Today's Star features an intriguing article that examines how MSM is starting to wake up to the fact that many people are turning towards the internet as their #1 source for news - Papers boosting their online "brand".
The Star itself is focussing more attention on ad revenue generated from interest-specific sites, which is also an area that has attracted many bloggers.
As for the print version, I think it will continue although subscriptions will probably decline over time as downloads to personal portable devices rise in popularity.
Another area that will likely grow is the option of a subscription to an ad-free internet zone, embellished with extra features not available on the free site. This is where I think the Globe is behind the times with most of their stories under subscriber lock. It discourages Bloggers from linking to their articles, which decreases traffic to their ad-revenue generated sites. If they were more media-savvy, they'd have both.
Can bloggers and MSM co-exist? Undoubtedly most political blogs are dependent on MSM, and I'll be the first to admit it.
However, I do see a symbiotic relationship emerging as bloggers drive traffic to MSM internet sites and further discussion surrounding their editorials and news items. Some folks may even be encouraged to pick up the print version due to a Blogger's urging.
Yesterday, I was told by a well-known MSM reporter that he has a "problem with bloggers because they are not trained reporters, and frequently spread misinformation due to their reliance on speculation and assumptions driven by their personal, dogmatic agendas..."
Well with all due respect, I don't think bloggers have a monopoly on that one, sir.
Showing posts with label MSM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSM. Show all posts
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
When is CP going to correct the bribe story?
On Monday the Canadian Press released a story stating that Alyn Waage said that Brenda Martin advised him by letter of a demand by Mexican officials for $500,000 to be able to get out of prison.
Funny thing is, it's not true according to Brenda Martin herself who supposedly told Charles Rusnell, who then mentioned it on Tuesday's Charles Adler show.
You can hear it yourself by checking out CJOB's audio vault, and selecting Tuesday, March 25 at around the 1:40 p.m. mark. (H/T Orville who's been right on top of this story, and Peter 12 in comments at DMB)
Rusnell clearly says on the tape that Brenda told him that she has never been asked directly to pay a bribe... That it doesn't work that way anyhow - it's all done through a law firm.
So there may be a nuance of truth somewhere along the line, but the con man's version of the story is shaky at best. So where's the update, CP?
Meanwhile, a couple of MP's are still perplexed by the $500,000 bribe allegation.
Why is it so hard to get the facts, and why weren't Waage's allegations verified before the story was released?
If I wanted fiction, I'd have bought a novel.
Funny thing is, it's not true according to Brenda Martin herself who supposedly told Charles Rusnell, who then mentioned it on Tuesday's Charles Adler show.
You can hear it yourself by checking out CJOB's audio vault, and selecting Tuesday, March 25 at around the 1:40 p.m. mark. (H/T Orville who's been right on top of this story, and Peter 12 in comments at DMB)
Rusnell clearly says on the tape that Brenda told him that she has never been asked directly to pay a bribe... That it doesn't work that way anyhow - it's all done through a law firm.
So there may be a nuance of truth somewhere along the line, but the con man's version of the story is shaky at best. So where's the update, CP?
Meanwhile, a couple of MP's are still perplexed by the $500,000 bribe allegation.
Why is it so hard to get the facts, and why weren't Waage's allegations verified before the story was released?
If I wanted fiction, I'd have bought a novel.
* * * *
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Losing patience with the deniers*
* Denier - Anyone who crosses David Suzuki.
Tomorrow, Kyoto überkop David Suzuki will use a news conference in Ottawa in another attempt to shame the Federal Government into including in its budget a "carbon tax or carbon trading system to cut greenhouse gas emissions".
If that doesn't work there's always jail.
Meanwhile, Kate has highlighted two excellent columns in today's Sun. Angelo Persichilli asks for some truth from the media about how much environmental changes will cost us and how effective (or ineffective) they're likely to be - Science and politics overlap the truth.
The ever-witty Lorrie Goldstein explains how the 'Suzuki Nation' attempts to shame us lest we dare complain about the high costs of going green and how we're being hoodwinked into thinking that something might actually be accomplished in the bargain - It's green fever madness!
Best line:
But Kate's got a few little gems of her own as she exposes the hypocrisy of jouralists who pretend to care about the environment:
Brilliant stuff, Kate!
So as Saint Suzuki gets on the media pulpit tomorrow to whip up his congregation into another lynch-mob frenzy, just remember that there are a few truthful media pundits left.
Cherish them - before they join Harper in the gallows.
* * * *
Tomorrow, Kyoto überkop David Suzuki will use a news conference in Ottawa in another attempt to shame the Federal Government into including in its budget a "carbon tax or carbon trading system to cut greenhouse gas emissions".
If that doesn't work there's always jail.
Meanwhile, Kate has highlighted two excellent columns in today's Sun. Angelo Persichilli asks for some truth from the media about how much environmental changes will cost us and how effective (or ineffective) they're likely to be - Science and politics overlap the truth.
The ever-witty Lorrie Goldstein explains how the 'Suzuki Nation' attempts to shame us lest we dare complain about the high costs of going green and how we're being hoodwinked into thinking that something might actually be accomplished in the bargain - It's green fever madness!
Best line:
...And finally in crazytown ... Ottawa ... where, amongst so many other absurdities on the environmental front, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, a man who can't control his caucus, has a plan to control the climate...
But Kate's got a few little gems of her own as she exposes the hypocrisy of jouralists who pretend to care about the environment:
...But let's back up a little, for this is the end of civilization as we know it, and they're apparently convinced of that. A planetary emergency, no less.From SDA: Y2Kyoto - The Twilight Zone.
How does one convinced of impending planetary doom get up in the morning to work in the industry they do - an industry that employs vast numbers of people to travel the country via commercial jet and automobile, that sustains huge media complexes clogged to the ceilings with electricity consuming CO2-belching technology, that hauls tons of satellite equipment to produce on-the-scene reporting?
That indulges in the broadcasting of sporting events? And entertainment "news"?
"We interrupt this report on the last remaining meter of Arctic sea ice to bring you live footage of Britney Spears' entourage leaving the hospital ... John, you're in the helicoptor, what can you tell us?"
When it comes to curtailing wasteful practices and excessive C02 emissions, shouldn't they be among the first to go?
Brilliant stuff, Kate!
So as Saint Suzuki gets on the media pulpit tomorrow to whip up his congregation into another lynch-mob frenzy, just remember that there are a few truthful media pundits left.
Cherish them - before they join Harper in the gallows.
* * * *
Monday Update: Halls of Macadamia - "Federal Carbon Tax Proposed".
Lorne Gunter - Forget Global Warming: Welcome to the new Ice Age.
For further background, please check out Lorrie Goldstein's previous column, "Green taxes put us in the red". Sun articles don't stay online forever so read it while you can. Some memorable lines:
Lorne Gunter - Forget Global Warming: Welcome to the new Ice Age.
For further background, please check out Lorrie Goldstein's previous column, "Green taxes put us in the red". Sun articles don't stay online forever so read it while you can. Some memorable lines:
In reality, there's no way governments can or will make "Big Business" pay more for disgorging carbon into the atmosphere and heating up our planet.
Obviously, they'll just pass along the added costs to their captive customers -- us...
...It's the part the charitable David Suzuki glosses over when he rants (non-partisanly, of course) about how we should throw politicians such as Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper in jail, or out of office, for doing nothing about global warming for the past two years and ... uh ... what? ... replace him with the Liberals who did nothing for 12?
...B.C. will bribe taxpayers with $100 of their own money, just before it introduces its escalating carbon tax July I, which it promises to keep "revenue neutral" via other tax cuts.
You can decide, gentle reader, on the likelihood of that promise being kept over the long term, but early skeptics (should we jail them for climate change denial?) include B.C.'s NDP and Green Party.
On the other hand, The Suzuki Foundation and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce both pronounced themselves pleased.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Greg Weston makes me gag
Greg Weston's hostility and vitriol directed at the PMO has reached a new low - PM makes 'em gag.
Pull-eeze. Public servants are supposed to appear non-partisan. A few years ago, I was at a large family get-together, and wanted to talk politics with a relative who works for Elections Canada. He shied away from the discussion citing a need to be non-partisan. And that was a Liberal Government, Greg. At a family party. Not even a public forum.
So go find something else to whine about.
...Even letters to the editor that may be critical of The Conservative Truth are apparently out.
"If you identify yourself as a Canadian Grain Commission employee in a letter to the editor that criticizes government policy relating to (the commission), you could create a perception that your views of government policy are not impartial, and that you may not be able to follow or apply government policy in an impartial manner."
Translation: By all means write to the paper, and be sure to check the want ads for your next job opportunity...
Pull-eeze. Public servants are supposed to appear non-partisan. A few years ago, I was at a large family get-together, and wanted to talk politics with a relative who works for Elections Canada. He shied away from the discussion citing a need to be non-partisan. And that was a Liberal Government, Greg. At a family party. Not even a public forum.
So go find something else to whine about.
* * * *
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
More rumours emerge
Today's Globe cites an 'anonymous source' as having some inside information on the Afghan detainee controversy - Detainee fallout: take few, free quickly. (H/T National Newswatch)
How is it that the Globe can publish operational security details? Don't they know that the Taliban can read?
But the Post reports that Harper calls this information "operational security":
Politically, it would be to his advantage to disclose the information and be 'transparent' about the whole process, so there must be a reason to keep details on a need-to-know basis.
And so just who is this 'well-placed source' and why did he feel he needed to bypass national security and the safety of our troops to get this story to the Globe? And how do we know it is true? How can we check?
Where's the accountability?
How is it that the Globe can publish operational security details? Don't they know that the Taliban can read?
...One well-placed source who spoke to The Globe and Mail Monday on condition of anonymity said that, in addition to being told that Canadian detainees were being held at Kandahar Air Force base, he understood some insurgents detained in joint Canadian Forces-Afghan National Army combat operations were being turned over to the Afghan military in a “grey zone” action.
He said he has been told that Canadians have been content in some cases to allow operations to be labelled as Afghan-led military proceedings. Thus, detainees passed into Afghan military hands with no records kept...
But the Post reports that Harper calls this information "operational security":
...Citing "operational security" and the desire not to tip their hand to the Taliban, Mr. Harper and his Cabinet refused yesterday to discuss what was being done now with detainees...
Politically, it would be to his advantage to disclose the information and be 'transparent' about the whole process, so there must be a reason to keep details on a need-to-know basis.
And so just who is this 'well-placed source' and why did he feel he needed to bypass national security and the safety of our troops to get this story to the Globe? And how do we know it is true? How can we check?
Where's the accountability?
* * * *
Related: Don Martin has a great column today - Harper reveals a humble side. Well worth the read. As a sidebar he muses:
Well, I'm no military expert. I'd love to hear some theories though.
As for the rest of Martin's column, I totally agree. If Harper can continue with this approach to be open to compromise, show his softer side, and refrain from the angry outbursts in Question Period, I believe he would be able to achieve his majority. This is the kind of attitude that can sway female voters.
Perhaps like a fine wine, Stephen Harper only needed a chance to age a bit and mellow.
(Nobody has satisfactorily explained why revealing the status of our detainees is a national security concern, particularly when that information is released routinely by our allies. After all, the Taliban have rarely hit the massive Kandahar Airfield's outskirts with long-range mortar fire. How on Earth would they stage a rescue of their terrorist buddies from an undisclosed spot deep inside the heavily fortified base? Answer: Only if they want to die in the attempt.)
Well, I'm no military expert. I'd love to hear some theories though.
As for the rest of Martin's column, I totally agree. If Harper can continue with this approach to be open to compromise, show his softer side, and refrain from the angry outbursts in Question Period, I believe he would be able to achieve his majority. This is the kind of attitude that can sway female voters.
Perhaps like a fine wine, Stephen Harper only needed a chance to age a bit and mellow.
* * * *
Tuesday Update: Newstalk 570's Jeff Allan just reminded the listening audience of this World War ll phrase - "loose lips sink ships".
Raphael has a theory. Check it out.
CNEWS - Canada would be first nation to abandon Afghanistan.
CTV - PM defers to military to disclose prisoner info. Check out the comment from "Army Wife".
Wednesday Update: Steve Janke - Globe and Mail backs off the furious Rick Hillier story.
Raphael has a theory. Check it out.
CNEWS - Canada would be first nation to abandon Afghanistan.
CTV - PM defers to military to disclose prisoner info. Check out the comment from "Army Wife".
Wednesday Update: Steve Janke - Globe and Mail backs off the furious Rick Hillier story.
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