Can We Fix the Local News Crisis, Margaret Sullivan Asks
In her new book “Ghosting the News,” Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan outlines how local newspapers are being devastated and how we can stop the bleeding.
All posts by James Smathers
Tensions Rise as Twitter and Facebook Confront Trump’s Inflammatory Rhetoric Differently
After Twitter labeled a statement from President Trump for “glorifying violence,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his decision to leave Trump’s post undisturbed.
After Trump Suggests Disinfectant Remedy, Renewed Calls for Networks to Stop Carrying Briefings Live
A group of journalism and media professors circulated an open letter to the heads of the major news networks imploring them to stop airing President Trump’s press briefings live.
The News Industry’s Coronavirus Crisis and How to Survive it
Over the past 15 years, the newspaper industry has faced a constant problem: declining revenue. Aside from increases for the big three—Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal—after the 2016 election (dubbed the “Trump Bump”), the industry has used slash-and-burn tactics to stay
Facebook Unveils Unprecedented ‘Supreme Court’ For Content Regulation
This summer, Facebook will be unveiling its long-awaited oversight board, which will adjudicate content that is flagged by users for review. The unprecedented regulatory entity will operate independently of Facebook, the company says.
Glenn Greenwald’s Prosecution in Brazil Raises Press Freedom Concerns
Two weeks ago, American journalist Glenn Greenwald was charged with “cybercrimes,” by the Brazilian government. Press advocates have criticized the charges as “an outrage” and “a clear threat to press freedom.” Last year, Greenwald was part of a team that published articles exposing private conversations
With Biden and Sanders Feud, Specter of Doctored Videos Looms Large
A week-long feud between the Biden and Sanders campaigns over Social Security boiled over when a Sanders speechwriter made a false claim about Biden’s support for Republicans efforts to gut the program, and when Biden retaliated by alleging that a video of his remarks had been “doctored.”
Unfazed By Criticism, Bloomberg Floods Airwaves With Advertising Blitz
Less than a month into his presidential campaign, billionaire Michael Bloomberg has spent more than $100 million on television and digital advertising, potentially upending the Democratic field and laying waste to the traditional fundraising process.
Google to Limit Micro-Targeting on the Basis of Political Affiliation
In the midst of growing pressure on technology companies to regulate political advertising ahead of the 2020 election, Google announced last week it will limit advertisers’ ability to micro-target users on the basis of their political affiliations.
The MediaPod – #01
Editor-in-Chief Celine Castronuovo, Podcast Director Michael Kohler, Editor-at-large Rob Cline and politics writer James Smathers relaunch The MediaPod series by discussing the media’s role in the impeachment process, the social media platform political ad wars, billionaires in the 2020 news cycle, and press freedom during recent military