Reading for April 5 Class: When Columnists Go Bad

We will be discussing the Mike Barnicle disaster at the Boston Globe as part of our columnists-gone-wrong discussion for our next class.

It is important that everyone reads the following in order to be prepared. There might be a quiz.

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/98/08/13/MIKE_BARNICLE.html

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/features/98/08/20/MIKE_BARNICLE_STEALS.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/media/july-dec98/columnists_8-24.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/20/us/boston-globe-columnist-resigns-over-authenticity-of-1995-story.html


Be prepared to talk about Barnicle, his career and the role of a prominent columnist at a big paper. You may be asked to defend Barnicle -- or you may have to say why he should have been fired long before he was.

A neat little video

Hey all,

Here's a video I attached to my "Is Google Making us Stoopid" article that you might not get to see. It puts some stuff in perspective, but in youtube form, so we are all more interested. Enjoy. (For some reason it won't fit into the blog, so just click on the video itself and it will take you to youtube)

-Matt

MoDo on Monday Night

Hey Gang,

Go to this site and read ALL 10 entries for Maureen Dowd's 1999 Pulitize Prize for commentary.

If you don't know about Monica Lewinsky, the black dress, Ken Starr and what happened to Bill Clinton, do a little research. If you like it, read some more recent stuff by MoDo.

Please come to class Monday ready to talk and talk and talk about Dowd, her writing style, her effectiveness and what you think after reading her winning entry. Be prepared to talk about what works, what's over the top and what you think about her insider, gossipy style. How would you compare her to Steve Lopez?

It's possible I will ask you to write something in class about her. Hint.

E-mail me if you have any questions.

See you Monday evening. Please send me an e-mail if you won't be in class.

News From Perfesser Green

• Read Is Google Making us Stupid and write a blog post about agreeing or disagreeing with it. Be prepared to discuss the article in class. That means you will have questions and ideas to bring up so we have a discussion.
• Revise your 3/15 assignment if you want.
• Look for Maureen Dowd reading assignments on the blog by Friday.
• Compare and contrast the four Connecticut-based news websites I told you about: New Haven Independent, Connecticut Mirror, Connecticut News Junkie, Ameriborn News. Write a blog post -- for example, how they reported the same story, something you liked on one of the websites, something you strongly disagree with. Write about something where you can link to at least two of the four websites. We will discuss the websites in class, so you better bring some game to class next week.
• You MUST do three blog entries this week. I've given you two of them.
• IF YOU MISS CLASS, you need to contact me, preferably BEFORE you miss class.
• Matt: call me about your makeup assignment.

Don't Miss the Big Vote on Obamacare

March Madness

Hello all,

I appreciate the blog posts. Courtney, Darrell and Ramata -- I've enjoyed your postings. Matt, Kristen and Kels remember I'm looking for around three posts a week. Please don't just post your latest assignment from class.

PLEASE remember to self edit. Carefully re-read and re-edit your blog posts before you hit PUBLISH.

The short Chris Dodd editorials are due before class on Monday. Those of you who missed class (and the assignment) should see me.

Happy spring and see you tomorrow.

Back in Action Tomorrow

Hello Everyone,

I hope you had a good week off.

I'm looking forward to seeing you folks in class tomorrow. Remember to get your assignment in before class. Some of you have been blogging regularly. Remember, the blog will be 20 percent of your grade.

In class tomorrow we will:

• review what we've learned so far
• discuss Mortenson assignment and read our columns
• discuss blogs
• talk about the Chris Dodd Disaster (CDD) assignment: we will read, discuss and prepare for column assignment for next class.

See you.

Rick