Morning Reading List, 08.15.08

Good morning Washington. Got a blind item, interesting link, funny note, comment, birthday, anniversary or anything of the sort for Morning Reading List? Drop us a line or let us know in the tips box below. We've got your morning mix of media Muesli after the jump... On this day in 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte was born. And on this day in 1969, Woodstock opened its "doors." Did you know that Obama once worked for the New York Times? This is a close one, but you think most PR types flaks are good at what they do. And you'd rather cover the Democratic convention than the Republican one. Thursday was the birthday of Tim Carney and Matt J. Lauer. Today: Vernon Jordan (73), Phyllis Schlafly (84) and Stephen Breyer (70) (also: Ben Affleck [36]). This weekend sees the birthday of Courtney Mabeus, Ron Bonjean, Ramesh Ponnuru and Melissa McCart. Check out the Dumb Twitter of the day. Jay Rosen has a great idea: "Getting a lot of messages calling for a mash-up of Factcheck.org, PolitiFact.com, WP's Fact Checker so we know which campaign misleads more." Howard Kurtz tweets, "I'm going to barf if I see one more segment of useless veep speculation. No one knows anything except those who are keeping it zipped." In response to Kurtz, Jay Rosen tweets, "You know how I read all the useless VP speculation? As a statement: 'we in the campaign press are out of ideas. So we do this.'" Today's "Angry Journalist" rant of the day: "i'm angry because cnbc, cnn and every other outlet out there is reporting that gannett is about to cut 1,000 positions, but our editors wonâ€™t address it." Check out today's White House Photo of the Day from Time. Quickly navigate Morning Reading List: REVOLVING DOOR | NEWSPAPERS | TV | ONLINE MEDIA | NEWS NOTES | JOBS REVOLVING DOOR A release announced, "Senator Rockefeller is pleased to welcome his new Communications Director Jamie Smith. Smith joins Senator Rockefeller's staff after her time as the Traveling Press Director for the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign. Prior to this post, Smith served as Communications Director for former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and The Albright Group. Smith replaces Wendy Morigi who is currently working as the national security spokesperson in the Presidential Campaign." A tipster tells us, "Phillip Blanchard, the former Post copy editor who runs Testy Copy Editors, said on his Facebook page that he's going to work for a newspaper in Abu Dhabi." Human Events Editor Jed Babbin says freelance writer Rowan Scarborough, a veteran newspaper man and author of books on Donald Rumsfeld and the CIA, has agreed to write regular national security articles for Human Events. Scarborough will also write for other publications. A tipster tells us that former hottie, Lila Merideth, AP, won a Radio Television News Director Association (RTNDA) fellowship. Top of post NEWSPAPERS "Helen Thomas stars in new Kennedy doc" Recovering Journalist writes, "The Associated Press has taken a beating in some quarters lately over perceptions -- largely misguided, I believe -- that it's somehow competing online with its newspaper members. Not only does this reflect a misunderstanding of what the AP does, but a lot of critics seem to forget that AP is owned by those newspapers. It's a rare example of newspaper ownership of a savvy online player, and a lot better than the alternative (think: Reuters. Or Google)." Romenesko reports, "A chatter asks Anne Kornblut what she thinks about Jack Shafer's suggestion that news orgs boycott the conventions. The Washington Post reporter responds: 'I have to agree somewhat. My feeling is that in tough economic times -- when some papers, though mercifully not so much at the Post, are closing down whole bureaus and covering foreign news less -- we should send everyone out with laptops to find actual news rather than to hang out at a canned event.'" Washington Post's Anne Kornblut was asked in yesterday's chat if she received an apology from the Clinton camp. She responded: "Yes, well, I'm not sure this is quite how one wants to get famous, you know? It was a very unfortunate incident (we'll post a link to the Atlantic piece so people who don't know what we're talking about can read it) involving a lie one of the press folks told to undermine a story I had written. I didn't get an apology from the original source, but the campaign manager, Maggie Williams, offered a very kind one. And my bosses here at the Post were beyond wonderful in backing me up." Harper's has "More Hot Air From David Broder on Speaking Fees" Romenesko reports, "McClatchy institutes company-wide wage freeze" NPR's Talk of the Nation looks at, "The National Enquirer broke the John Edwards extramarital affair story, two years ago, yet many news organizations didn't report it until he admitted it in an interview, last week. Should the media have covered it earlier?" Marie Claire asks, "Will a dogged group of college students in D.C. solve the grisly murder of journalist Danny Pearl before the FBI does?" Post intern Olga Ivanova writes, "I wish I could fly back to Russia. I have been in the United States for a year, and I am studying and working here to get experience in American journalism, known worldwide for its independence and professionalism. But in recent days it has felt as though I am too late, that the journalism of Watergate is well behind us and that reporting is no longer fair and balanced." Top of post TV A release announced, "According to Nielsen Media Research for the week of August 4, 2008, ABC News' 'Nightline' placed second for the fifth week in a row among the key Adults 25-54 demographic, outperforming CBS' 'Letterman.' This marks 'Nightline's' fifteenth victory over 'Letterman' among the key A25-54 demographic this season. Additionally, 'Nightline' grew among both total viewers and Adults 25-54 compared to last year while the competition declined. 'Nightline' also grew week to week. And 3rd quarter to date, 'Nightline' again increased while the competition declined." MSNBC announced, "MSNBC will telecast live coverage of the Saddleback Civil Forum with Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, moderated by Pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church, Saturday, 8-10 p.m. ET. This is the first time the presidential candidates have appeared at the same event since securing their parties' nominations. MSNBC's coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET Saturday with a special edition of 'Hardball,' anchored by Andrea Mitchell from Washington D.C., followed by a special edition of 'Race for the White House' at 6 p.m. ET, anchored by David Shuster. Mitchell will anchor 'Hardball' at 7 p.m. ET, leading into coverage of the forum, 8-10 p.m. ET." A NBC release announced, "According to Nielsen Media Research data, 'Meet the Press' was the most-watched Sunday morning public affairs program, winning the week ending Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008 in all categories. Due to Olympic programming, 'Meet the Press' had lower coverage of 89% and aired out of the usual time slot in many areas. The Brokaw-moderated program was No. 1, averaging 3.354 million total viewers" TVNewser reports, "B&C's Robert Marich talked with CNN exec Nancy Lane about the network's domestic newsgathering expansion and the new APJs (all-platform journalists). The 10 new bureaus across the country will not only deliver content to CNN, CNN.com and Headline News but to TV stations across the country. 'Our affiliates have asked us for more local items because they've gone hyperlocal themselves,' Lane says." "Three Cable News Nets To Air Saturday's Presidential Forum," reports TVNewser. PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler asks, "The Edwards Confession: Unfit for NewsHour Viewers?" TVNewser reports, "Fox News Gives Up Two Days of The Factor For The Candidates" Huffington Post's Mayhill Fowler asks, "Who Is Mary Matalin?" For more on Matalin, Slate's Timothy Noah writes, "When political hacks edit books." Top of post ONLINE MEDIA Arianna Huffington announced, "We are rolling out our first local version of The Huffington Post today. We've decided to start with Chicago because it's always been a great news town -- offering a vibrant mix of politics, sports, business, music, food, and urban life." From the release: "Passionate locals and former natives contributing to the site include John Cusack, Jamie Gertz and Lynn Sweet." Washington City Paper's City Desk is "Just Asking: Which prolific local blogger is also an accomplished break-dancer? Spotted doing a perfect worm on the floor of a bar that would give it all away if I said the name." Check out CQ's newly launched CQ Floor Video. Check it out here. Jay Rosen tweets, "So I heard from Pro Publica after suggesting they specialize in 'national explainers.' ... Lunch next week to talk ideas." SPJ announced, "Being a reporter today requires a number of different skills. Whether its blogging, digital photography, Web design or podcasting, today's journalist must be prepared for the digital age and the constantly evolving media landscape. The 2008 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference has the kinds of new media training workshops that you and your staff need to remain abreast of the latest in media technology." For more info, click here. Top of post NEWS NOTES Gawker reports, "Beijing Olympics World's Biggest Ever Gathering Of Hack Reporters!" Pew Weekly News Interest Index shows, "The China Olympics are catching on with the American public and attracting a sizeable news audience. A majority of Americans say they are watching at least some of the Olympic coverage. Public interest in the Beijing games is comparable to that of the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney; yet substantially lower than when the games were held in Atlanta in 1996." Bob Collins News Cut reports, "Like the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game, the lament that there's no news at a political convention officially kicks off the convention coverage season." Top of post JOBS U.S. News & World Report is looking for a Data Researcher. Wonkette is looking for an intern. Center for American Progress, Campus Progress is looking for a Online Communications Associate, Campus Progress. Carnegie Endowment is looking for a Magazine Circulation Assistant. BNA is looking for a Reporter/Editor. Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries is looking for an Associate Editor. Top of post Hat Tips: DCRTV, TVNewser, IWantMedia, Romenesko, MediaBistro, JournalismJobs, JournalismNext, Mic Check Radio, New York Times' On This Day

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Morning Reading List, 08.15.08

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