Mediaverse®

On The Memphis Business Journal (The Wrap)

2009-12-08T17:24:00.000-06:00

In October, to counter a report that the nation's largest daily newspapers were losing paid circulation, CA Media--formerly Memphis Publishing Co, producers of The Commercial Appeal, went on the offensive. In a no-byline article in the business section, the newspaper's top brass argued that the total audience of its print and online products was growing, not shrinking.

An excerpt:

"Sometimes we get painted with the same brush as the worst-case scenario newspaper markets, and that's not an accurate reflection of our operations," said Joe Pepe, president and publisher of The Commercial Appeal. "The audience seeing our products actually has grown in the last few years."

Dan Hoag, marketing and information director for CA Media, said independent research into the total audience for The Commercial Appeal and commercialappeal.com underscores that point.

Looking at audience trends over the past nine years, Hoag said The Scarborough Report on Memphis media usage shows the total number of adults who see Commercial Appeal content each week has increased by more than 31,000 since 2000.

"In the course of one week, The Commercial Appeal is read either in print or online by over six in 10 adults in the Memphis market today," Hoag said.

PR fluff? Certainly. Yet, as the Memphis Business Journal demonstrates with a four-page wrap around this week's edition, if newspapers--daily or weekly--don't tell their side of the story to the folks who matter most (their advertisers), then who will?

As regular readers, we can only hope that these publications would be honest (or better yet, more transparent) about their sales pitches.

For instance, in the "Publisher's Notebook," MBJ's Stuart Chamblin notes that MBJ belongs to "a company that has 8.4 % more subscribers than five years ago" and that MBJ's own circulation is "higher now than five years ago."

According to the wrap, MBJ apparently had 43,000 weekly subscribers in 2008. Well, what is it this year? Or what was the subscribership five years ago? Heck, is five years ago even an honest benchmark?

I'm not doubting that MBJ has experienced some growth over five years but I'd just like to have that additional information provided so I could state that with greater authority.

That's the problem with sales pitches--they're sales pitches, devoid of the objectivity and balance of reporting. In the past, regular readers probably would not receive that much exposure to sales tactics beyond circ numbers but, with the industry on edge, we're getting more of it.

And that's why transparency is important because, if these publications are willing to sleight-of-hand numbers to make themselves more attractive to advertisers, then it's just a slippery slope to assume that the same thing occurs in their reporting.

I'm not sayin that it happens but the lines are so blurred now with the MBJ's own noting of business testimonials. The wrap should have been clearly marked as an advertorial but it wasn't. You wouldn't have a clue about its purpose unless you read the explanation online.

But I digress.

With all that said, as a niche publication, the MBJ is in a much different position than the CA. Its readers probably don't mind a little blatant salesmanship because, if you believe the MBJ's demographic figures, 65 percent of its subscribers are in top or middle management, which is far different from the CA's audience. (CA online demos.)

ON ANOTHER NOTE, read the Q&A with Whitney Shaw, American City's president and CEO. An excerpt:

Do you think business journalism as we know it will continue to be relevant? Our attitude is that we are less concerned about how we’re going to deliver news than we are about creating an information product that will be useful. We’re going to give news and information to you literally any way you choose. You want it through the Web? We’ll give it to you. In print? We’ll send it to you. Through electronic media? We’ll transmit it to you.
It's the focus on product creation, not so much platforms, that I like--though he can have such a view when his publications have most of their content behind pay walls. But I digress.

ON AN UNRELATED, BUT RELATED, NOTE, the MBJ editorial staff photo begs a question: why is there only one minority in the picture and he has his eyes closed?

On A Not So Wiseman (Facebook)

2009-12-07T20:48:00.006-06:00

Can the Commercial Appeal recognize a joke?

Here's an excerpt from its latest story on Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman and his comments about President Obama, Charlie Brown and Muslims:

Last Friday, Wiseman deleted his own Facebook account, but two new pages have been put up — “Support Russell Wiseman” and “Tell Russell Wiseman To Respect Charlie Brown And Our President.”

The Web site sarahpalinrussellwiseman2012.com also was created in support of Wiseman.

The pro- and con-Facebook pages are fine. Even though they might be a little suspect, they still represent public reactions to Wiseman's postings on the popular social media site.

Yet, it's the mention of the "Web site"--and that term should be used loosely--that makes me question the CA's reporting. (Ditto that for The Flyer.) Why mention a page that only features a Twitter feed and two Google News links? Even in freshman composition, students learn about using credible sources. But I digress.

With that said, reporter Matthew Woo should be commended for breaking the story--even if Wiseman claims that he was writing in a tongue-in-cheek style and his words were taken out of context. Why?

Well, here's an excerpt from Wiseman's statement:

As you might have guessed, I don’t really care for President Obama or his policies. That being said, I understand how my comments might have been interpreted by people who don’t know me and who have no reason to give me the benefit of the doubt. When defenders of President Obama started chiming in on the Facebook comment thread, I'm afraid I let my frustrations and my sarcastic and joking nature get the best of me, and so I egged and goaded them on within the confines of what I considered at the time to be a semi-private conversation among friends.

It's inconsequential whether Wiseman likes Obama or not. His posting became newsworthy as his sarcasm apparently turned from being tongue-in-cheek into being clearly antagonistic, damaging the reputation of the very town that he was elected to represent.

Wiseman isn't stupid. He clearly knows that elected officials are held to a different standard of behavior.

Yet, what's really funny about the statement that he released today is his complaint about fringe elements, especially since his own words about cartoon conspiracies, Obama being a Muslim, etc. place him on the fringe. But I digress.

The town of Arlington has distanced itself from its mayor:

The views of Russell Wiseman, Mayor of the Town of Arlington, expressed on his Facebook account do not reflect an official position of the Town of Arlington. His comments were not made on a Town computer, or using Town computer services. The Town recognizes Barack Obama as the President of the United States, and in accordance with the Constitution, recognizes both the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. We welcome all law abiding people to our town. We do not discriminate and we provide essential services to all Town of Arlington people without regard to their religion, race, color, age, gender, sex or national origin.

It's a testament to the hue and cry that the town felt compelled to respond. Yet, will it be enough?

*WMC. Flyer. WREG. Fox13 (Insiders). EyeNews.

On The Triangle Journal (Ceased Publication)

2009-12-07T19:39:00.003-06:00

The Triangle Journal has ceased publication--at least for now.

On Dec. 1, the newsmagazine for the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center announced that it would cease its print publication due to dwindling advertising revenues and a decreasing cultural reliance on print media.

The Journal will live again as an online publication once a new MGLCC Web site has been launched.

In the interim, MGLCC plans to use Facebook and Twitter to provide news.

*Flyer. *Out & About.

On The Digital Age (The Tennessee News Network)

2009-12-06T14:04:00.005-06:00

We're screwed.

That succinctly sums up the initial product of the Tennessee Newspaper Network, a consortium of the state's four largest newspapers, including The Commercial Appeal.

TNN--the CA, Knoxville News Sentinel, Chattanooga Times-Free Press and the Tennessean--requested personal finance disclosures of the four GOP candidates for governor. The story was written by News-Sentinel's Tom Humphrey. (A story on Democrats will come next week.)

Considering that only two candidates gave full disclosure, what exactly did TNN accomplish that the Associated Press, or each individual newspaper, or one blogger or a group of them could not have done?

Nothing. This is why we're screwed.

__________________________

Earlier this year, the Big Four announced a content-sharing agreement that also includes The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, The Jackson Sun, The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, the Kingsport Times-News, the Johnson City Press and the Bristol Herald Courier.

Yet, TNN is separate from that agreement. (It's unclear how the smaller newspapers feel about that. But I digress.)

In a column today, Free Press editor Tim Griscom explained how the GOP finance story came together. An excerpt:

In previous elections, candidates received the same request from multiple newspapers seeking similar information. Through the work of the TNN, the four Republican and four Democratic campaigns were contacted one time by a representative for the four newspapers.

The Knoxville News Sentinel took the lead on the financial disclosure project, with an assist from The Tennessean in compiling the data in an electronic format to be placed on the Internet, and a project logo created by Beck Towery of the Times Free Press.

As the election unfolds, a series of issues has been identified, and each newspaper will develop stories supplemented with documents on the position of each candidate. Through this process, voters in, for example, Southeast Tennessee will know if a particular contender takes the same stand on an issue regardless of geographic location. Candidates in the past might have tailored a comment in support of the University of Memphis when in the western part of the state but developed a case of amnesia when asked about that position in the backyard of the University of Tennessee in the eastern part of the state.

TNN plans to provide an issue grid that will be an easy guide for readers to assess candidates' positions, as well as fact checks of claims made in positive and negative campaign ads, polling numbers to measure voter reactions, and possibly a series of debates across the state.

(Chris Peck, Mark Silverman, Jack McElroy)

It's not hard to see the value of TNN. Among other benefits, TNN meant that one reporter, not four (or more), contacted all of the gubernatorial campaigns. That certainly saved some time but it's unclear from today's byproduct how the time and whatever else the collaboration saves will be utilized in other areas that might also bolster investigative and in-depth political reporting at home and statewide.

I'm just sayin, since the CA did not have to use Zack McMillin or Richard Locker to contact all of the campaigns for its own story, it would have been nice to have had an additional sidebar or two in today's edition that went deep into the details of Shelby County District Attorney and GOP candidate Bill Gibbons's tax returns.

Did anyone think of that? Maybe, the resources weren't available.

That was a cheap shot but the point is that the initial effort of TNN doesn't show how reporters will be able to cover more ground and dig deeper like News-Sentinel's McElroy argues that it would.
_____________________________

To that end, the jury is still out on whether TNN, with its horrible logo, is truly the future for journalism in Tennessee. Collaborating on polls, debates and even joint fact-checking seems too much like old school print media.

New school would certainly involve a dedicated Web site where TNN readers would be able to access truly dynamic and interactive content in ways that the Big Four's own stodgy corporate templates will not allow.

Yet, I suspect that the absence of a Web site means that the Big Four are still worried about drawing readers away from their own respective Web sites. If so, that's a silly argument since TNN could be just another vehicle to access their content and they could revenue share. At the end of the day, why not just give the content away if TNN's goal is to use collaboration to better inform the state?

But I digress.

We're screwed unless the thinking of TNN evolves.
_________________________

Personally, I reside in the "many eyes" camp, which means different newspapers covering the same topic with their own staffs. Relying on one paper means that some relevant questions might not get asked--even though the Big Four editors seem to insist that their political editors are talking.

An excerpt from CA's Peck, who discussed how journalists must adapt in age of Facebook and Google:

The nut graf here: Journalism, if it is to survive, simply must do better work. The future isn't just about simply quoting others and stringing together stats. It isn't going to survive just by covering small local events. The public itself can do all that. So let them. Open up some space in newspapers and Web sites for user-generated content and call it good. Then, focus the work of the professional journalists up the food chain to higher-value reporting with deeper research and data analysis.

User-generated sections, like My Life, can only do so much. There's also something to be said for professional journalists to cover small events in order to learn more about the communities that they serve. But the bigger issue is that the public isn't going to report on its own because life, as it wants, will make other demands on their time.

That's why folks only have the time to link to work done by "professional" journalists. To that end, let's knock down the ivory tower and note that journalists simply need to do the work necessary to make sure that those linked pages contain accurate, balanced and objective information.
___________________________

ON AN UNRELATED, BUT RELATED, NOTE, since Peck took a dig at bloggers in his column, referencing the new Federal Trade Commission endorsement guidelines to promote greater disclosure among bloggers, let's just take a second to note that the guidelines will have little to no impact on most of them.

Here's the example that the CA pulled from the FTC:

"A college student who has earned a reputation as a video game expert maintains a personal weblog or 'blog' where he posts entries about his gaming experiences. Readers of his blog frequently seek his opinions about video game hardware and software. As it has done in the past, the manufacturer of a newly released video game system sends the student a free copy of the system and asks him to write about it on his blog. He tests the new gaming system and writes a favorable review.

"Because his review is disseminated via a form of consumer-generated media in which his relationship to the advertiser is not inherently obvious, readers are unlikely to know that he has received the video game system free of charge in exchange for his review of the product, and given the value of the video game system, this fact likely would materially affect the credibility they attach to his endorsement.

"Accordingly, the blogger should clearly and conspicuously disclose that he received the gaming system free of charge. The manufacturer should advise him at the time it provides the gaming system that this connection should be disclosed, and it should have procedures in place to try to monitor his postings for compliance."

OK, read the guidelines. You're not required to disclose anything if you happen to use a product and write a post about it. You're not required to disclose anything even if the manufacturer sends you free stuff in the mail and you happen to write about that.

You are required to disclose if the manufacturer or company explicitly asks you to write a review or post about your experience with the product. You are also required to disclose if you become part of a company's marketing plan or are used in an advertisement or commercial.

Again, this doesn't impact most bloggers or their opinions.

On Morning News (April Norris)

2009-12-05T11:00:00.003-06:00

Former Fox13 reporter April Norris is now the new and only morning anchor for Eyewitness News This Morning.

In a way, she replaces former morning anchor Bonny Kinney, who was fired in August, but she also supplants Terrance Bates, who had manned the morning and midday desks solo since Kinney's firing but will now simply report and anchor the midday newscast, according to sources.

EyeNews has a morning newscast on WPTY ABC24 from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. until Good Morning America starts; at that point, it switches gears and audience to WLMT CW-30 from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. The hourlong midday newscast airs at 11 a.m. on WPTY.

Norris came to EyeNews from Fox13. She left there after deciding not to renew her contract earlier this year.

It's unclear if she'll remain a solo act in the mornings. I mean, Bates and Kinney launched that newscast from scratch in 2006. It did not perform well in the ratings but that's to be expected given EyeNews's historical performances. The Twin Stations are bottom dwellers.

From that perspective, it's unclear how Norris will perform any better, especially since all morning newscasts seem to be losing audiences. But I digress.

A change is a change, and this is just another one for the Twin Stations, which have undergone a serious amount of it this year alone.

ON AN UNRELATED, BUT RELATED, NOTE, reporter Lacey Crisp's profile is missing on the EyeNews web site? Is she gone too?

On Homeland Security (The Audit of Hurricane Elvis)

2009-12-05T08:47:00.007-06:00

On Thursday, EyeNews reporter Joyce Peterson broke the story about a federal audit that questions how the city of Memphis spent--or in some cases, couldn't account for expenditures of--more than $12 million in FEMA funds that were awarded in the aftermath of Hurricane Elvis, the severe summer storm that struck the area in 2003.

Peterson reported that FEMA wanted the city to return $2 million.

Now, it's clear that she got much of the initial story wrong.

An excerpt from the EyeNews text posted online:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the city owes FEMA big bucks for Hurricane Elvis.

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, awarded Memphis close to $13 million to clean-up the damage from the 2003 storm. In 2009, an audit conducted for the Office of Emergency Management Oversight, which is under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, found the city misspent or couldn't document how it spent nearly $2 million from 2003 to 2007.

And now, Uncle Sam wants his money back.

What's right here? FEMA, through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), did award the city of Memphis $12.8 million to recover from the damage of Hurricane Elvis.

The audit--conducted by, not for, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency Management Oversight--did question nearly $2 million in "charges" by the city that were either "ineligible and non-disaster related, excessive, covered by insurance, unsupported, and duplicative." (The actual audit.)

The key word is "charges."

The city of Memphis spent its own money to recover from the storm. As typical in any storm recovery, the city sought to recoup a percentage of those costs from FEMA, which can happen once the feds declare a major disaster. Hurricane Elvis received that declaration as a major disaster. (FEMA had closed out and paid all Memphis projects by March 20, 2007, according to the audit.)

In other words, it's inaccurate to claim that Memphis "misspent" FEMA funds. It did not. In fact, the audit itself doesn't even use that word nor does it say that the city "owes" FEMA $2 million.

What the audit does question is whether the "charges"--the bills that the city asked FEMA to pay after the fact--met the federal guidelines for reimbursement. Some did not, according to the audit. It also questioned some charges because the city did not have adequate documentation to support them. It viewed some costs for equipment usage as excessive but left leeway for FEMA to determine what's reasonable.

But I digress.

Ultimately, the audit represents recommendations (or interpretations or opinions) from one federal agency to another.

FEMA-- not the city of Memphis --has until Jan. 18, 2010 to advise the Office of Emergency Management Oversight on whether it plans to or has taken action on any of those recommendations. (The auditors interviewed city officials in August.)

From the audit, it's unclear what might happen if FEMA misses that deadline or declines to implement those recommendations.

As the Commercial Appeal noted this morning, somewhat correcting its own errant reporting, FEMA has not made any decisions.

Most importantly, the audit does not represent a bill for $2 million for the city of Memphis.

So, EyeNews, the question about potentially raising taxes to recover $2 million is just bad reporting, underscoring the lack of literacy among journalists about government and how it works.

On The Duffel Bag (The Move)

2009-12-01T08:13:00.000-06:00

UPDATE (12/1): We were supposed to close on the sale of the county home on Monday. That didn't happen. We're still waiting on the buyer, which means that we likely won't close until Thursday or Friday at the latest.

We're just being patient.

In the meantime, our county house is empty. Services disconnected. It was bittersweet leaving the first home I ever purchased. Nine years, nine great years. But I digress.

The rest of my family is living with me in the place that I'm renting. It's a temporary thing. Once the sale is completed, we can purchase a new house.

We appreciate all the support and prayers.

ORIGINAL POST (11/30): As you might have read in this week's Flyer, things have been slightly complicated for me and my family as of late.

We spent the weekend moving out of the county house; now, my family is with me in the city and that's because we will finally close on the sale of the county house today. (Prayers welcomed.)

As for this site, be patient with me as I get the fam get re-settled.

Thanks.

On True Crime (Deep Cover)

2009-11-22T02:17:00.005-06:00

In Memphis, it's not unusual for local media to join police on sweeps or raids.

We see the footage of police cars barreling down roadways, of cops bursting through doors, of suspected criminals perp- walking to the backseat of police cars while shouting their innocence at the oft-posed journalist question: "Why?"

But, in today's Commercial Appeal, there is something quite rare indeed--a journalist in a car with an undercover police officer watching a woman smoke crack in the backseat.

An excerpt from reporter Kristina Goetz's experience:

Near Hunter and Hollywood, a woman in an orange T-shirt hopped into the vehicle, uninvited. Her name was Silky, she said. What was he looking for? "Hard," he told her.

Silky jumped out in search of a street-corner crack dealer nearby. No sale. He didn't like the look of the driver.

No problem; Memphis' streets are a buyer's market, a virtual midway for addicts. Soon Silky spotted a familiar face just down the block.

"Big Mama! Come here! Come here! Go get me a dime."

Big Mama -- a heavyset woman in a black dress -- disappeared between houses and re-emerged a few minutes later with a rock of crack.

After deducting her commission -- a small corner of the rock -- Silky handed the rest over to the man she'd just met.

She stuffed the white crumbs into a glass crack pipe and lit the end, charred black from previous use. She took a long, slow hit that sounded as if she was trying to suck the last drops of liquid from a straw. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Then, as quickly as she'd arrived, Silky hopped out and faded into the neighborhood.

This is why we become journalists. It's a profession that gives one the opportunity to experience and report on lives that others might never witness. Goetz described the crack encounter as "gut wrenching" and "startling." It was perhaps all of that and more.

Goetz's experience is Part 4 of the CA's True Crime series, which is billed as an exploration of crime in Memphis through data and street-level reporting.

Now, before we get any further, it's obvious that the CA has made a commitment to go deeper with this series than it has ever gone before in its past exposés of crime. (M:M 1, 2, 3) To that end, one can appreciate the commitment of Goetz, who not only spent some days in the city's "most violent neighborhood" for Part 2 but went without bathing for two weeks, dyed her hair pink and whiffed the scent of crack for today's story.

I'm just sayin, her story is no cordial recap with an undercover cop--post assignment. (Sorry, TV folks, you're perhaps too recognizable for such a sensitive operation.)

Yet, it helps when MPD is willing to risk an active undercover officer for the sake of publicity.

But why?

______________________

It could be a coincidence.

Former Mayor Willie Herenton retired in July, leaving speculation about whether MPD Director Larry Godwin would hold onto the job he's had since 2004. Godwin even contemplated running to fill the remaining time of Herenton's term but backed out.

As mayoral candidates went about campaigning--a couple openly advocating that Godwin be fired and his signature police initiative, Blue C.R.U.S.H. be crushed--Godwin went on a campaign of his own to keep his job and initiative.

Again, it could be a coincidence that CA reporters hit the streets with cops in late August just as it could be that the Part 1 of True Crime was published a couple of weeks before the Oct. 15 special mayoral election-- in which crime was a major platform. Or that a week after the CA's Oct. 18 article on the Warren Apartments, a dozen or so officers--with media in tow--raided the place.

The raid was a show of force, a show of action, a show that will likely make it difficult for Interim Mayor A C Wharton Jr. to make any decision about Godwin's future.

Coincidence? Perhaps.
___________________________

Then again, given all that we know, today's article is timely, focusing on the cog of Godwin's crime-fighting efforts: the undercover unit. An excerpt:

Undercover police operations are not unusual in the United States. Many departments have units in which officers in plain clothes pose as prostitutes or buy drugs. But few agencies outside the FBI operate such elaborate undercover units like the one in Memphis, according to Joe Pistone, the legendary FBI agent who infiltrated the New York Bonnano crime family for six years as jewel thief Donnie Brasco.

Seattle has a good program, but officers there don't go deep undercover like in Memphis, he said. At the federal level, the U.S. Customs agency also has a top-notch program but still doesn't do long-term, deep undercover work, he said.

"I would say that Memphis has the best program in the country, and I don't throw around accolades like manhole covers," said Pistone, who teaches in Memphis' undercover school.

"There are a lot of good programs, but they don't amount to what Memphis is doing."

That is a strong, and notably unchallenged, endorsement. We don't know enough to judge its credibility and that's an issue.

Look, undercover officers risk their lives for our safety everyday but that still doesn't mean that we can't have information on how many might suffer from post-traumatic stress on a job that requires so much isolation. Are they tested regularly for drugs and alcohol abuse? How much do they earn?

More importantly, in the larger scheme of crime fighting, how effective are they? It takes a CA editorial to get to the heart of what Goetz's effusive article does not:

While covert operations by the police department result in a 95 percent conviction rate, the stark truth is that for every drug dealer taken off the street, there is another one to take his or her place. They exist and thrive because they feed a demand.

Indeed, the demand is ever present--not just in the poor sections of this city but everywhere.

And while Goetz's article shows a glimpse of how second-nature and perhaps prevalent drugs are, we still don't have a clue about where the supply comes from and how it gets into this city's veins. Her three days with an undercover cop did not seem to reveal that answer, not even the morsel of a clue.

But I digress.
_______________________
It could be a coincidence--you know, the whole crack episode.

A car with a man and a white woman (Goetz)--no matter how dirty she was or punkish her hair may have been--in a predominantly black neighborhood might draw some suspicion--unless the man is known and somehow vouches directly or indirectly. Even a crack addict recognizes context clues.

So, had the undercover cop worked with Silky before? What else--besides the crack--could explain her comfort at lighting up after getting her "commission"?

The article doesn't say whether Silky was later arrested.

On 24th Annual MidSouth EMMY® Nominations (Local Media)

2009-11-20T21:27:00.004-06:00

The nominations for the 24th Annual MidSouth EMMY® Awards were announced at a reception in Nashville Friday night.

Here's how local media fared in the nominations count:

WHBQ (Fox13) 24
Running Pony Productions 10
WMC 10
WREG 5
The Commercial Appeal 2
WKNO 2
WPTY 2

Congratulations to all. The winners will be announced on Jan. 30, 2010. The nominations for local media are after the jump.

The nominations (local media in bold):

NEWS EXCELLENCE
Channel 4 News, Working 4 You, Matthew Hilk, WSMV
FOX 13 News, Ken Jobe, WHBQ
News 2, Matthew Zelkind, WKRN
News Excellence WRAL-TV 2009, Rick Gall, WRAL
NewsChannel 5 Network, Michelle Bonnett, Sandra Boonstra, WTVF
WGHP - The News Leader, Karen Koutsky, WGHP

NEWSCAST/EVENING
Action News 5 at 10, Robert Edwards, WMC
Channel 4 News at 5: Belmont Debate, Mary Katherine Rooker, WSMV
FOX 13 News at 9, Anetra Gaines, Sunny Hampton, Ken Jobe, Mearl Purvis, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ
Good Friday, Bad Weather, Kenneth A. Smith, WZTV
NewsChannel 5 at 10: Good Friday Tornadoes, Rhori Johnston, Sarah Moore, WTVF
Tar Heel Triumph, Chris Burns, Phillipe Charles, Chad Flowers, Lori Grant, Martha Woodward, WRAL

NEWSCAST/DAYTIME
Good Morning Memphis, Valerie Calhoun, Ernie Freeman, Leon Griffin, Claire Jones Heath, Lauren Lee, WHBQ
News 2 at 4, Karen Brown, John Dwyer, Anne Holt, Neil Orne, Melissa Penry, Matthew Zelkind, WKRN
NewsChannel 5 at 4: Officer Shooting, Debbie Vincent, Vicki Yates, WTVF

NEWSCAST/WEEKEND
Deadly Tornadoes, Stephanie Beck, Kelcey Carlson, Phillipe Charles, David Crabtree, Chad Flowers, James A. Ford, Jr., Lori Grant, Tony W. Gupton, Sloane Heffernan, Bruce Mildwurf, Bolton Minnic, , Martha Woodward, WRAL
Good Friday Tornadoes - The Day After, Sara Dorsey, Maurice Miller, Regina Raccuglia, Aaron Solomon, WSMV
NewsChannel 5 at 10, W. Clayton Farrar, WTVF
Waiting for Gustav, Matthew Peace, WPTY

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORT
58 Crosses, Andy Benton, WCNC
A Lost Call for Justice, Ben Hall, Iain Montgomery, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
Gang Invasion, Molly Grantham, Jeffrey Keene, WBTV
Homeless 9 Year Old Student, Jill Monier, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Hostage, Roy Hallums, Mearl Purvis, Chris Russel, WHBQ

CONTINUING COVERAGE
Anatomy of a Crisis, Andrew Douglas, WMC
The V.A. Colonoscopy Scandal, Demetria Kalodimos, Deanna Lambert-Thomas, WSMV
VUCast: Conjoined Twins, Patrick Slattery, Amy Wolf, Vanderbilt University News Service
What's the Deal in Jennette? , Alistair Clark, Eric King, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Who's Watching Your Kids?, Scott Noll, WREG
Why Isn't the Hydrant Working?, Zina Bauman, Jeremy Finley, Don Mashburn, WSMV
WRAL.com, Jodi Glusco, CBC New Media

SERIOUS FEATURE NEWS REPORT
A Soldier's Portrait, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF
Audrey Caroline, Zina Bauman, WSMV
Charlotte's Future Transportation, Brien Blakely, Terrence Walker, WCCB
Her Blood on HIs Hands, Andy Benton, Stuart Watson, WCNC
Josh Gets a Bike, Nathan C. Sharkey, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF
Picking Cotton, Bob Buckley, WGHP
Remembering Anne Pressly, Mearl Purvis, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, WHBQ

LIGHT FEATURE NEWS REPORT
Birthday Caller, Scott Mason, Tom Normanly, WRAL
Lie To Me, Jill Monier, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Pizza Rocker Dude, Derric Curran, Tom Dees, WHBQ
Santa's Surprise , Kim Gebbia, Phillip Kivett, WXII
The Mustache Revolution, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
A Failure to Protect, Zina Bauman, Jeremy Finley, Don Mashburn, WSMV
Charity or Con?, Keli Rabon, WREG
Failure to Report, Keli Rabon, WREG
Locksmith Sting, Cullen Browder, Greg Clark, WRAL
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: General Sessions Court, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: The Ticket Fixers, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
What's the Deal in Jennette? , Alistair Clark, Eric King, Michael Moore, WHBQ

BUSINESS/CONSUMER REPORT
Credit Repair, Keli Rabon, WREG
Nashville's Last Outlaw, Ben Hall, Iain Montgomery, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: Locked Out, Jennifer Kraus, Bryan Staples, WTVF
Scared to Buy, Wendy Halloran, Shane Hays, Denise Vickers, WHNT
Tough Cell Phone, Tanya Rivera, Alan Wagmeister, WFMY
Who's Making the Cut, Michelle Boudin, John Gray, WCNC

SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENT REPORT
Hope Without a Cure, Lauren Johnson, Michael Moore, WHBQ
M.L.K. Preparing a Legacy, Ben Watson, WMC
Old Soldiers Don't Fade Away, Christopher J. Bundgaard, WKRN
School Patrol, Charlie Woodward, Vicki Yates, WTVF
Textecution, Michael Hamlet, Nick Kenney, WMC
The Case of the Missing Heiress, Janice Broach, Jeremy Jones, Brian Svec, WMC

JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE
By Appointment Only, Andrew Douglas, Jeremy Jones, WMC
Home Sweet Meth Home, Keli Rabon, WREG
Molly Grantham Compilation, Molly Grantham, WBTV
Phil Williams Investigates, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, WTVF
Protecting Patients, Don Dare, David George Wignall, WATE
PSI: Charlotte, Jamie Boll, Jeffrey Keene, WBTV

NEWS SPECIAL
10 Years of NewsChannel 5 Investigates, Jennifer Kraus, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, WTVF
Presidential Debate 2008: At the Crossroads, Tammy Phillips, WMC
Remembering Coach Kay Yow, Erin Coleman, James A. Ford, Jr., Jeff Gravley, Pam Saulsby, Jennifer Sorber, WRAL
Turf War: Charlotte's 30 Year Battle, Molly Grantham, Kim Saxon, Brian Stephenson, WBTV

WEATHERCAST
Feb. 28, 2009 Mid-South Snow Storm, Henry Rothenberg, Mark Walden, WPTY
Spring Sizzle, Lisa Spencer, WSMV
StormChaser, John Wendel, WCNC
Stormtrack 2008: Hanna, Dan Bowens, Gregory B. Fishel, Michael Maze, WRAL

DOCUMENTARY – CULTURAL
$5 Cover Amplified: Ben Nichols and Valerie June, Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal
A Walk in Watkins Park, Maryann Byrd, Byrdword Productions
Footprints of a King, Steve Crump, WTVI
Hometown Stories: The Greek Americans of Charlotte, Linda Midgett Otzenberger, WTVI

DOCUMENTARY – HISTORICAL
History Makers 2008: Chattanooga Sit-ins, Linda Duvoisin, Dave Porfiri, Mindflow Media
I Am a Man, Jonathan D. Epstein, Ryan Goble, John Hubbell, Deanie Parker, Calvin Taylor, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Twist of Fate, Jay Jennings, Clay Johnson, WRAL

DOCUMENTARY – TOPICAL
Coming Out-- Coming In: Faith, Identity and Belonging, Donna Campbell, Georgann Eubanks, Rev. Laurie Hays Coffman, Wildacres Leadership Initiative/Minnow Media
Sudan: Suffering and Survival, Steve Crump, WTVI
Taylor Stokes: Finishing Well, Emily Pearce, Patrick Slattery, Vanderbilt University News Service
The Least among Us, Pierre Kimsey, WKNO
The Wild Horses of Corolla, Christopher Mason, Shaheen Syal, WRAZ

HISTORIC/CULTURAL PROGRAM
Global Connections: Europe, Rob Holliday, UNC-TV
In Remembrance There is Life: A Night of Storytelling, Russ A. Abernathy, Kip Cole, WKNO
Next Door Neighbors: Somali, Suzy Hence, Will Pedigo, Nashville Public Television
Passion for the Land, Tom Earnhardt, Natural World Productions
Tennessee's Black Heritage, Jeff Davidson, Anne Holt, WKRN

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Appalachia, Ray Arzate, Christine Maddela, WKRN
Harvesting the Wind, Mark Bellinger, Mike Rose, WTVF
Next Door Neighbors: Hablamos Español , Kevi n Crane, Matthew Emigh, Suzy Hence, Will Pedigo, Nashville Public Television
Perry County 27% Unemployment, Christopher J. Bundgaard, Joe Gregory, WKRN
Smart Medicine, Joseph A. Stuber, Running Pony Productions
The Blake McMeans Story, Barry Cross, Steve Hall, Doug Jackson, Ken Tucker, The Renaissance Center

SPECIAL EVENT - EDITED
Charlotte's Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Josh King, LaVonda Kinloch, WSOC
Home for the Holidays, Thomas Adams, John Koski, Howard Langston, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, WHBQ

PSA CAMPAIGN
FOX E Team - Energy Offenders, Patrick Cox, Vanessa Ezernieks, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, David Stotts, Amanda Pannell, WHBQ
Nashville Rescue Mission: Hunger to Hope Campaign, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
Vote 2008, Ron J. DeJoseph, Jr., WSOC

PROMOTIONAL SPOT – NEWS
ABC11 Eyewitness News Morning Image 09, Khristopher Kahle, Curtis Miles, WTVD
Definition of Marriage, Jay Yovanovich, WRAL
Kicked to the Curb: DTV Transition, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
Tarheel Traveler Image, Stacie Holyfield, Shan Zhong, WRAL
What They Make, Vanessa Ezernieks, David Stott, WHBQ
Wow! It's a Sham!, Brian Shrader, Jay Yovanovich, WRAL
Your World, Roger Hobbs, Jr., WNCN

PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN - PROGRAMS
Father's Day, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, David Stotts, WHBQ
Take it to the House, Michael Brouder, Jon Johnson, Ali x Jones, FOX Sports South and SportSouth
The Big Read, Onur Tukel, WTVI
The Fanzone, James Banks, WRAZ

COMMERCIAL SPOT
Blown Away, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Car Tricks, Christian McIlwain, Lori McIlwain, Fourth Rule Films/Viamark Advertising
Gallins Coffee Fight. Council Bradshaw, Deja View Media
Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau: See What’s Cooking, Javier Leiva, Running Pony Productions
Pregnancy, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Oshsner Healthcare
Stomach & Wallet, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Town Hall #2, Cameron Cornelius, The Lampo Group

COMMERCIAL CAMPAIGN
Cali-Parody, Vanessa Ezernieks, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ
Fazoli's New Menu Campaign, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Healthcare with Peace of Mind, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Oshsner Healthcare
Hilton E-Sales, Javier Leiva, Running Pony Productions
Rethink Church Campaign, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/United Methodist Communications

AUDIO
FOX 13 Composition, David Stotts, WHBQ
Gershwin at One Symphony Place, Michael Davis, Robert Swope, Sunrise Entertainment
Good Ol' Girls, Georgann Eubanks, Rusty Knott, Karen Pearce, Mark Williams, Minnow Media/UNC-TV
I Am a Man, Benjamin Rednour, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation

DIRECTOR – NEWS
Action News 5 at 10, Brent Green, WMC
Are You Ready For Some Football?, Lewis Harkness, WKRN
Coverage Composite 2009, James Ford, Jr., WRAL

DIRECTOR – PROGRAMS
Gershwin at One Symphony Place, Robert Swope, Sunrise Entertainment
I Am a Man, Jonathan D. Epstein, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, James Yockey, High Five Entertainment
Mother Goose Club, John Hussey, Sockeye Media
Our State: Puppet Masters, Morgan P. Potts, UNC-TV

EDITOR – NEWS
Andy Benton Stories, Andy Benton, WCNC
Mike Hamlet Composite, Michael Hamlet, WMC
Mike Moore Composite, Michael Moore, WHBQ
The Farrier, Bradley J. Pfranger, WZTV
Zina Bauman Editing Composite, Zina Bauman, WSMV

EDITOR - SHORT FORM
FOX 13 Composite, David Stotts, WHBQ
JWalker Cuts & Composites, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
SEC Football Open Featuring Rascal Flatts, David Barringer, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Williams, Raycom Sports

LIGHTING
Crossroads Charlotte, Randy Fulp, Brett Ray, Emulsion Arts/WTVI
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, Bob Peterson, High Five Entertainment
Lighting Up with Kip, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, WHBQ

MUSIC COMPOSER/ARRANGER
El Greco to Velazquez - Art During the Reign of Philip III, Fred Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design
Hometown Stories - The Greek-Americans of Charlotte, Fred Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design
I Am a Man, Scott Bomar, Deanie Parker, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Mother Goose Club, Robby LeDoux, Hudson Soundlab
Re-Thinking Church, Holly Heise, Leonard Wolf, Wolf Music and Sound Design

PHOTOGRAPHY – NEWS
Andy Benton Stories, Andy Benton, WCNC
Big Daddy Platter of News, Bradford Ingram, WGHP
Camerography 101, Geoffrey Levine, WRAL
D-Roll, Derric Curran, WHBQ
Nelson's News, Ted Nelson, WTVF

PHOTOGRAPHY – PROGRAMS
$5 Cover Amplified: What It Is and Valerie June , Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal
Duck River, William Bezubic III, Running Pony Productions
ESPN Gameday, Patrick Slattery, Vanderbilt University News Service
Puppet Masters. Michael Burke, UNC-TV
Tennessee's Wild Side: Short Springs Wildflowers, Ken Tucker, The Renaissance Center

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
1st Public Mobile DTV Venture, Tony W. Gupton, Peter Sockett, Frederick Kelly, Sam Matheny, Thomas G. Crowder, Matthew Brandes, Jay Adrick, WRAL
FOX 13 Home for the Holidays in HD, David Brant, Scott Prentice, WHBQ
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, Nicholas E. Dugger, High Five Entertainment/TNDV Television

WRITER – NEWS
27% Unemployment & A Taste of Freedom, Christopher J. Bundgaard, WKRN
Breach of Trust, Wendy Halloran, Denise Vickers, WHNT
Nick Kenney Composite, Nick Kenney, WMC
Scott Mason Stories, Scott Mason, WRAL
Tang's Tall Tales Three, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF

WRITER – PROGRAMS
Duck River, T. Leigh Starns, Running Pony Productions
Finishing Well, Emily Pearce, Vanderbilt University News Service
Footprints of a King, Steve Crump, WTVI
I Am a Man, John Hubbell, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Man & Mammoth, Tom Earnhardt, Natural World Productions
Mother Goose Club, Harry Jho, Sona Jho, Sockeye Media
Ruptured Brain Aneurysm, Stephanie Crayton, UNC Health Care

INTERACTIVITY
Crossroads Charlotte: Fortress, Robin Grey, Joanne Hock, Kay Thompson, Tracy Russ, Karen Collins, Emulsion Arts
Mother Goose Club Website, Harry Jho, Sona Jho, Sockeye Media
The Oxford Presidential Debate on MyFoxMemphis.com, May-Lin Biggs, William C. Dotson, III, Jeramia Trotter, WHBQ

On The Blind Side (The Movie)

2009-11-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

UPDATE (11/20): "The Blind Side" hits theaters today. (Beiffus, CA, Fox13 [1], WMC, Flyer )

ORIGINAL POST (11/17): "The Blind Side," the movie based on the novel about Michael Oher, opens in theaters Friday.

In an article published Monday, Oher told The Baltimore Sun that he's not in a rush to see the film. After all, he's busy playing football.

Yet, that's not what intrigued me about the Sun's story. An excerpt:

Oher's reaction to all this interest in his life was much the same when Lewis' book came out in 2006. It took several years before Oher decided to read the book, according to Sean Tuohy, his adoptive father. And his review was lukewarm.

"Some things [are] in it that are the truth, some things are not," Oher said. "People have got to do things to sell it. But everything is good, though."

Now, if the AP can fact check Sarah Palin, shouldn't local media spend a moment or two discussing what was and wasn't embellished in the movie or the novel?

I'm just sayin.

*WMC: A promo.

On The Grizz (No Answer)

2009-11-20T11:32:00.000-06:00

UPDATE (11/20): I'm perplexed.

What exactly is the difference between the Grizzlies and the Knicks?

Well, both involve Allen Iverson, who the Grizzlies released Tuesday and then cleared waivers to become a free agent Thursday. The Knicks ~~are~~--correction, were--interested in signing Iverson to a deal.

According to the NY Post, the Knicks are expected to announce today that they have changed their minds. The ownership of a 2-9 squad was worried about disrupting team chemistry by bringing in Iverson. No comment.

What's interesting, though, is that the national media, which respects Iverson's game but not his attitude, seemed to go about the business of ruminating on where A.I. should land next--be it New York, L.A., or anywhere but Memphis--as soon he was released. But I digress.

We know that Memphis doesn't get the righteous light and that the team has given naysayers plenty of reason to doubt if it can do anything right. But I give Grizz owner Michael Heisley credit for not only being brash enough to sign A.I. but caring enough about the player to let him go--even if it cost his team cool points.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the Grizz have won two in a row. The last one came after a player's only meeting. (Flyer.)

Yet, even though others stepped up, guard Mike Conley still struggled, knowing that his job is on the line. Conley and newly-acquired guard Jamaal Tinsley combined for 1 point (0-6 shooting), 2 assists, and 7 fouls in a combined 22 minutes, the Flyer noted. (Conley scored the point)

Tinsley is new and hasn't played in more than a year; what's Conley's excuse?

He has none, which further stokes the inanity of A.I. riding the pine as his backup. Moving on.

UPDATE (11/17): So, it's over.

On Monday, Grizz owner Michael Heisley rightfully wanted to know when A.I. would come back to the team. Instead, both sides reached an agreement to terminate his contract and waive the 10-time All Star.

(I guess, we can forget about A.I. on the All-Star ballot.)

For those of us who held out the benefit of the doubt, there is no doubt really: A.I.'s family didn't like Memphis enough to move here and it didn't help that he was sitting on the bench as a backup as well as the fact that the Grizz aren't a championship caliber team.

Then again, neither is the New York Knicks but some folks love living in the Big Apple regardless.

Is this an economic development issue?

I mean, were the Beale Street blue guitar and fawning not enough to keep an All-Star here? Are multimillion dollar contracts not enough to hold them? Should the Chamber of Commerce get involved in this creative class retention? Is there a reason why NBA players aren't used to hype (uhm, market) Memphis as a place to live?

Maybe, we need more answers ourselves--at least some fans have a keepsake T-shirt.

*WMC. EyeNews. Fox13.

UPDATE: CA beat writer Ron Tillery just asks some questions about A.I.. An excerpt:

It's sketchy whether the Griz looked Iverson in the face and said you're here to come off the bench. But when asked about the situation at the Iverson press conference, Heisley said the decision is up to Hollins. Iverson sat there and heard it. Truth is there were no promises made. Iverson wasn't guaranteed to start. Iverson hadn't been relegated to a permanent backup role. Knowing that league-wide opinion is that he should be a reserve, why didn't Iverson put the Griz on the spot and say "I'm coming here to start, right?"

Just asking...

The Griz knew what they were getting and this was bound to happen. They are getting what they deserve. But if it's OK for A.I. to be A.I. isn't it OK for a coach to be a coach the way he sees fit?

Just asking...

It's difficult not to like Allen Iverson. He's an engaging guy. He's fun to be around. But why has all of his comments been about Allen Iverson and he's said virtually nothing about the team? Could that be why no one - players included - appears particularly upset by his absence?

Just asking...

Iverson is telling close associates that he might retire instead of returning to the Grizzlies. Not shocking since he said he'd rather retire than come off the bench while in Detroit. If that happens, it would indeed be a sad ending to an incredible career. Would there really be anyone to blame? Wouldn't that just be Iverson being Iverson?

I'm just asking.

Strong points. We'll see what happens.

UPDATE (11/9): As it should, the Commercial Appeal has taken the lead on the A.I. saga.

This morning, CA beat writer Ron Tillery reported that A.I. is mulling retirement because of his playing time as well as a family situation.

An excerpt:

Iverson left the team Saturday after receiving permission from Griz owner Michael Heisley to deal with a personal matter. The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source.

Heisley said he's not been given any indication that Iverson might be leaning towards retirement, and still is holding out hope that the 10-time All-Star will return to Memphis.

"I just think if he was going to retire, he'd tell me first," Heisley said. "I expect him to come back. If he does retire, I'll be tremendously disappointed. I feel bad because I don't think that's the way he should go out."

Iverson, who traveled from Los Angeles to his Atlanta home over the weekend, was granted an indefinite leave of absence. He has not asked to be traded or waived.

I think that it's important to underscore the last part: he has not asled to be traded or waived. I'm just sayin, I don't believe that Iverson is disgruntled.

Whatever Iverson is experiencing, the Grizz should take Heisley's lead and show some unconditional support for their only true All-Star. But I digress.

Here's what I'm wondering: who does media prep for the Grizz? How can Coach Lionel Hollins be this bad with the national media spotlight?

*CA: Calkins.

UPDATE (11/7): According to the CA, A.I. has left the team for personal reasons.

Before the national media has a field day, it's not as bad as it seems. First, Iverson spoke to Grizz owner Michael Heisley and got the OK to go back home to Atlanta. It is unclear when he'll return to the team.

Suffice to say, he won't be playing against the Clippers tonight.

*CAGrizzBlog: Already thinking the worse.
*LATimes. Heart and little else.
*Adande: This is it.
*ESPN: Still wants to start. An excerpt:

And Iverson, who was passed Kobe Bryant for 16th place on the NBA's career scoring list Friday night, apparently doesn't feel it's his job to figure out a role in which he can help the Grizzlies.

"I'm not trying to figure out how to contribute to no team," Iverson said. "I contribute to a team by just playing. That's it. I don't have to figure it out. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They've been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court, so I don't have to figure out how I'm going to play or anything like that. I just go out and play basketball."

Iverson believes his comments have caused a stir mostly because of his long history of provocative opinions and actions, from his infamous disdain for practice to a few lesser stirs in Denver and Detroit last season.

"When I hear anything about the Memphis Grizzlies, I don't hear you guys [media] talk about anything other than the situation with me coming off the bench," Iverson said. "I mean, there's got to be something else with this team to talk about besides that. But I guess that sells a lot better than anything else when it comes to this team."

Of course, he's right. Grizz coverage is all A.I. and nothing else but he knew that coming in. Is he voicing frustration? Perhaps.

Is he ready to quit already? Well, let's hope not.

ORIGINAL POST (11/4): There's so much overreaction to A.I.'s postgame comments Monday.

Waive, A.I.? Whatever.

I, for one, am loving the new look Grizz.

With A.I., ZBo, Rudy and O.J., the Grizz are stocked with real killas. If Hasheem Thabeet learns how to play D, then we would be OK when Marc Gasol needs a breather. But I digress.

The Grizz will win some games and lose some games. It will happen.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I think we're just beginning to understand Iverson's star power and what it means for local media.

The Commercial Appeal is obviously figuring it out, having launched a page specifically for news about A.I. Good move.

Is it content that people would pay for? Not really. I mean, the 360 chart is nice and so are the photos (as always). However, the CA really isn't getting deep into the life of A.I.--and I argue that it should.

With A.I., local news could really see the value of stargazing. We have so many entertainers who come into town, do whatever it is they do and leave without much concern from local media. One reason is that local media tends to value personal privacy--not to mention, such paparazzi-style coverage doesn't really fit our traditional view of hard news.

However, that needs to change.

Look, folks are going to talk about A.I. His fans have this need to read about him. Why have page that only populates with content that you create? There should be links to every article written about him as well as his Twitter feed and official page.

Give the people what they want. If the people want celebrity news, who is local media to deny them?

Denying them only loses money for local media.

*Flyer: No Logic.
*CA: Heisley.

On WKNO (The Grand Opening)

2009-11-15T09:39:00.004-06:00

WKNO will host an open house for its new digital media center on Cherry Farms Road.

The festivities start at 2 p.m. today.

An excerpt from the Commercial Appeal:

The project has been completely paid off as a result of a $16.9 million capital campaign. Of that amount, about $2 million went for HDTV production equipment, almost $5 million was used for the DTV transition and $10 million was spent on the building, furnishings and grounds.

The debt-free status means that station leaders will be able to concentrate on raising money to support its annual $6 million operating budget and building up an endowment.

WKNO's sleek new structure features three wings connected by a long, art-filled lobby and infused with natural light.

The 44,000-square-foot facility includes two television studios, two closed-captioning suites, three radio studios and three editing suites. There are more than 10,000 CDs in the music library and plenty of space for more titles.

The new facility is about twice the size of the station's former home, which was on the south campus of the University of Memphis for three decades. For the first time, the station is housed in a building specifically designed for its broadcast purposes.

No debt. Quite an achievement for the public broadcasting station. The sky is the limit for the future of WKNO. Congrats, again.

On Trashing Newspapers (The Daily Helmsman)

2009-11-14T10:08:00.004-06:00

On Wednesday, Memphis police arrested Ross Burton for attempting to set fire to the rope that hoists the flag in front of the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center on South Cooper.

His alleged accomplice, Wesley Higgins, initially got away but was later captured.

In a separate event, University of Memphis police weighed whether to file a malicious mischief charge against Burton's sister, Jennifer, an art graduate student who saw her brother's picture on the front page of the student newspaper, The Daily Helmsman, and proceeded to throw an untold number of copies in the trash. She admitted to trashing the free publication.

Asked for an opinion by campus police, the Shelby County District Attorney's office determined that no crime had been committed, according to the CA.

An excerpt:

But the trashing of the newspapers seems to fall into a legal gray area, said U of M director of police services Bruce Harber.

The woman didn't litter with the newspapers, he said, and she told the reporter she looked at each one before she threw it away.

"There are other free publications around town," Harber said, "and I guess if someone wants to pick up 10 or 20, where do you draw the line?"

Obviously, The Daily Helmsman staff disagrees. Two excerpts from the Helmsman:

Candy Justice, general manager of the newspaper, said Burton tossing the issues in the trash was a violation of the First Amendment.

"I can't address what city or state crimes the police said she committed, although I do know a crime was committed," Justice said. "Anytime you deliberately prevent people from seeing the news, you've violated the First Amendment of the (U.S.) Constitution."

[...]

Burton robbed students of information in The Daily Helmsman by stealing the newspapers, Poe said.

"She committed a crime, not only against the Helmsman, but also against the Helmsman's readers, who rely on the newspaper for their information," [Ryan Poe, the Helmsman's managing editor] said. "Although she disagreed with the story, throwing away the newspapers was out of line."

OK, Jennifer Burton was out of line but she didn't really rob students of information.

I'm just sayin, not only is the Helmsman free in print, it is also free online--and there's no way Jennifer Burton inhibited that.

And if you really want to get crazy, she could claim that she was contributing to the University's recycling efforts.

On True Crime (The Raid On Warren Apartments)

2009-11-12T17:01:00.005-06:00

In Part 2 of its "True Crime" series, The Commercial Appeal described Warren Apartments, also known as Clementine, as a "war zone."

More specifically, the CA described the complex as the most violent neighborhood in the city based on its analysis of 10 years of police reports. That report was published on Oct. 18.

Five days later, in a "dramatic show of force," a dozen or so Memphis police officers raided unit #202 at Warren in a search for drugs. (CA)

AppealTV video of the raid shows an officer explain to Keesha Driver, who lives in the unit and was handcuffed, that an undercover officer had purchased drugs from someone in her apartment while she was present in the days before the raid.

Now, MPD's drug purchase claim is being called a lie.

On Monday, radio host/journalist Thaddeus Matthews posted on his blog an affidavit that he alleges that MPD used to get the search warrant for unit #202. An excerpt from the Oct. 23 affidavit, which is a sworn statement from a MPD detective:

"A Memphis, Tennessee Police Department, Undercover Officer (UC) made six (6) buys of Crack Cocaine from Stanley COLLINS and his associates out of 1389 Clementine Apartment #202 during the course of the investigation. These drug buys have been made from, within and upon the premises of 1389 Clementine Apartment #202 within the past five days."

However, none of this could be true, especially since Collins (or a felon with the same birthdate) has been incarcerated in the Shelby County Correction Center since early September and isn't scheduled to be released until late 2011, according to Matthews--or better yet, according to Javier Bailey, who is Keesha Driver's attorney. (Tha MATT's Monday show.)

Let that marinate for a second.

So, to recap, the CA publishes an article about Warren Apartments on Oct. 18. Coincidentally, perhaps, MPD begins an undercover drug operation in the complex on or around that same date. On Oct. 23, with the media in tow, the police raid Driver's apartment in a search for drugs based on that undercover operation.

It should be noted that Driver is not mentioned in the affidavit. One can only assume that the "boyfriend" mentioned in the AppealTV video is in fact Collins. Even if it is, it's unclear if he lived there. Again, Collins wasn't there at the time of the raid--presumably, we know now, because he was incarcerated. The CA's story of the raid, though, makes no mention of Collins.

One has to read the CA's article closely to also note that the raid did not uncover any drugs either. Officers found two kinds of ammunition in a drawer but there apparently were no guns. Driver was briefly held in custody before being released.

Yet, perhaps for the benefit of AppealTV, there is video of an officer berating her, challenging whether she knew her boyfriend--who is perhaps Collins--was a gang member. The officer flashes several pictures of men; but it's unclear if Collins is pictured among them as well as it's unclear where or when the pictures were taken. That might be because of the video editing.

Still, the ineffectiveness of the raid was not questioned at all. In fact, the CA made it seem as if the officers put a dent in a gang operation. An excerpt:

Law enforcement officials say a search of the residence turned up ammunition, money, scales and other items that link gang members to crimes from Atlanta to Memphis.

Ammunition for two weapons -- a .38-caliber revolver and a .380 semi-automatic -- was found in a drawer with Driver's parole card.

Let's take a second here. It has long been a practice for the Commercial Appeal and other local media to hype criminal histories as if that somehow justifies an action against an individual or serves as indicator of criminal tendencies. At times, such reporting can be biased, unfair and irrelevant.

The point is that the CA might want readers to believe that folks in Warren Apartments, like Driver, are actually up to no good--even though the police uncovered nothing. Such reporting serves the worn-out and over-hyped storyline of crime in Memphis; most importantly, it gives some false sense of validity to MPD's Blue C.R.U.S.H and other so-called crime-fighting initiatives. (The investigation/raid did happen when there was talk about whether MPD Director Larry Godwin should be keep his job or not. Just sayin.)

In other words, the story is crime, crime and crime--even when there might not be one. But I digress.

Someone has some explaining to do as it relates to the affidavit.

Did MPD falsify information just so it could access that apartment? If so, why pick on Driver? Or, when it comes to the Clementine area and its reputation, would it have mattered who the police hit? (Yes.)

At the very least, will local media hesitate before taking MPD's word as gospel and actually question whether publicity stunts, like offender roundups and raids, are worth the taxpayer expense?

Coming later: More on the CA's True Crime series.

*WREG: Raid unproductive. (We need more follow-up reporting like this.)

On A Skeptical Journalist (Erin Arvedlund)

2009-11-12T13:41:00.003-06:00

A note from the Memphis Daily News:

To the financier blessed with what looked like the Midas touch, she was “that idiot woman from Barron’s.”

What earned financial journalist Erin Arvedlund that scornful crack from Bernie Madoff was an article she wrote for Barron’s magazine about eight years ago. Headlined “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and based on more than 100 interviews, it was one of the first news stories to question the inexplicable way Madoff’s hedge fund empire made money hand over fist.

Arvedlund will be in Memphis tonight to talk about the aftermath of Madoff’s surprise confession last year that his operation was a giant Ponzi scheme. She’ll speak at 7 p.m. at the Memphis Jewish Community Center, where she’ll also sign copies of her book, “Too Good to be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff.”

Erin's 2001 Barrons article.

On The Memphis Flyer (The 20th Anniversary)

2009-11-12T10:47:00.002-06:00

Even though The Memphis Flyer's first issue was Feb. 15, 1989, the city's free weekly decided to celebrate 20 years of publication this week.

As Publisher Kenneth Neill explains, February didn't seem like a good time for a celebration. Bad economy, pay cuts and so forth. (M:M) Now, the environment has improved.

An excerpt:

Happily, here we are today, ready for the turkey and dressing. We're especially thankful for the continued support the Flyer has received, week in and week out, in the midst of this recession, from the local business community. Our revenues may be down a bit, but the number of advertisers we have each week in the Flyer has remained constant.

In a serious back-patting edition, though, Neill does examine what lies ahead for the Flyer. An excerpt:

The years ahead, however, are going to be decidedly different for everyone in our line of work. Most Memphians, of course, now go online every day, catching up with breaking news and keeping up with their favorite websites. As their reading habits change, we've needed to change our approach.

At the Flyer, we have transformed our own news-delivery systems as dramatically as anybody in town. Memphisflyer.com is now one of the city's premier websites. With a "Daily Buzz" homepage that includes frequent postings, staff blogs that cover everything from Grizzlies basketball to local theater to hard-core politics, and the best event listings in town, the Flyer's community footprint has grown significantly over the past five years, as our collective voice has become considerably stronger.

As for the print edition of the Flyer, we understand the differences between yesterday and today; people are reading newspapers differently, more reflectively, than ever before. But as the Internet Revolution proceeds, our weekly print frequency seems ever more ideal for the delivery of a comprehensive local news and entertainment package. Our readers count on the weekly Flyer to present a snapshot of the local landscape, to bring information together in one place, in a tabloid that can be read at one's leisure.

Print still remains an exceptional way to expand one's cultural horizons, to discover the new, fresh, and different. That's why saying that the web will replace newspapers is like saying that television will replace movies, that automobiles will replace bicycles, that iPods will replace live concerts. Things will change, but what's valuable will remain.

In other words, The Flyer gets it. Now, if Neill could do something about the lack of diversity of the Flyer's editorial staff... But I digress.

Happy Belated 20th, Flyer.

It is a Memphis success story, a start-up that has persevered and become essential in its own way. That is encouraging to others like myself.

And speaking of which, it's as good of time as any to spread some appreciation to The Flyer for its support of local journalism that extends beyond its publication.

Flyer: The 20th year.

On Deidra Shores (The Kid Reporter)

2009-11-12T10:27:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to Memphis's own Deidra Shores, the winner of The Today's Show Kid Reporter contest.

Shores beat out thousands of contestants to win a spot on the popular morning news show.

Here's her video:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Let's enjoy the victory for now. We'll talk about what these experiences actually teach kids about journalism later.

On The Tigers (The West End Story)

2009-11-11T13:48:00.001-06:00

UPDATE (11/11): Should the football program at the University of Memphis be allowed to die?

Former U of M vice president Jerry Boone believes that it is time. An excerpt from his letter to the Commercial Appeal:

I spent some 30 years at then Memphis State University, 13 of those years in the central administration as vice president for academic affairs and, briefly, as interim president. I got to see, up close, the decision-making that occurred each time a series of losing football coaches was terminated. I saw the drain on university money from a consistently losing football program that never was self-supporting despite a series of good coaches and hard-working players.

The deficits had to come from general funds that otherwise could have gone to support academic programs and from activity fees students had to pay, whether they attended the games or not. A very few of us thought football should be stopped, and that athletics should be focused on a basketball program that was self-supporting and on the less-expensive minor sports and women's sports. Each time, the decision was to limp along and hire another coach. Why?

Two fears, I believe -- that ending football would rob the university of the support of loyal and important fans, and that whatever administration was in place at the time would be viewed as a failure. Those fears were valid, and may still be today.

There are fervent, loyal fans who would indeed be disappointed, regrettably. Contributions to athletics would suffer. But I believe the people who love the U of M would continue to love the school and would help it to continue developing as a great university.

The Flyer's John Branston echoes Boone's thoughts and even asks the University's Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research to deliver a report on the costs and benefits of football. An excerpt from Branston:

Football has intangible as well as tangible benefits, but the Sparks center should try to quantify them, as well as the costs and benefits of alternatives that would serve more students and promote the academic mission. If car companies, banks, manufacturers, and investment firms can go away, it should not be unthinkable to do away with football.

Doing away with football is not unthinkable--though it is unfair to lop it with the unprecedented catastrophes that befell those mentioned industries.

Look, even West's ups-and-downs proved that U of M football is not a catastrophe. From my perspective, any decision to fold the program would likely be borne out of the same pessimistic mindset that nothing good can happen in this city.

Forget the Big East or whatever. We just are so undeserving. That's crap, of course. Year in and out, football--like basketball--gives the University, students, alumni, fans and this city hope for better fortunes, better possibilities. Heck, any sport does. We shouldn't let go of that.

But I digress.

*CA: Coaching search vital.
*Fox13: Problems.
*EyeNews: Fred Smith willing to transform Tiger program. An excerpt:

There is no bigger U of M booster than FedEx CEO Fred Smith. He is passionate about the game of football. He donates generously to the university. And with his son Cannon joining the team next year, sources tell myEyewitnessNews.com that Smith is absolutely, positively ready to deliver a 747-sized cash infusion into the Tigers football program.

"I mean, having Fred Smith behind you," says longtime Memphis sportscaster Dave Woloshin, "is as good as it gets."

Woloshin, the Voice of the Tigers for more than a decade, says the deep pockets of Fred Smith and FedEx could give the University of Memphis football program what it's lacked for decades.

If Smith's son does join the team, wouldn't Smith's financial backing be a conflict of interest or something that the NCAA rules committee might be interested in?

UPDATE (11/10): The obituary of the Tommy West era continues to write itself.

Look, we can all agree that Tommy West is a nice guy and that the facilities at Memphis are subpar compared to other programs.

However, we also must note that this same University ponied up some extra cash to bolster West's paycheck in 2004 and we must also note that improvements were coming.

The real question is: would the improvements have come faster if the Tigers were winning?

Without question, they would have.

My point is this: Tommy West is no Calipari. He's never really come across as a salesman and that's what you need in the football program. How do you think the basketball program gained its riches?

Cal sold a bill of goods and backed them up on a court--NCAA violations notwithstanding, of course.

If West had won the division, much less the league, title, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Again, he got an extension after taking the Tigers to their first bowl game in years. But I digress.

The problem isn't just the subpar facilities or the administration. Those are red herrings at the end of the day.

The real deal is that West has proven not to be that coach who could take the Tigers to the next, tiniest level (i.e. a C-USA division title)--just like the six guys who proceeded him.

*Flyer: West.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, who should replace West? LSU's Larry Porter would be an awesome choice and so would Florida's Charlie Strong. But, God and Bear Bryant forgive me, Tommy Tuberville might be a better choice.

He may have deeper connections in this area, though he's perhaps better known for his time at Auburn. But whatever he may have, it may extend deeper than just recruiting. He may have inroads into the private money that Memphis sorely needs.

I just don't see Memphis boosters pouring money into a program for a head coach with no wins of his own.

Cal had wins. He had the shtick to get what he needed. That's why Coach Josh Pastner is such a lucky stiff.

UPDATE: What was R.C. Johnson thinking?

First, he fires Tommy West. Then, he gives some details about a coaching searching, noting that the word is that Memphis is a place for a coach.

Yet, none of that matters because West outstaged Johnson and basically destroyed the coaching search by degrading the University, its fans and the local media, noting that the program either needs to step up or be shut down. (Raw video)

What an endorsement.

So, now what? How can Johnson allow West to stick around knowing that he's liable to say whatever he wants to say?

*CA: The obit.
*MDN: Bang.

ORIGINAL POST (11/9): According to the Commercial Appeal, the University of Memphis has fired Tommy West as its football coach.

Initial reaction: what took so long?

*Fox13: Fired. (EyeNews. WMC)
*FootballScoop: Breaking.
*WREG: Fired, but asked to stay.

On Being Open (The Executive Order)

2009-11-11T13:27:00.002-06:00

One day, Nov. 10, 2009 might be viewed as a hallmark day for open records--not just in Memphis, but in Tennessee.

Well, that's if other cities follow the lead that Mayor A C Wharton Jr. set Tuesday with the signing of Executive Order No. 01-2009, which establishes a new bar for transparency in local government.

An excerpt from the CA:

“I just don’t believe in these games we’ve played with open records over the years,” said Wharton. “It’s oxymoronic to talk about a ‘secret’ public document.”

The order also increases the public’s access to the city’s top officials, including Wharton and the chief administrative officer, who is responsible for running the city’s day-to-day operations. The new standard calls for an “open door” policy in both offices, in which anyone from the public can enter either office during normal business hours and request a meeting.

Wharton has asked City Atty. Herman Morris to set a schedule for training high-level city employees, including division directors, deputy directors and other key personnel, on the requirements of the open records laws.

“If I merely sign an order it means nothing if it is not carried out from the top down,” said Wharton.

*WREG, WMC, Fox13.

For the record, local media has been entranced by the perception of openness.

Wharton's order is not in the same vein as using the cityofmemphis.org as a de facto campaign site or claiming that tours of the mayor's office is a real chance to see government at work. I'm just saying, the appearance of transparency is quite different than the real thing.

For instance, the first directive requires that the city acknowledge "properly submitted requests for open records" within no more than five business days. Cool for customer service but it's still just an acknowledgement.

The directive may or may not actually speed up the time that it takes to actually receive the records; however, it is clearly stated that delays are not encouraged and requests shoudl be filled as "expeditiously as is practicable."

Well, how is "practicable" defined?

Right, old arguments of time aren't resolved.

And then there's is the language further down in the order, which gives the city more leeway to determine how records can be released.

I'm just sayin, while the environment surrounding the release of open records has apparently changed under Wharton, some things will likely remain the same.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the order notes that information about city contractors will be posted on the city's Web site.

Does that include legal fees and other professional services too?

*MDN: Transition, Global Ideas, Cult of Personality

On COGIC (The Saints Go Marching Out )

2009-11-09T11:04:00.003-06:00

As the Church of God in Christ wraps up its annual convocation and leaves its ancestral home of Memphis for good (perhaps), will we finally get into the depths of how this city lost its biggest and most lucrative annual event?

It surely goes beyond the incessant (and seemingly unjustified) complaints about tipping from wait-staffs at local restaurants.

Maybe, we need to revisit our convention center as well as consider luring in more hotels downtown.

Isn't that what the previous city administration tried to do? How will Mayor A C Wharton respond to this?

*Thomas: Go and see.
*WREG. EyeNews.

On Willie Herenton (Baby Mama Drama)

2009-11-08T11:44:00.006-06:00

In today's Commercial Appeal, reporter Marc Perrusquia offered his latest analysis on former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton's legal and potential financial troubles.

In essence, Perrusquia argues that Herenton was spurred to involve himself in matters that allegedly netted him $240,000 (according to the CA's calculations) because of the prospect of having to pay child support for the son that he bore out of wedlock in 2004.

Got that?

As unbelievable as that sounds, here's how Perrusquia frames all the moving parts:

The year 2004 was pivotal for Willie Herenton.

Earning $160,000 a year as Memphis mayor, he was seeking — and finding — ever new sources of income.

He began cashing in unused vacation days. He tapped money from a slush fund controlled by a City Hall aide. He lined up another controversial pay day by involving himself in a city redevelopment plan.

In all, the arrangements steered an extra $240,000 into Herenton's pockets between 2004 and his July retirement this year, according to an examination by The Commercial Appeal.

As a federal grand jury continues to explore Herenton's dealings as mayor — key among them a $91,000 payment he got involving the planned redevelopment of the Greyhound bus station — continuing revelations about his behavior near the end of his 17-year tenure are puzzling many observers.

"That is a mystery: Where is the money going?" asked Larry Moore, a political consultant and University of Memphis professor.

"It's possible he was asset building. But the natural supposition is: What's going on?"

This much is clear: Herenton's personal life was becoming increasingly complicated -- and costly -- in 2004.

That September, Herenton, then 64 and divorced, had a baby with a woman 33 years his junior, resulting in a $25,000-a-year child support order.

Meantime, his private real estate firm struggled.

How much any of that affected Herenton is difficult to say. He declined to be interviewed for this article. His attorney, Robert Spence, suggested there were no financial troubles and no connection between the grand jury probe and events in Herenton's private life.

"It's not as if he was paid an insignificant amount as mayor," Spence said. (Herenton's mayoral salary was raised to $171,500 in 2008.) "You're looking for a thread that ties this all together. I'm not sure that one exists."

Nonetheless, details surrounding a 17-month federal probe of Herenton show that in 2004 the then-mayor was working in several directions to earn more money.

The alleged thread is child support.

It sort of makes sense when you consider that child support is what eventually led to the demise of former state Sen. John Ford. He got in trouble when Tamara Mitchell-Ford started claiming that he was withholding income from their children and the courts started perusing his earnings.

Déjà vu, no? Yes.

Herenton's baby mama, Claudine Marsh, is alleging that he is shorting their child, Michael, out of cash, especially after Herenton cashed in his city pension for more than $500,000. In an E-mail to media outlets, Marsh's attorney noted that the courts have signed a forensic accountant to go through Herenton's finances. Most importantly, the attorney noted that Marsh might be coming forth with new allegations against Herenton. For his part, Herenton maintains that he has always supported Michael.

Still, it's unclear what his financial records might reveal.

To that end, there's just not enough concrete evidence to suggest that Herenton is a step or two away from Ford's fate.

After all, Herenton has not been indicted or convicted of anything--yet or otherwise. But I digress.

The child support desperation theory isn't really plausible as a thread that binds.

I'm just sayin, if you read Perrusquia's story, it reads as if Herenton was in financial straits, especially since his private real estate firm was supposedly lagging. But how could Herenton be living from check to check, which is what he had to be doing in order to be so desperate for extra cash?

Based on the calculations, Herenton earned more than $2 million in salary as mayor alone. That doesn't include whatever income he earned or perhaps invested during his lengthy tenure as Memphis City Schools superintendent. As Spence said, it wasn't like Herenton was being paid an insignificant amount of money. He wasn't.

Also, let's consider the timing. Another excerpt from Perrusquia's article:

He traveled that May at city expense to Dallas to visit executives at Greyhound Bus Lines and, a month later, obtained an option to purchase the firm's bus station site in Downtown Memphis. Herenton later sold that option, collecting $91,000, sources said.

That transaction is at the center of the federal probe. By the time Herenton's private real estate firm obtained and sold the option, he'd been lobbying as mayor for years to get Greyhound to move out of Downtown. Greyhound resisted until 2006 when the bus firm received a commitment by Memphis Area Transit Authority to build a new $16.5 million station near the airport.

If Herenton needed extra cash for child support, then did he know in May 2004 that Marsh was pregnant? (The child was born that September.) Or again, was he that broke?

I don't think he was either. Nor am I inclined to follow the logic that suggests that an individual should be satisfied with whatever income that his or her salary provides and thus be less inclined to make more money. Tell that to Warren Buffett or Bill Gates and see what happens.

The pursuant of additional income isn't an inherently criminal or unethical act--though it can cause problems. But I digress.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, this saga revolves around another central question: is Perrusquia a public mouthpiece for the feds?

To be sure, Herenton's attorney Robert Spence believes that Perrusquia's reporting gives insight into how the feds perhaps view his client's private business dealings.

He said as much in his Oct. 12 deposition with the Shelby County D.A.'s office as part of its move to oust Elbert Jefferson as Memphis City Attorney.

(Jefferson later resigned--again. It's complicated.)

[Spence deposition: 1, 2, 3. The pictured quote refers to this Jan. 12 article.]

Now, I'm not really focused on who Perrusquia's anonymous source(s) might be. He should keep them close to the vest.

The only issue might be that he doesn't seem to really question the source or its motives.

I'm just sayin, anonymous sources who portend to know about alleged criminal acts by public officials may not always get it right. (See Lee, Joseph and Ford, Edmund.)

So, consider me skeptical of child support as the thread that binds all these moving parts together.

*Past M:M commentary.

On John "Bad Dog" McCormack (Get Well Soon)

2009-11-07T20:13:00.003-06:00

Rock 103's John "Bad Dog" McCormack (pictured on the left) is battling leukemia.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to McCormack, his family and the crew at Rock 103.

You can follow his status updates on Facebook.

*WMC: Still humorous. An excerpt:

Now, McCormack is in the hospital, in isolation. His wrecked immune system prevents him from receiving visitors, yet he is in good spirits.

"Everything's going pretty good," he said. "We're on track. They're very happy and very optimistic about how I'm responding to this treatment, and I feel real well."

McCormack faces two solid weeks of intense chemotherapy. In the meantime, he calls in to the studio nearly every morning to express gratitude and relay new insight.

"Actually experiencing it right now has humbled me, man. It shows me who the real heroes are in this city," he said.

McCormack's sense of humor remains intact as he looks ahead to the battle he faces.

"Let me tell you, this is nothing like facing your wife in court," he said. "Brother, this is nothing."

Get well soon.

On The Tide (SEC WEST CHAMPIONS!!)

2009-11-07T19:07:00.002-06:00

Of course, you knew this was coming.

Moving on...

On Multi Media

2009-11-04T12:22:00.003-06:00

(Photo: Brandon Dill)

In case you missed it, I recently did an interview with the Memphis Business Quarterly.

On Mediaverse (Let's Go)

2009-11-04T01:38:00.000-06:00

No, this is not 2.0. It's not ready yet.

As the third anniversary of this site draws near, I find myself in a place so familiar to this similar time in 2006: income and quality of life imperiled by a job loss but still trying to dream.

Déjà vu, indeed.

Yet, Mediaverse© has come a long way in more than 3,400 posts. I still hold true to the basic tenets of my first post. There is a valuable need for a conversation on local media in Memphis.

Yes, let's continue to talk about it.

But there is a broader mission for Mediaverse© in the year ahead. It's not only to deliver insightful commentary, analysis and original reporting on local media and related issues.

The broader mission is to fund quality, independent journalism itself by offering grants to journalists through a non-profit foundation.

I can't achieve this goal alone.

I'm asking for for volunteers and investors to help me form an advisory committee that will pursue the 501(c)3 designation. If you are interested, please E-mail me with your contact information.

In the meantime, you can expect to see more posting as 2.0 develops. In fact, I'm open to ideas for what 2.0 should have.

I thank you for your patience, dear readers and colleagues. I thank you for your encouragement--each and every one of you.

Most importantly, I thank my wife for her support and my daughter, Ari, who will one day have a very interesting story to tell.

Right now, though, there's yet another diaper to change.