We have our appointment with Dr. Ed Bell and will tour the new dorm. How will we cover this for our audience?

Voting, voting rights. In my lifetime, it was with pride that Americans could look to their national government and how it stood up for the disenfranchised and the citizen's whose rights were denied by vicious state officials. This latest move by the Bush Administration to move voting rights out of the hands of citizen's is shameful. Ask yourself if YOU would trust John Ashcroft to look out for your rights.t r u t h o u t - Ashcroft Seeking Control of Voting Rights: "But some former Justice voting-rights officials and some election law and civil rights experts said the department's latest position represented a marked philosophical shift. Historically, they said, the department had been aggressive in supporting the idea of private suits as an important tool in fighting discrimination and other ills, even where such rights were not clearly spelled out by legislation.     'Before this administration, I would say that almost uniformly, the Department of Justice would argue in favor of private rights of action ... to enforce statutes that regulate state and local government,' said Pamela Karlan, a professor at Stanford University's Law School.     She said the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 did not originally include a private right to sue state officials who discriminated against aspiring black voters. The Justice Department backed the idea of private suits, nonetheless, in a test case that ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969."

Alt media including blogs and blogging. First from the Inter Press Service News comes an overview of "citizen media" from cellphone smartmobs to blogs and blogging. The author notes the lack of attention in mainstream media to the FBI's confiscation of indymedia servers that I commented on earlier. I was tracking the story as it broke into mainstream media in Australia and Britain, but not the USA. Is it fear that covering the story would be publicizing the competition that put a lid on this story of the trampling of journalistic integrity by a repressive FBI?

Two-dozen websites belonging to Indymedia, a "democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate and passionate tellings of truth," and one of the most well-known "alternative media" organisations were shut down for six days recently. "To date not 'The New York Times', the 'Washington Post' or the 'Los Angeles Times' have seen fit to comment upon it," says Downing. (note: John DH Downing, director of the Global Media Research Centre at Southern Illinois University) "In their cases, it is a classic instance of the selective ethics that permeate corporate mainstream media, and that give the blunt lie to their professions of 'all the news that's fit to print,' the vital role of independence from the state, the scandals of censorship. Nauseating hypocrisy!" he adds.

There is a very good summary of the Sinclair Broadcasting debacle in USA Today that shows how blogs can do what mainstream journalism can't or won't and makes a good case for the symbiotic relationship of professional and citizen reporters.

Alt media including blogs and blogging. First from the Inter Press Service News comes an overview of "citizen media" from cellphone smartmobs to blogs and blogging. The author notes the lack of attention in mainstream media to the FBI's confiscation of indymedia servers that I commented on earlier. I was tracking the story as it broke into mainstream media in Australia and Britain, but not the USA. Is it fear that covering the story would be publicizing the competition that put a lid on this story of the trampling of journalistic integrity by a repressive FBI?

Two-dozen websites belonging to Indymedia, a "democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate and passionate tellings of truth," and one of the most well-known "alternative media" organisations were shut down for six days recently. "To date not 'The New York Times', the 'Washington Post' or the 'Los Angeles Times' have seen fit to comment upon it," says Downing. (note: John DH Downing, director of the Global Media Research Centre at Southern Illinois University) "In their cases, it is a classic instance of the selective ethics that permeate corporate mainstream media, and that give the blunt lie to their professions of 'all the news that's fit to print,' the vital role of independence from the state, the scandals of censorship. Nauseating hypocrisy!" he adds.

There is a very good summary of the Sinclair Broadcasting debacle in USA Today that shows how blogs can do what mainstream journalism can't or won't and makes a good case for the symbiotic relationship of professional and citizen reporters.

Alt media including blogs and blogging. First from the Inter Press Service News comes an overview of "citizen media" from cellphone smartmobs to blogs and blogging. The author notes the lack of attention in mainstream media to the FBI's confiscation of indymedia servers that I commented on earlier. I was tracking the story as it broke into mainstream media in Australia and Britain, but not the USA. Is it fear that covering the story would be publicizing the competition that put a lid on this story of the trampling of journalistic integrity by a repressive FBI?

Two-dozen websites belonging to Indymedia, a "democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate and passionate tellings of truth," and one of the most well-known "alternative media" organisations were shut down for six days recently. "To date not 'The New York Times', the 'Washington Post' or the 'Los Angeles Times' have seen fit to comment upon it," says Downing. (note: John DH Downing, director of the Global Media Research Centre at Southern Illinois University) "In their cases, it is a classic instance of the selective ethics that permeate corporate mainstream media, and that give the blunt lie to their professions of 'all the news that's fit to print,' the vital role of independence from the state, the scandals of censorship. Nauseating hypocrisy!" he adds.

There is a very good summary of the Sinclair Broadcasting debacle in USA Today that shows how blogs can do what mainstream journalism can't or won't and makes a good case for the symbiotic relationship of professional and citizen reporters.

Notes to myself

• GOS=General operations "keep the lights on"
• Project funding-within proj funding make budget-like list of what you need and how much its going to cost. Make it specific for the asks--we need blah,blah bathroom fixtures.
• In-kind support can be easier than getting money outright
Clear your asks with Lona and Tamara because they know what corporations Columbia has connections with already. Share w/their office.
• Corporations--big ones w/structure, under the radar" w/mushy guidelines where it helps if you have a connection with the organization,non-structured small business--these are like in No. Mayfair and working with Marie's.
• Barriers
Communications, finding resources, getting external support.
• 80% of giving is from indivs, the rest is foundations and corporations

Notes to myself

• GOS=General operations "keep the lights on"
• Project funding-within proj funding make budget-like list of what you need and how much its going to cost. Make it specific for the asks--we need blah,blah bathroom fixtures.
• In-kind support can be easier than getting money outright
Clear your asks with Lona and Tamara because they know what corporations Columbia has connections with already. Share w/their office.
• Corporations--big ones w/structure, under the radar" w/mushy guidelines where it helps if you have a connection with the organization,non-structured small business--these are like in No. Mayfair and working with Marie's.
• Barriers
Communications, finding resources, getting external support.
• 80% of giving is from indivs, the rest is foundations and corporations

Notes to myself

• GOS=General operations "keep the lights on"
• Project funding-within proj funding make budget-like list of what you need and how much its going to cost. Make it specific for the asks--we need blah,blah bathroom fixtures.
• In-kind support can be easier than getting money outright
Clear your asks with Lona and Tamara because they know what corporations Columbia has connections with already. Share w/their office.
• Corporations--big ones w/structure, under the radar" w/mushy guidelines where it helps if you have a connection with the organization,non-structured small business--these are like in No. Mayfair and working with Marie's.
• Barriers
Communications, finding resources, getting external support.
• 80% of giving is from indivs, the rest is foundations and corporations

Notes to myself

• GOS=General operations "keep the lights on"
• Project funding-within proj funding make budget-like list of what you need and how much its going to cost. Make it specific for the asks--we need blah,blah bathroom fixtures.
• In-kind support can be easier than getting money outright
Clear your asks with Lona and Tamara because they know what corporations Columbia has connections with already. Share w/their office.
• Corporations--big ones w/structure, under the radar" w/mushy guidelines where it helps if you have a connection with the organization,non-structured small business--these are like in No. Mayfair and working with Marie's.
• Barriers
Communications, finding resources, getting external support.
• 80% of giving is from indivs, the rest is foundations and corporations

Notes to myself

• GOS=General operations "keep the lights on"
• Project funding-within proj funding make budget-like list of what you need and how much its going to cost. Make it specific for the asks--we need blah,blah bathroom fixtures.
• In-kind support can be easier than getting money outright
Clear your asks with Lona and Tamara because they know what corporations Columbia has connections with already. Share w/their office.
• Corporations--big ones w/structure, under the radar" w/mushy guidelines where it helps if you have a connection with the organization,non-structured small business--these are like in No. Mayfair and working with Marie's.
• Barriers
Communications, finding resources, getting external support.
• 80% of giving is from indivs, the rest is foundations and corporations

Notes to myself

• GOS=General operations "keep the lights on"
• Project funding-within proj funding make budget-like list of what you need and how much its going to cost. Make it specific for the asks--we need blah,blah bathroom fixtures.
• In-kind support can be easier than getting money outright
Clear your asks with Lona and Tamara because they know what corporations Columbia has connections with already. Share w/their office.
• Corporations--big ones w/structure, under the radar" w/mushy guidelines where it helps if you have a connection with the organization,non-structured small business--these are like in No. Mayfair and working with Marie's.
• Barriers
Communications, finding resources, getting external support.
• 80% of giving is from indivs, the rest is foundations and corporations

Concrete example of why media consolidation is harmful to the public interest. The Sinclair saga continues...t r u t h o u t - Filmmaker Sues Sinclair over Anti-Kerry Documentary

Tech issues Voting problems surface in Texas.

To: > > From: "Katie Malinski" > > Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 20:28:15 -0500 > > Subject: [V] Fw: [AustinMamas] FW: Electronic voting problems in > > Austin > >   Yesterday a friend voted early at a polling > >   location in Austin.  She voted straight Democratic.  When she did > > the final check, lo and behold every vote was for the Democratic > > candidates except that it showed that she had voted for Bush/Cheney > > for president/vice pres. > >   She immediately got a poll official.  On her vote, it was > > corrected. She called the Travis County Democratic headquarters.  > > They took all her information.  They told her that she wasn't the> > first to report a similar incident and that they are looking into > > it. > >   So, check before you leave the polling booth, and if anything is > > wrong, get it  corrected immediately. > >   Report any irregularities to your local Democratic headquarters. > >   Go Kerry/Edwards.  Let's win this election fair and square! > >

Texas will vex us. News from Texas and it is pathetic. As a voter since 1972, I don't think I could correctly vote with a punchcard ballot without the template. All those little tiny numbers. Bureaucrats are taking away our civil liberties and attacking our electoral process which is a bedrock of our nation. Women have died for the right to vote and it enrages me to see little people in petty positions of power act like there is nothing that can be done about egregious policies like the one described in my friend's email. She is a real person, and her parents are real Texans. Watch out for YOUR vote this year. First they take our votes, then it will be the rest of our rights.

My elderly parents requested and received mail-in ballots, which elderly or disabled persons are allowed to do. They were completely taken aback, however, when they received in the mail the exact same punch ballot that you use in the voting booth. They are expected to figure out which numbers to select and punch out the tiny little rectangular chads by hand, without the benefit of the template given by the voting booklet in the voting booth. Furthermore, the instructions say that it is a misdemeanor for anyone to help them vote unless they are physically unable to punch the ballot or unless they cannot see to punch the ballot. I don’t know about you, but I think it is ridiculous to expect elderly and disabled people to be able to vote using this method. In my opinion, this is tantamount to denying them the right to vote. Priya Hudson-DiTraglia

As an academic, I can often argue without concern about sticky economic details, however, the fact is, my students will need to make a living when they graduate, and the issues addressed in this report get at some of problems in a converged world of work. Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits

P.O.V. So, here is the weblog for an experimental performance art event that I am taking part in. It is in some sense about "Slow Journalism" but also how representations relate to the thing or event represented. This will be a departure from the journalistic canon, but maybe that canon is more a conception than a reality.Hayley Newman: Slow Journalism

Technology & voting. This is going to be one of the big election stories again. Students, who are likely to be first-time voters, are going to be especially at risk. If you can check for your name and polling place before Election Day, make a print out and take it with you to show your polling officials. This story outlines many of the problems and possible snags ahead. t r u t h o u t - Weston Kosova | A Clean Count? Using "Clusty" a new search engine from Vivismo, I < ahref="http://clusty.com/search?query=find polling place by state">aggregated the "Find my polling place" sites from many states. If you don't find your state listed here, then try "find polling place [your state]" in your search engine.

Free speech. Is the US reaching out with Big Brother's grasp? BBC NEWS | Technology | US seizes independent media sites

Spam. Here is an idea that seems to make sense and would cut down on spam. Spam: Leave it to the sender | Tech News on ZDNet

New tech. Podcasting is an idea that will catch on quickly. Why not make your own news show for podcasting? Wired News: Podcasts: New Twist on Net Audio

Blogs, blogging. Latest news on the sequestered servers. This is a story that is making its way from the indymedia sites to the blogosphere and may make it to the mainstream in the USA. It has been covered in Australia, Canada and the UK by mainstream media. AxisofLogic/ Civil Rights/Human Rights

Free press hints that Internet could be shut down as tight as Big Media have been evident. Dan Gilmor, Lawrence Lessig, the EFF and others suggested that it was only a matter of time before Big Media or Big Government put the squeeze on the "free' Internet. Here it is. The story is just breaking, ironically enough on the same day as final debate of this USA presidential race. The news in brief is that the F.B.I. issued an order to Rackspace, the ISP for indymedia, and took away several of its servers. This took down some Internet radio stations and some indymedia sites are down. The servers were physically located in the U.K. The order was served on Rackspace, so indymedia doesn't know exactly why the servers were seized. The story is breaking across the indymedia sites, and in slashdot and other tech publications, however it is also beginning to enter Big Media in Australia, U.K. and Canada. Will the press in the U.S. present this story or just ignore it? Time will tell. The International Federation of Journalists has spoken out about this action, claiming it is harassment, not law-enforcement. In recent months, the FBI tried to get indymedia in Nantes to remove a photo of an undercover agent from its server. The New York police served indymedia with subpoenas designed to prevent problems with the Republican National convention. Another brush with the Feds " may be linked to a September 30 court case in San Jose California, in which Indymedia San Francisco and two students at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania successfully opposed an application by Diebold Election Systems Inc to remove documents claiming to reveal flaws in the design of electronic voting machines which are due to be used widely in the forthcoming US Presidential election." says the IFJ statement. International Federation of Journalist's statement about the server confiscation. Type "indymedia rackspace server fbi" into Google news to follow the story as it moves from the e-world into the blogosphere and beyond. OOPs, while I was posting, the first mainstream media story was posted Star-Telegram in Texas.

Blogs, blogging. The difference between conservative people who use blogs and bloggers... Wired News: Prof Pursued by Mob of Bloggers

Puppet sex is bad. Puppet violence, especially if it happens to anti-administration critics is okay. What a sick set of values the movie industry seems to uphold. Loving, bad. Hating, good. What do you think?CNN.com - 'Team America' cuts puppet sex, gets R - Oct 6, 2004: "Barbie"

RSS RSS, aka, "webfeeds" comes of age as a major publication begins to present them online. Using an RSS newsreader (I have posted lists of them previously) you can set yourself up to get info from the Guardian customized to your interests. This is like having a wire service of your own. If you have been ignoring RSS, it is probably time to dig in and learn about it. See how the Guardian is providing webfeeds hereGuardian Unlimited | The Guardian

Covering Iraq. Here is a follow-up on report Farnaz Fassihi's email from Iraq. She is a reporter for Wall Street Journal who's been told to take a vacation until after the election. Her email to some friends has become a global news story overnight. ctnow.com - Home Page

Polls, polling. Here is an explanation of polling from electoral-vote.com a site that is kept by a Kerry supporter who sets out his methods so that one can judge if the site is presenting material fairly. This discussion of how polls are conducted and the intricacies of sampling is vital to understanding how poll results can be skewed or presented in biased ways.

And, from Gallup's own website, their FAQ on surveys and polls. Frequently Asked Questions

Polls, polling How to report polls. NCPP - National Council on Public Polls

Polls, polling. I am taking up a new thread because of the way it seems polls are being shifted from analytic tools that provide a reflection or snapshot of a moment in time, to blatantly political instruments.

In grad school, I studied statistics and how to use them and how not to use them with professors like Houston Stokes and Herb Walberg. The current state of reporting on political polls has raised several red flags for me.

The way margin of error and confidance interval are bandied about often presents a "winner" in a poll that really shows a tie. This CJR article has a fascinating look at Canadian reporting on polls, where more information about how the poll can accurately be interpreted is included.

Another troubling issue that I am just beginning to track was brought to me by a student who works for a local radio station. In Illinois, the Senate race and Presidential race were initially reported to be very one-sided, and essentially, not contested or in doubt. This was causing local broadcasters (radio and television) to feel they were having a revenue shortfall owning to a dearth of political ads. The curious student asked if radio or television stations could sponsor polls to make the predicted outcome of certain races appear closer than they really are.

Using legitimate sampling techniques such as stratified samples, pollsters certainly can conduct a poll where data isn't manufactured, but where the basic assumptions of the sample render the results meaningless or misleading. Without proper explanation of the underpinnings of sampling, of margin of error and confidence intervals, the reporting of such poll results would be biased and unfair whether that was deliberate or based on sloppy reporting. Anyway, this article provides a basis for understanding how error of measure and confidence interval ought to be presented to one's audience. More on this topic to follow. CJR Campaign Desk: Archives

Blogs, blogging. Here is a balanced perspective on old and new styles of journalism.Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/26/2004 | Center Square | Cries of 'media bias' hide sloppy thinking

Blogs, blogging. Tensions could be a result of self-censorship among mainstream media journalists who work for big corporations. Read on for more. OJR article: CBS Scandal Highlights Tension Between Bloggers and News Media

Disruptive technology. As McLuhan noted, new developments like this are often invisible to the society they transform. Broadcasters might think about this for awhile. It won't wait for them to figure it out.Between the Lines » PODcasting; death knell for traditional broadcasting? - ZDNet.com

Elections, politics. Here is a transcript of the first debate between Kerry and Bush, from 9/30/04.t r u t h o u t - FEATURE: Bush v. Kerry: The Full Debate Transcript