• J-Source

    Karaoke killings yarn out of tune

    Well, dang Poynter’s Eric Alterman anyways, for popping the bubble of my favourite New York Times story this year: “Sinatra Song Often Strikes Deadly Chord.” The tale of how Philippines are killing each other over karaoke versions of “My Way” was so plain weird it was darkly funny. The kind of story you stop to…

  • J-Source

    Ottawa newsroom, archives, lost in CTV fire

    A fire Sunday destroyed CTV’s Ottawa newsroom, at the station CJOH, said many reports. The cause, and how local broadcasts would be affected, was uncertain Sunday. “Among the devastating property losses are the local news archives of this city’s history and the 37-year video history of anchor Max Keeping who is set to retire on…

  • J-Source

    Fearless Five brave Facebook and Twitter

    On Feb. 1, five journalists will reportedly lock themselves up in a French farmhouse for several days with only Twitter and Facebook for outside information, “to test the quality of news from the social networking and micro-blogging sites” ….

  • J-Source

    New York Times charges for online access

    So the New York Times really did it: after months of speculation, years after its last failed attempt, it announced that it will charge online readers and explained why in a staff memo. There have been so many opinions ventured about this move that it’s become a big, boring, droning buzz. The reality is that…

  • J-Source

    NY Times online expected to charge

    The New York Times is expected to begin charging readers for online access this year. A (free) online story in New York Magazine reveals the heated debate between print and online managers, and the difficult issues behind such a decision. Excerpts: “The decision to go paid is monumental for the Times, and culminates a yearlong…

  • J-Source

    [UPDATED] Ethics of Olympic reporting

    Canadian Press reporter Stephanie Levitz, one of some three dozen journalists who ran with the 2010 Olympic flame, wrote a terrific first-person piece about her ethical dilemma … Update Jan. 17: Canwest Olympics reporter Jeff Lee responds …

  • J-Source

    Is it worth it?

    The death of Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang on patrol with Canadian troops in Afghanistan has produced an outpouring of sympathy from across the Canadian journalism community – not least because her situation inside an armoured vehicle was both blameless and helpless. It has also reignited debate about the potential return on such excursions.  Colin…