Nieman Journalism Lab A community news co-op, aiming to build a replicable model, moves a step closer to reality It was as incongruous a situation as I could imagine. April 19 was one of the most gripping news days we have ever experienced in Massachusetts. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the younger of the suspected marathon bombers, was in hiding. Boston and several other cities were under voluntary lockdown. And that morning I was driving north, toward Haverhill, […]
Boston.com Panel at Northeastern explores media’s role in juvenile sentencing reform In an effort to raise awareness of this issue, a group of Northeastern University students held an event on April 17 titled “Journalism & Juvenile Justice: How Your Sentences Affect Theirs,” a panel discussion that explored the role the media plays in juvenile sentencing reform. It featured several prominent speakers, including former governor Michael Dukakis; […]
Antiquated state laws stir modern-day worry If you are performing “The Star-Spangled Banner’’ at a public event, think twice before using it as dance music or as part of a medley. Deviation from the script can mean a $100 fine. Think twice, too, about cursing at sporting events. A prohibition took effect in 1963, when both Red Sox and Patriots fans […]
Aggressive Or Annoying? Some Find Debate Too Rude This is presidential? They bicker, interrupt, talk over the moderator. To some, the Obama-Romney rematch was squirm-inducing. But shedding some dignity probably won’t cost the candidates much. Since both President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney came out swinging, neither was likely to claim a decisive advantage among viewers who thought the debate smacked of […]
After a New-Look Debate, a Harsh Light Falls on the Moderator The new format for the presidential debate prompted plenty of partisan debate online — as did the performance of the moderator, Jim Lehrer. Mr. Lehrer’s light touch was widely criticized during and after the debate on Wednesday night, particularly by Democrats who felt that President Obama’s Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, effectively moderated the debate himself. […]
Romney wasn’t stellar, but Obama fell short Incumbent presidents often take it on the chin when they return to the debate stage after a four-year absence. Wednesday night in Denver added another such instance to the history books. It’s not that Mitt Romney was particularly stellar, but rather that President Obama fell short.