Radio Time Spent Listening has been stable at 10:09 per week in September 2010 up slightly from 10:04 in September 2008.
The stability of Radio listening is evidence of the medium's continued importance among young people and is especially noteworthy considering the highly publicized growth of smart phone usage, social networking and pureplay Internet radio during this span of time."
The Arbitron data is based on what 5,000 people in 10 markets actually did, vs. typically, what 1,500 people nationwide say they did. Building a communications plan using only perception-based data is like building on sand. That's why the advertising business demanded passive electronic measurement of TV and Radio. Arbitron's passive measurement data clearly shows that radio is as vital now as it was in 2008 in the lives of 12-34 year olds.
Here are his findings:
"Radio listening among young people age 12-34 has remained steady in the ten PPM markets that have been currency during the past three years. An analysis of these ten PPM markets reveals that the percentage of people age 12-34 who have tuned for five or more minutes during the week (weekly cume rating) has actually grown from an average of 93.0% in September 2008 to 94.9% in September 2010.
In addition, Radio Time Spent Listening has been stable at 10:09 per week in September 2010 up slightly from 10:04 in September 2008.
The stability of Radio listening is evidence of the medium's continued importance among young people and is especially noteworthy considering the highly publicized growth of smart phone usage, social networking and pureplay Internet radio during this span of time."
The Arbitron data is based on what 5,000 people in 10 markets actually did, vs. typically, what 1,500 people nationwide say they did. Building a communications plan using only perception-based data is like building on sand. That's why the advertising business demanded passive electronic measurement of TV and Radio. Arbitron's passive measurement data clearly shows that radio is as vital now as it was in 2008 in the lives of 12-34 year olds.
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