The Feed

30/10/2024

Happy to announce my band Soul Mafia will perform Dec. 7 at the Arts Annual organized by Creative Pinellas, which has been expanded into a hurricane relief fundraiser, with 80% of proceeds going to help local artists. For a sample of the show, check this:

The Soul Mafia band performs "Pick Up the Pieces" for WUSF's Soul Sessions performance series. See WUSF page here: https://www.jazzonartsaxisflorida.org/soul...

30/10/2024

Happy to announce my band Soul Mafia will perform Dec. 7 at the Arts Annual organized by Creative Pinellas, which has been expanded into a hurricane relief fundraiser, with 80% of proceeds going to help local artists. For MORE DETAILS and TICKETS:

Our beloved arts community, which has weathered budget vetoes and now two historic hurricanes, is in need of your support more than ever. Join us for the Arts Annual Hurricane Relief Fundraiser... Read More

30/10/2024

Talk about a closing argument: Jimmy Kimmel delivers a monologue aimed at convincing Republicans not to vote for Donald Trump by providing a long list of reasons. "This is about sanity and security and democracy."

Tonight’s monologue is for Republicans. If you have someone in your life who is either planning to vote for Trump or thinking about it, please send this to t...

29/10/2024

Axios reports most U.S. counties have little to no local news sources, as the rise of locally-focused digital news platforms moves slower than the pace of local newspaper closures. READ:

Digital news sites aren't offsetting the dramatic rate of newspaper closures.

29/10/2024

The Tampa Bay Times has joined the list of newspapers refusing to endorse candidates for president or U.S. Senate. Never understood logic of issuing recommendations for all but the biggest races readers might need the most help parsing, but...

The question has come up in the wake of controversies at the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post.

28/10/2024

My colleague David Folkenflik is reporting that there have been more than 200,000 subscription cancellations following the Washington Post's decision not to endorse a candidate for president. READ:

Over 200,000 people canceled their subscriptions in the first few days following news that The Washington Post would not endorse any presidential candidate.

28/10/2024

As important as this opinion page is, given the Wash Post and LATimes decision to not endorse a candidate in this presidential election, I really don't understand NYTimes decision to NOT do endorsements for New York elections where readers might need the most guidance.

27/10/2024

Tampa's NPR member station WUSF has a wonderful array of resources for voters in Florida looking for information on candidates, constitutional amendments, early voting rules and much more. Check it out:

The general election is underway and WUSF wants you to be empowered before you vote. The Our Changing State podcast breaks it down – from “deep fakes” to constitutional amendments.   Every episode this season breaks down a topic in a way that you - a Florida voter - can get a clear idea of th...

26/10/2024

Brian Stelter outlines stakes of newspaper endorsement scandal in his Reliable Sources newsletter for CNN: "The appearance of caving to Trump does real and lasting damage to any enterprise that isn't identified as pro-Trump."

Let's get this part out of the way first: Newspaper endorsements normally don't matter much. If The Washington Post had gone ahead with its expected endorsement of VP Kamala Harris, we wouldn't be sending out a special Saturday edition.

25/10/2024

The Wrap is reporting the LATimes had also planned a "Case Against Trump" series to run alongside its Kamala Harris endorsement before the owner quashed it:

Patrick Soon-Shiong's interference with the paper's editorial freedom has sparked a crisis that includes canceled subscriptions and several high profile resignations

25/10/2024

The Washington Post makes it official: It has published a statement from its publisher saying that, for the first time in many years, it will not endorse a candidate in the presidential race, though it has endorsed candidates in other races.

For the first time in decades, The Washington Post will not endorse a presidential candidate, the newspaper’s publisher announced Friday.

25/10/2024

Honored to be among instructors who will work w/amazing crop of 16 journalists chosen for the Poynter Institute's Diverse Voices program - which helps journalists of color learn to bring personal experience and perspectives to their work. Here's the list:

16 journalists have been chosen for Poynter’s 2024 Power of Diverse Voices seminar for writing and coaching sessions.

25/10/2024

My colleague David Folkenflik digs into a thorny question: Did some mainstream media outlets temper their coverage in order to avoid angering Donald Trump?

Inside the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, and the Washington Post, journalists question whether news executives are making editorial decisions with an eye to appeasing former President Donald Trump.

24/10/2024

Ex LATimes columnist Frank Shyong has powerful essay on why he left: the deteriorating social contract between journalism institutions, which demand the public's stories for free, and a skeptical populace, which has justifiably lost trust in them. READ:

And some thoughts on what's happening to journalism

24/10/2024

Today is last day registered voters can request a mail in ballot in Florida. I always like this process, because I can sit w/coffee, look up any questions I have about candidates or ballot initiatives. Here's NPR's online collection of election resources:

What you need to know about the races, issues and decisions being made in your community.

23/10/2024

The Wrap reports criticism is increasing of LATimes owner blocking the paper from making a political endorsement, as the edit board was prepping to endorse Kamala Harris. Jemele Hill called out "the cowardice of journalists during this time." READ:

LA Times readers are fuming over the paper's decision to not endorse Kamala Harris, with many saying they'll cancel their subscriptions

22/10/2024

Ticket sales end at midnight for WUSF's Listen Up Luncheon, an amazing gathering on Oct. 28 in Sarasota aimed at raising $$ for Tampa's NPR member station. I'll be the keynote speaker, talking about journalism, modern media, public media and more. JOIN US:

About WUSF News

22/10/2024

An NPR investigation found that, since 2022, Donald Trump has threatened to prosecute, investigate, arrest or otherwise punish perceived enemies more than 100 times, including attacks on fellow Americans he calls "the enemy from within."

An NPR investigation has found that since 2022, Trump has repeatedly threatened to investigate, prosecute, jail or otherwise punish his political opponents, rivals and even private citizens.

22/10/2024

Fun talking w/creator & cast of NBC's Found for Paley Center. EP Nkechi Okoro Carroll talks creating a show where a Black woman has former kidnapper trapped in a basement, Mark-Paul Gosselaar talks playing villain, chemistry w/star Shanola Hampton. WATCH:

A creative and cast members of NBC's Found (Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gabrielle Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta, Karan Oberoi, Brett...

21/10/2024

Weeks before the election, media may seem crazier than ever. We will dissect how to understand what's happening & how public media fits in, during my appearance Oct. 28 as keynote speaker at Tampa NPR station WUSF's Listen up Luncheon fundraiser in Sarasota. Tickets are going fast - please join us! DETAILS:

About WUSF News

21/10/2024

Odd as Donald Trump's outburst about Arnold Palmer's, um, endowments was, it fits his instinct to dominate press coverage, however it takes. In a weekend where Kamala Harris appeared w/ Usher & Stevie Wonder, Trump led a lot of news reports w/his bluster.

Former President Donald Trump circuitously referenced golfer Arnold Palmer's genitalia but more directly insulted Vice President Harris at a winding rally in Latrobe, Pa., Saturday.

18/10/2024

After TWO hurricanes, can't wait to connect w listener/supporters of Tampa NPR station WUSF as speaker for Listen Up Luncheon fundraiser. WUSF radio kept community informed when people didn't have TV/cell service; join us Oct. 28 to learn more. TICKETS:

18/10/2024

Great episode from John Oliver's Last Week Tonight Sunday on efforts by Donald Trump and his supporters to generate "a storm of toxic nonsense" to undermine the current election, especially if he loses. WATCH:

John Oliver discusses the attempts made by Donald Trump and his supporters to undermine the upcoming election, what we can expect after election night, and t...

18/10/2024

Spectrum has finally restored my home internet/wifi/cable TV more than a week after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida. Last utility to come back - wonder if they will face tough questions from consumers who had power for days but no landline phone/internet.

11/10/2024

This Atlantic column by Charlie Warzel nails something I have tried - and failed - to articulate for years. A huge crisis for media is the flood of lies out there in public discourse. And it is such a factor in politics and public life because a significant portion of consumers are not dupes, but willing participants resisting truth.

What’s happening in America today is something darker than a misinformation crisis.