J-net primer
School's here and summer's lazy days are behind us: it's time to get back to work. We present the updated j-net primer: In addition to all the great j-news you'll find on J-Source, you'll also want to check these sites for the skinny on hot-button issues, ethical dilemmas, and insights into great journalism.
School's here and summer's lazy days are behind us: it's time to get back to work. We present the updated j-net primer: In addition to all the great j-news you'll find on J-Source, you'll also want to check these sites for the skinny on hot-button issues, ethical dilemmas, and insights into great journalism. We know this list isn't complete and we're sorry if we missed anyone: Let us know what we should add, and we'll keep updating the list with your suggestions.
Blog-roll: In which we feature great blogs from Canadian j-world greats.
DB Scott
Scott’s blog is the go-to resource for anybody interested in the magazine industry – so much so that the National Magazine Awards was recently presented Scott with a Lifetime Achievement for this, and other, accomplishments. Scott doesn’t share much of his personal opinions on the blog, but you will find information galore.
John Miller
Miller is a former senior staffer at the Toronto Star, a former Ryerson University School of Journalism Chair (10 years), and has more than two decades of teaching experience. Here’s a sample from his latest blog posting, Christie and Jack: “I think Blatchford's critics miss the point. And my point is, Blatchford's column tells us very little about Jack Layton, but a whole lot about Christie Blatchford.”
Ellin Bessner
This Centennial College instructor’s blog is “about journalism, television, news, teaching, [and] media issues.” Recently, she wrote about Lloyd Robertson’s last day on air: “Everyone works closely together in a main hub, at Channel 9 Court in Toronto. The assignment editors, writers, producers, video editors, master control, and the senior news executives' offices all are in or on top of this open hub. Which is how I got to rub shoulders with Lloyd Robertson.”
Jeffrey Dvorkin
Dvorkin is the executive director of the Organization of News Ombudsman, a lecturer and director at Centennial and UofT’s Scarborough campus journalism program, plus former CBC Radio managing editor and chief journalist. In late August, he asked: Are Laytonistas and CBC supporters the same people? “Layton's departure represents a threat to another national institution,” writes Dvorkin, “the CBC.”
Claude Adams
J-Source’s very own Claude Adams muses about “the places I have visited and the people I have met” in addition to many insights into the issues facing journalism today. Adams recently wrote about staying alive in wartime: “Also, I like to keep away from gungho bang-bang junkies. Once I was driving through Bosnia with a British freelancer who'd hitched a ride, and we heard the unmistakeable sound of mortars in the distance. ‘Let’s go,’ he said, pointing in the direction of the noise.”
Dwayne Winseck
Winseck writes a bi-weekly column for the Globe and Mail, and his work has appeared on J-Source before. The School of Journalism and Communication prof at Carleton University writes about the media, telecom and internet industries. Take this, from a recent post, on the past 26 years of media and internet concentration in Canada: “Too often ideology and wishful thinking carry the day when it comes to issues of media ownership and concentration.”
Nicole Blanchett Neheli
Another J-Source section editor, Blanchett Neheli created this blog as a platform for her Master’s research into participatory journalism. That’s now done, but the Sheridan j-prof has kept the blog going. A quote from her latest post, I don’t give a rat’s ass about the Kardashians: “I don’t see how any traditional agency can knock citizen journalists given the now acceptable norms of our industry.”
All about accountability: These blogs tackle — and highlight — the ever-increasing ethical issues in journalism
Media Morals, at the Center for Journalism Ethics, School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
It may be a primarily (but not only) U.S.-based site, but the lessons learned and issues discuss on Media Morals span the border. Plus, the blog is headed by J-Source’s very own Stephen Ward.
Kirk LaPointe’s The Media Manager
LaPointe launched this blog in 2008, changing its focusing to media ethics after becoming CBC’s ombudsman. You won’t (intentionally) find any opinions here, but you will find considered posts and plenty of information on the top ethical issues facing journalism today.
Kathy English, Toronto Star
Kathy English is one of the only public editors in Canada to write an ongoing ethics column. In it, English tackles – and details – ethical challenges at the Star, her thoughts and the paper’s inner workings, and how such challenges were met.
Organization of News Ombudsman
Check out the ONO website for the scoop on ethical j-issue across the globe.
Our j-friends to the south: In which we give a shout-out to the many great U.S.-based j-sites
[node:ad]Poynter
Sure, the media gossip is usually all-American, but the journo lessons and tips Poynter offers are universal.
Nieman storyboard
You won’t find many Canadian stories here. What you will find: Great journalists talking about what makes great stories.
Journalistics
Covers the “topics at the intersection of public relations and journalism today”.
PBS MediaShift
This site dubs itself as “Your guide to the digital media revolution” – and that’s exactly what it is.
Mediabistro
For media news, online courses, and a whole bunch of American job postings.
Editors Weblog
Editors from around the world unite, and then write about the pressing issues in their home country.
Publications: The online counterparts to these publications are top-notch
Ryerson Review of Journalism
The Ryerson Review of Journalism is best known as an award-winning magazine that examines Canadian journalism. You can find magazine content on the site, but its growing cache of web exclusives is also worth checking out.
Masthead
Interested in magazine writing? Masthead Online offers plenty of magazine industry news, plus insight and analysis from the experts.
Broadcaster
Check out this site for the skinny on all things broadcast-related.
Tyee
Make sure you check out the Tyee’s Media Check section. Recent stories include: “Wikileaks show Canadian officials caving to US pressure” and “Perils of B.C.’s new freedom of info policy”
Rabble
Rabble regularly covers issues in the media, so keep checking back for an alternative, and worthwhile, spin to mainstream coverage.
Organizations and associations: Keep up to date, and get some great tips
Canadian Centre for Investigative Reporting
If you want to be an investigative journalist, or just love great reporting, this site has plenty of inspiration – and resources.
Canadian Association of Journalists
The CAJ website offers news, information on advocacy issues, and a link to its long-running publication, Media Magazine.
Just for fun:
Overheard in the newsroom
Share in the gallows-style humour from newsrooms everywhere.
