Something Wrong with Reporting?

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Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Jeff Jarvis, 10/29/24

Headline:  “Why Are Liberals Infuriated with the Media?”

Subhead:  “From sanewashing to false equivalence, many readers have had it with their favorite news publications. Editors would do well to listen.”

“Even before the owners of the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post overruled their editorial boards and, without warning or explanation, spiked endorsements of Kamala Harris—triggering resignations of journalists, a public uproar, and mass subscription cancellations—liberal disappointment and anger with some of the largest national news organizations was already boiling over.

“Of course, the right-wing has had it out for the press across generations and continents, labeling news media Lügenpresse (‘the lying press’) or ‘fake news.’ Donald Trump has attacked and threatened the press. That is not new. Nor is liberal loathing of Rupert Murdoch’s bully pulpits, which act as political agents (though the Wall Street Journal editorial board just mined fresh depths, dismissing the threat of fascism as merely a meme and marking Democrats as ‘the national socialists’.

“What is new and striking is the current wave of grievances regarding political coverage coming from once-devoted liberal readers as well as experienced journalists.”

https://www.cjr.org/analysis/liberals-infuriated-media-cancel-subscription-editorial-endorsement-times-washington-post-jarvis.php

Stopping Teen Social Media

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Article in TechXplore by Lara Chuung, 11/29/24

Headline:  “Social media companies slam Australia’s under-16 ban”

“Social media giants on Friday hit out at a landmark Australian law banning them from signing up under-16s, describing it as a rush job littered with “many unanswered questions”.”

“. . .One of the biggest issues will be privacy—what age-verification information is used, how it is collected and by whom.”

“. . .Social media companies remain adamant that age verification should be the job of app stores, but the government believes tech platforms should be responsible.”

“. . . The legislation will be closely monitored by other countries, with many weighing whether to implement similar bans.”

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-11-social-media-companies-slam-australia.html

Another Journalist Abduction

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Article in Common Dreams by Jessica Corbett, 11/28/24

Headline:  ” Rights Groups Alarmed by Arrest of Pakistani Journalist Matiullah Jan”

Subhhead:  “Amnesty International said that his arbitrary detention ‘on trumped up charges after he was abducted in the late hours of November 27 is an affront on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.’ “

” Human rights and press freedom groups on Thursday expressed concern after Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan’s family said he was “abducted,” and then a judge placed him in police custody for a terrorism and narcotics case that critics call “bogus.”

” ‘Matiullah Jan has been abducted from the parking of PIMS tonight at around [11:00 pm] by unmarked abductors in an unmarked vehicle ‘ Jan’s son, Abdul Razzaq, said on the journalist’s X account . . .”

” ‘This follows his courageous coverage of the protests in Islamabad. I demand that my father be let go immediately and his family immediately be informed of his whereabouts,’ added the son, who later posted a video on social media.”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/matiullah-jan

R.I.P. Traditional Media?

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Article in Daily Kos by NoFortunaeSon, 11/30/24

Headline:  “It’s Okay to Let The Establishment Media Die”

Excellent article examining the recent failures of media to promote democracy

“. . .So billionaires are capturing media to promote politics hostile to democrats, and the remaining media … has been attacking democrats for decades? Just what the heck are Democrats defending here?”

“Josh Marshall has an excellent article well worth a read on how Democrats have found themselves on the side of defending institutions in an era of populist, institutional mistrust. For example, a major thrust of Trumpism is attacking the press. Democrats respond by rallying to the defense of the media, because a free press is a concept Democrats (rightly) hold in high regard. But this is mistake. . . ”

“. . . So far, the free press is showing remarkable signs of enduring Trump. We don’t need this abusive relationship with establishment media, and we certainly don’t need to reward it financially.”

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/30/2092920/-It-s-Okay-to-Let-The-Establishment-Media-Die?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

Journalists Will Be Muzzled?

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Article in The Columbia Journalism Review by Kyle Paolette, 11/22/25

Headline:  “A New Normal”

Subhead:  “If Donald Trump returns to the White House, the Espionage Act offers a clear path for him to stifle press freedom.”

“It’s the summer of 2025, and the home screen of every major news outlet bears the same image: a journalist being escorted by a cloud of black suits across a brick plaza to a hearing at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the first American reporter ever to be charged under the Espionage Act.”

“. . .Since the eighties, the Espionage Act has served as the primary means of prosecuting government employees for disclosing confidential information. This century, the threat has grown significantly. During the George W. Bush administration, Judith Miller—a Times reporter whose coverage of the Iraq War drew upon what turned out to have been fabricated intelligence—was jailed for refusing to reveal a source being investigated under the Espionage Act. . . .”

https://www.cjr.org/covering_the_election/new-normal-paoletta-trump-espionage-act-project-2025-prosecute-enemies.php

Canada Leads Battle of Media Titans

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Article in The Guardian by Leland Cecco, 11/29/24

Headline: “Canadian media companies sue OpenAI in case potentially worth billions”

Subhead: “Litigants say AI company used their articles to train its popular ChatGPT software without authorization”

“Canada’s major news organizations have sued tech firm OpenAI for potentially billions of dollars, alleging the company is “strip-mining journalism” and unjustly enriching itself by using news articles to train its popular ChatGPT software.

The suit, filed on Friday in Ontario’s superior court of justice, calls for punitive damages, a share of profits made by OpenAI from using the news organizations’ articles, and an injunction barring the San Francisco-based company from using any of the news articles in the future.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/canada-media-companies-sue-openai-chatgpt

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Article in the New York Times by Matina Stevis-Gridneff, 11/29/24

Headline:   “Major Canadian News Outlets Sue OpenAI in New Copyright Case”

Subhead:  “A coalition of some of Canada’s biggest media companies is seeking billions of dollars in compensation for what they say is copyright infringement on their work through ChatGPT.”

“These artificial intelligence companies cannibalize proprietary content and are free-riding on the backs of news publishers who invest real money to employ real journalists who produce real stories for real people,” said Paul Deegan, president of News Media Canada.

“A coalition of Canada’s biggest news organizations is suing OpenAI, the maker of the artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, accusing the company of illegally using their content in the first case of its kind in the country.

Five of the country’s major news companies, including the publishers of its top newspapers, newswires and the national broadcaster, filed the joint suit in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Friday morning.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/world/canada/canada-openai-lawsuit-copyright.html

Gotta Catch ’em All (Media that is)

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Article in Daily Kos by Mark Sumner, 11/28/24

Headline:  “Media capture is no joke”

“For the past week, Elon Musk has repeatedly commented about buying MSNBC. At the same time, Musk accused the news outlet of peddling “puerile propaganda” and derided MSNBC’s ratings, which have—as might be expected—dropped since the election. The result has been a string of comments on Twitter and Fox News in which Trump supporters chortle over the thought of replacing Rachel Maddow with Joe Rogan and exult in the distress they believe Musk’s comments must be generating on the left.

“Many of Musk’s “jokes,” and those of toadies like Rogan, have been accompanied by the kind of homophobic, racist, or misogynist memes that have come to dominate Twitter since Musk laid down $44 billion to destroy that platform. But even as Musk and his social media pals laugh, no one should consider this a farce. It’s a threat. . . ”

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/28/2289221/-Media-capture-is-no-joke?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

Radio Still Makes a Difference

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Article in Politico by Ali Bianco, 11/29/24

Headline: “Disinformation Transformed Miami Politics. This Radio Station Is One Reason Why”

“. . . If you’re from Miami, Radio Mambí’s celebratory vibe is no surprise. This is, after all, the radio station that has been a touchstone for Miami’s Cuban exiliados, or exiles, since they arrived. It’s the radio station that made Miami Cuban politics. But since the 2016 election, it’s morphed into a hotbed of misinformation — one that impacted the 2024 presidential election.”

‘. . .Mambí’s format is particularly suited to spreading disinformation, Gamarra notes. Like many radio stations with Caribbean roots, it isn’t strictly news-focused; its most popular shows are talk shows — and even its news segments are sprinkled with bits of commentary from announcers. With its programming centered around conservative commentary, it formed an echo chamber of MAGA messaging, according to FIU journalism professor Alejandro Alvarado.”

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/11/29/radio-mambi-miami-maga-00190415

 

Revenge Against Media Coming

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Article in The New Republic by Greg Sargent, 11/27/24

Headline:  “Trump’s Eruption of Rage at NYT Offers Unnerving Hint of What’s Coming”

Subhead:  “As Trump rants at the Times after coverage of his creepy young aide, former Times public editor Margaret Sullivan reflects on what his press crackdown may look like—and how the media can respond.”

“This week, Donald Trump erupted in fury at The New York Times. He appeared triggered by a story about an aide named Natalie Harp, who serves as his gatekeeper with creepy levels of devotion. What caught our eye is that in his rant, Trump demanded that the Times show obeisance to him because he won the election, perhaps providing an early glimpse of how he will seek to cow the media into submission. We talked to Margaret Sullivan, the former Times public editor and author of the great Substack American Crisis, who explains what Trump’s crackdown on the press might look like—and how well the media will respond to it. Listen to this episode here. A transcript is . . .” – in the link below:

https://newrepublic.com/article/188857/trumps-eruption-rage-nyt-offers-unnerving-hint-whats-coming

No More Social Media for Kids

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Update in UPI by Alasdair Pal and Cordelia Hus, 11/29/24

Headline:  “Australia’s under-16 social media ban sparks anger and relief”

“Australians reacted on Friday with a mixture of anger and relief to a social media ban on children under 16 that the government says is world-leading, but which tech giants like TikTok argue could push young people to ‘darker corners of the internet’

“Australia approved the social media ban for children late on Thursday after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.”

 

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Article in New York Times by Victorieia Kim, 11/28/24

Headline:  “Australia Has Barred Everyone Under 16 From Social Media. Will It Work?”

Subhead:  “The law sets a minimum age for users of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X. How the restriction will be enforced online remains an open question.”

“Australia has imposed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the worlds most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online. But many details were still unclear, such as how it will be enforced and what platforms will be covered.

“After sailing through Parliaments lower house on Wednesday, the bill passed the Senate on Thursday with bipartisan support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that it puts Australia at the vanguard of efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of children from detrimental effects of social media, such as online hate or bullying.

“The law, he has said, puts the onus on social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account. Corporations could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32 million) for ‘systemic’ failures to implement age requirements.

“Neither underage users nor their parents will face punishment for violations. And whether children find ways to get past the restrictions is beside the point, Mr. Albanese said.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/world/asia/australia-social-media-ban-law.html

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AP article by By ROD MCGUIRK, 11/28/24

Headline:  “Social media ban for under-16s passes the Australian Senate and will soon be a world-first law”

“The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts.”

https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-children-ban-safeguarding-harm-accounts-d0cde2603bdbc7167801da1d00ecd056

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Article in Al Jazeera by staff 11/28/24

“Australia’s Parliament has passed a law banning children aged under 16 from using social media, one of the strictest regulations targeting the platforms in the world.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/28/australia-passes-legislation-banning-under-16s-from-social-media