Hanif on Media

News Media, New Media, Politics, Culture & Spiritual Perspectives from South Florida to Infinity.

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Vocus report on State of the Media: It’s Really, Really Bad

February 24th · Newspapers

“Take your Prozac before reading,” said my former Palm Beach Post and now blogging buddy Jan Norris. Problem is all I take is the occasional vitamin. But you, Dear Reader, have been forewarned regarding David Weir’s sobering analysis of which Jan alerted me and other former Posties.

Jan also notes: “There are, however, success stories, on small and medium levels — Mary Kate Leming’s and Greg Stepanich’s papers are but two print examples. My web site is bucking the trend and making money as well. But we have no illusions that we’re definitely the exceptions.”

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My newspaper experience is different, but note Mimi’s journey: ‘The truth is, it’s always been a lousy business’

February 23rd · Newspapers

“Did it ever occur to you that even the most deathless love could wear out?”— Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind.

While not very fond of Gone With the Wind, I’m happy to recommend Mimi Johnson’s excellent essay for those who are watching what’s happening with newspapers. Her Russian Travel Blog also is worth a look. Meanwhile let’s wish the best for Mimi,  her husband Steve Buttry, and all those who are figuring the future of newspapers — the vehicle, not to be confused with journalism, the craft.

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Online News Association at FAU

February 20th · Newspapers

Have been waiting for this: daylong Online News Association (journalists.org) presentation (Twitter #ONAFL)  at Florida Atlantic University.

Right now Danny Sanchez, digital platform manager for Tribune Interactive in Hartford, Conn., is sharing good stuff. Check out the online media toolbox handout at his journalistopia.com blog.

ONA is the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists. This full day of free, intensive hands-on multimedia training is tailored specifically to the needs of independent, community, non-profit, displaced and employed journalists, bloggers and students in South Florida.
Kudos also to the co-sponsors: the South Florida Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.
Of course, you’ll be the judge of whether all this stuff helps make me a better blogger.

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Palm Beach ArtsPaper on Melton Mustafa Jazz Fest

February 10th · Music, Palm Beach ArtsPaper

“This pure jazz event is simultaneously a treasured South Florida institution and one of our area’s best-kept secrets — even as it draws attention from as far away as Russia….”

Melton Mustafa

I posted on this weekend’s 14th annual session of some of Florida’s finest aspiring jazz students, the music’s most legendary masters and their fans. Check my update in the classy Palm Beach ArtsPaper and its new beta site.

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Organization of News Ombudsmen on Facebook

February 8th · ONO, Organization of News Ombudsmen

See ONO’s new fan site on Facebook — and what bloggers are saying about it. While you’re at it, become a fan.

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Hear, hear…Guardian’s Rusbridger on pay walls: ‘New media’ disappeared. They’re just media now

January 26th · ONO, Organization of News Ombudsmen, Palm Beach Post, The Guardian, The New York Times

“In print, the Guardian is, even now, the ninth or 10th biggest paper in Britain. On the web it is, by most measurements, the second best-read English-language newspaper in the world. If the New York Times really does start charging for access, the Guardian may become the newspaper with the largest web English-speaking readership in the world.” — Alan Rusbridger, Guardian editor-in-chief

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Journalisms: ‘Talk shows botch race discussions’

January 14th · Barack Obama

“Coincidentally, there were no journalists of color in any of the discussions.”

Yet another shameful news media performance — and another reason the online Journalisms column, by my Trotter Group colleague Richard Prince, is must media reading:

“If ever one needed evidence of how uninformed the Sunday talk shows are on racial matters, the hyped-up controversy over private remarks about Barack Obama by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, released in a new book, provide Exhibit A.”

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A truly ‘Heckuva job’ as Palm Beach Community College transforms to Palm Beach State College

January 13th · Education

In 1933, Palm Beach Junior College became Florida’s first public community college. Through the 20th century, as Palm Beach Community College, the school proved one of the best educational institutions in the state, if not the nation. That legacy now advances with a new name. It reflects the Legislature’s authorization of four-year degrees at Florida’s two-year colleges. In a ceremony crammed with students, faculty and citizens this afternoon at the main Lake Worth campus’ multimedia boardroom, Palm Beach State College officially launched its new moniker.

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BBC America busting up stereotypes big time…

January 12th · Afghanistan, BBC

On BBC America @ 7pm today: Two Brits, wrongly imprisoned former Guantanamo inmates, meet former guard who tracked them down to apologize…
I hope to post a video link when available. (Please holler it if you find it first.)

On BBC America @ 7pm today: Two Brits, wrongly imprisoned former Guantanamo inmates, meet former guard who tracked them down to apologize.

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Attorney Gen. Eric Holder advances Forum Club’s ‘Stimulate thought – Promote dialogue’ ethic

January 9th · Obama administration

Holder McAuliffe

(L-R): Forum Club President Robert Bertisch, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe, and Forum Club President-Elect Wendy Link chatting before the program.

It’s that time of the year when seemingly everyone is happy to flee here from winter. This week, however, has been the coldest sustained in many locals’ memory: Friday was the record-breaking seventh straight day of  below 50-degree temperatures at Palm Beach International Airport.

Meanwhile, the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches followed last month’s capacity crowd, to hear National Urban League CEO Marc Morial, with an even larger 700-plus for U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. The day was sunny and comfortable. No wonder the attorney general noted the irony of being thanked for leaving behind several inches of snow in Washington, D.C., to speak and answer a few questions here.

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