Journalism Archives - Page 3 of 3 Voice For Liberty

Feb

The changing face of journalism

As newspapers and other forms of traditional news media experience economic difficulty, a gap has been created that needs to be filled. One of the solutions is the rise of non-profit organizations that have stepped in to provide the watchdog service that investigative journalism provides. Jason Stverak, author of the piece below, is president of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, which funds investigative journalism in a growing number of states, including Kansas at Kansas Watchdog. This piece also appeared in National Review Online. Corruption and scandal are not simply bred in D.C. -- crooked politicians have to…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

KSN news director meets with critics

KSN News Director Jason Kravarik On Saturday October 17, 2009, about 50 Wichitans met in front of Wichita's KSN Television studio to express their concerns about the state of news media. The event was part of a national protest named "Can you hear us now?" Locally, the South Central Kansas 9.12 Group promoted the event. Jason Kravarik, KSN News Director addressed the group. The crowd was contentious at first, but after emotions cooled a bit, a more constructive dialog emerged. Kravarik stressed that KSN is a local news organization. It is affiliated with NBC News, but KSN employees are not…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Leonard Pitts vs. Fox News

A guest commentary. I was reading Leonard Pitts' editorial attack on Fox News while I was watching a news report about the fed's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) October 5 while eating breakfast. Pitts' assault on Fox News made me reach for my flipper and check the two high rated broadcast news programs in the morning on NBC and ABC. I can't remember which I turned to first but the broadcast news was reporting more details about the tawdry breakup of the Gosselin marriage (John & Kate plus eight) as this family dissolves. I then flipped to the other channel…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

John Stossel urges reliance on freedom, not government, in Wichita

John Stossel at Wichita State University Speaking at Wichita State University on Monday, former ABC News journalist John Stossel told a large crowd that free markets and limited government, not more government, are the best way to increase our wealth and prosperity. Speaking about his beliefs early in his career as a journalist, Stossel said, "By and large it's [capitalism] cruel and unfair. We need government and lawyers to protect us from capitalists." Eventually, he said, he began to realize the harm in excessive government regulation. Bureaucrats who propose licensing auto repair shops don't do much to protect consumers. Instead,…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

In Wichita, protest of ABC’s Obama coverage

Here's a message from a local patriot and activist. She is rightly concerned about ABC News -- the national organization, not the local affiliate -- and its upcoming coverage of the Obama administration: Protest in Wichita in front of ABC affiliate KAKE news TV at 1500 N. West St., Wichita this Wednesday, June 24th starting at 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Please join us! We are protesting how ABC is propagandizing the American public and deceiving them. What is she concerned about? The editorial ABC Self-Nationalizes For Obama supplies some background: Media Bias: As much of the U.S. private sector,…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

Journalism’s obituary, in advance

Referring to an article on the Drudge Report, a local Wichita blogger writes "According to this report on June 24th 2009 the 'Free Press' died without a whimper. It rushed head long into suicide." The entire post is Journalism died 24 June, 2009.

May

By Bob Weeks

Former Wichita Eagle editor addresses journalism, democracy

On Friday, former Wichita Eagle editor W. Davis "Buzz" Merritt Jr. spoke to members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club. He retired as editor of the Eagle in 1999. He is the author of the book Knightfall: Knight Ridder and How the Erosion of Newspaper Journalism Is Putting Democracy at Risk. Merritt said there are two things to think about today. One is that journalism must somehow survive if democracy is to survive. The two are interdependent. One can't exist without the other. The second is that democracy can't survive on opinions alone. "The plasma of democracy is shared…