Free Republic

A journalist was barred from covering the execution of a convicted killer because officials claimed that her skirt was too short. Ivana Hrynkiw Shatara – the managing producer of news video and social media for AL.com – attempted to cover the state execution of Joe Nathan James Jr. at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore on July 28. James Jr. was sentenced to death for the 1994 murder of his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend -Faith Hall. Alabama Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Kelly Betts told Shatara that she could not cover the execution because her outfit was “inappropriate” and...

The press can be dealt with in a professional manner. You need someone who has been in the business to do it. That person would understand inside out how the system works and why. Also, that individual would know how to address a journalist, good or bad. Another key point is to separate them from each other and stop the hyena vs lion dynamic. One-on-one interviews with selected reps from each outlet would be a good start. In a school classroom, you do not get into a major verbal conflict with one student in front of all of the rest....

Chief meteorologist Wes Hohenstein was doing the weather Thursday night on NBC17's 11 p.m. news when all of a sudden a small moth decided it didn't like what Wes had to say. Video at link.

“I’m ready to offer my services for ur project. Contact me at ur earliest convenience 2 arrange for interview. Thanks in advance for ur consideration.” That’s a real cover letter from a real person claiming to be a real professional, who thinks she can get a real job. The letter was fielded by publicist and trend-spotter Richard Laermer, who gets so many of these he collects them and, when asked, forwards them to reporters for fun. The letter “just made me shake my head till it nearly fell off.” But it isn’t rare. In fact, Laermer says, it’s typical. “Lazy...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2008 – Iraqi security forces increasingly demonstrate their professionalism and willingness to step up to protect the Iraqi people, a spokesman for Multinational Corps Iraq told reporters yesterday. During a briefing in Baghdad, Navy Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith pointed to numerous signs of progress in training and equipping the Iraqi army and police forces and the greater role these forces now play in Iraq’s security. “We continue to see examples of the increasingly professionalized Iraqi security forces stepping up to protect their people,” he said. Smith noted the gains being made by soldiers, police officers and...

NBC White House correspondent David Gregory ate a little crow Sunday on this "Meet The Press," apologizing for his arrogant behavior during White House press briefings dealing with the shooting of a hunting companion by Vice President Cheney. Reacting to the storm of criticism leveled by the public at the Washington press corps for complaining that they were not told immediately about the incident, leaving the job of reporting it to a small-town Texas newspaper, Gregory apologized for his boorish behavior. "I think I made a mistake,” he told host Tim Russert. "I think it was inappropriate for me to...

NBC REPORTER TO WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: 'DON'T BE A JERK' Tue Feb 14 2006 08:54:18 ET NBCNEWS chief White House correspondent David Gregory warned President Bush's spokesman on Monday not to be a "jerk!" The heated exchange came during a press gathering at the White House. Gregory asked White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan about the Cheney hunting accident. 'David, hold on, the cameras aren't on right now,' McClellan replied. 'You can do this later.' 'Don't accuse me of trying to pose to the cameras,' Gregory said, voice rising. 'Don't be a jerk to me personally when I'm asking you...

The Army that won the battles of the Gulf War in 1991 was one of the most professional ever fielded by America. As General Schwarzkopf commented, "We could have traded equipment with the Iraqis and still won."[1] And when that Army returned home, it was welcomed by a supportive, even adoring, public. Now, almost one decade later, the situation has changed dramatically. During the past nine years, the US Army has undergone radical changes--major force and budget reductions, revised modernization programs, and successive base realignments and closures. All were intended by design to adapt the institution to the post-Cold War...

A Statement of Shared Purpose After extended examination by journalists themselves of the character of journalism at the end of the twentieth century, we offer this common understanding of what defines our work. The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society. This encompasses myriad roles--helping define community, creating common language and common knowledge, identifying a community's goals, heros and villains, and pushing people beyond complacency. This purpose also involves other requirements, such as being entertaining, serving as watchdog and offering voice to the voiceless. Over time...

Captain Ian Harvey, who has died aged 83, was awarded a George Medal for saving the lives of 27 passengers when he made a masterly landing after a bomb had exploded in the rear of his airliner. Harvey was the pilot of a British European Airways (BEA) Vickers Viking airliner which took off from Northolt for a flight to Paris on April 13 1950. Over the English Channel, there was a loud explosion in the rear of the aircraft, which the flight crew initially thought had been caused by a lightning strike. On investigation, the second pilot, Frank Miller, found...

Blackout - Bret Stephens Admits Paper is not Real By Sara Leibovich-Dar "Conrad Black, the owner of the Jerusalem Post who had fired and laid off hundreds of reporters while embezzling millions of dollars, was more concerned with his grand lifestyle rather than seeing the Post expand and prosper," wrote a biographer. "I give priority to commentary and analysis," - Jerusalem Post Editor Bret Stephens. At a Hollinger International shareholders meeting in New York in May, Conrad Black was very upbeat. Black, the CEO, chairman and major shareholder, arrived with his wife, journalist Barbara Amiel, blew kisses to Donald Trump...

October 02, 2003 UPDATED October 19, 2003 Memo to Bret Stephens: You Live in ISRAEL. You Run an ISRAELI NEWSPAPER The thing is, he tends to forget. Otherwise, what can explain the Jerusalem Post Editor-In-Chief's decision to make Paul Wolfowitz the newspaper's Man of the Year ????? Inside sources tell me that members of his own staff (actual Israeli ones) think this was a totally wacky choice. Listen, it's totally cool if Bret likes to spend his time writing about being a neocon, defending neocon ideas, paying homage to neocons icons like Wolfowitz,explaining why he is a Clinton-hater; noting that...

Our (Israel) Newspapers Fail Us - (UPDATED) September 28, 2003 Editorial - Israel News Agency "Over at the Jerusalem Post, Israel's venerable English language daily newspaper, rumblings of publisher/staff dissatisfaction are being heard loud and clear. Long-time managing editor, Avi Hoffman was fired last week after he recommended pulling an ad that included language he felt would expose Israel to charges of war crimes. New Post editor Bret Stephens apparently agreed. Publisher Tom Rose was furious and ordered Hoffman fired. The full page ad appeared last Friday. According to Aviv Lavie writing in the rival Haaretz English edition, senior staff...

Annika Sorenstam made modern history this past week. She wasn’t the first woman to play a PGA men’s event, but she was the first since many decades ago to do it. In reality, the Colonial is a professional golfer’s event. At first, I derided her for seeking to play the Colonial event, seeking to compete with the men … but I was wrong and she proved me wrong. What Annika did had a lot of controversy attached to it. Male and female golfers were perplexed, and people who don’t even haunt the links were at odds over the spectacle. "Annika...