crosscut.com : Media

Death by sun! Film at 11

Crosscut — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:00:01 PDT

If you watch local TV news, there's always something to worry about. Take this week's weather: sunny, warm ... and apparently a coiled snake ready to strike! Local stations are famous for over-hyping storms as reporters lean into Alki breezes as if they're the next Katrina or race up to Snoqualmie Pass to prove that — you won't believe this scoop — it's snowing in the mountains in the middle of winter! But it's not enough to exaggerate rain and wind: A little bit of sun is enough to spread alarm.

Memories of an intense Oregon primary, 1968

Crosscut — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:01 PDT

A young cameraman watched the McCarthy-Kennedy contest close up, wrestling with his own issues in a time when "I was scared of my own country."

The P-I's D. Parvaz will head to Harvard

Crosscut — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:00:01 PDT

Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorialist, pop culture writer, and columnist D. Parvaz has been named a Nieman Fellow and will head off to Harvard University for a year of studying, it was announced Friday, May 16. The Niemans are prestigious fellowships offered by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard.

Alaska blogger Celtic Diva's identity is revealed

Crosscut — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:00:01 PDT

I got in touch by e-mail with Celtic Diva, who found out this week that she's been selected by the Democratic National Convention Committee for a press credential at the August convention. She'll join a corps of bloggers representing the 50 states, three territories, and interestingly enough, U.S. ex-pats in Argentina.

Guess which Northwest blogs will cover the Democratic National Convention

Crosscut — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:01 PDT

The Associated Press reported today on the list of bloggers selected to cover the Democratic National Convention. One from each state will form a "state blogging corps" who will be seated with state delegations during the convention in Denver this August. The group blog HorsesAss, led by "accidental activist" David Goldstein, was chosen from Washington state, and the choice for Oregon was BlueOregon, "the water cooler around which Oregon progressives will gather," another group blog.

Comcast's high-definition baseball asterisk

Crosscut — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:47:01 PDT

Those Comcast high-def customers who flipped to Mojo (Channel 664) Monday night, May 12, after Kenji Johjima smacked a game-tying, three-run homer in the 12th instead saw George C. Scott starring in The Exorcist III.

Another devaluation of the Seattle Times Co.

Crosscut — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:10:01 PDT

Last week was tough for the folks at the Seattle Times Co. The flagship Seattle Times carried through on a plan to cut the paper's staff of 1,845 by about 7 percent, or 125 employees. Meanwhile, in a federal securities filing last Friday, May 9, Sacramento-based McClatchy Co., which owns 49.5 percent of the Times Co. voting stock, disclosed it is continuing to devalue its stake in the company.

Gregoire and Rossi, together again

Crosscut — Sat, 10 May 2008 09:10:01 PDT

For the first time in nearly four years, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and her Republican re-challenger, Dino Rossi, found themselves in the same room Friday night, May 9. The occasion was a retirement party at the Washington Supreme Court for veteran Associated Press reporter Dave Ammons, who has gone to work for Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Greg Nickels' rebel yell

Crosscut — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:01 PDT

Seattle's mayor waves the flag of secession. In so doing, he may have waved goodbye to a future in state politics.

Another mayoral spokesperson departs for the same nonprofit

Crosscut — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:57:01 PDT

Martin McOmber, senior communications and policy advisor for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, will leave city employment on Wednesday, April 30, to join Casey Family Programs as communications director. McOmber will feel right at home at Casey, because the managing director of communications there, Marianne Bichsel, was herself spokesperson for the mayor before joining the foundation in Seattle last fall.

Alex Fryer, communications advisor at the Office of Sustainability and Environment, will fill in until the mayor names a new comm director — though the official City Hall announcement today sure makes it sound like the job is Fryer's to lose.

Some good Googie news

Crosscut — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:22:01 PDT

In the world of news related to Northwest Googie architecture and historic preservation, there are some new and interesting developments. They range from negotiations over a controversial Ballard diner, an upcoming lecture on Googie architecture by the expert on the topic, possible landmark status for popular a burger stand in Tacoma, and the announcement of the state's 2008 awards for historic preservation. Here's a quick rundown.

The high legal cost of practicing journalism

Crosscut — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:00:01 PDT

The demise of newspapers is a very bad thing, and anyone who thinks the Internet will quickly step up to fill the void is delusional. It's hard, for example, to envision even an influential national blog mustering the resources to uncover what The New York Times reports today about retired generals who serve as expert commentators on TV:

Hidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration's wartime performance, an examination by The New York Times has found.

Music critic Melinda Bargreen takes buyout at The Seattle Times

Crosscut — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:01 PDT

After 31 years as classical music critic at The Seattle Times, Melinda Bargreen has decided to take a buyout offer. She may return, after some months, as a freelance music critic, and says she'll continue to write book reviews at the paper. Bargreen has been a reliably enthusiastic critic, particularly of the Symphony, Opera, and Seattle Chamber Music Society performances. A pianist, she also provided extensive and informed coverage of concert pianists. She has many close friends in music, extending back to her days at the University of Washington School of Music. Here's the letter she sent around to friends and colleagues:

Getting the spiritual scoop

Crosscut — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:00:01 PDT

Coverage of the Dalai Lama's visit suggests a way Seattle newspapers can get out of their funk: try boosting our spirit.

Like millions of others, the Clintons can't get their taxes done on time

Crosscut — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:00:01 PDT

More proof that the system is maddeningly complex, confusing, and just painful. Let's do something about it.

Growing up without newspapers

Crosscut — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:00:01 PDT

Sixth of a series: The youngest member of the Crosscut editorial team weighs in.

Why the Sonics should go away

Crosscut — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:00:01 PDT

Brave is the mortal who takes on Art Thiel, the Post-Intelligencer's ace sports columnist. Advocates for a Legislative fix for Husky stadium still think Thiel's withering column about that request sank the idea in a day. (Thiel dislikes the commercialization of college sports and has become the scourge of Huskies.) And now, he's arguing to defy the Oklahoma Sonics group until the last lawsuit dies. "Just say no," contends Big Art.

How to turn around The Seattle Times

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Fifth of a series: Alumni of the newspaper offer their thoughts on what could be done to ensure survival of an important civic institution. Updated 2008-04-11 at 09:06

A surprise amid newspaper gloom: more younger readers

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:00:01 PDT

Fourth in a series: The Internet is destroying the economic model that sustained the newspaper industry for generations, but it is also bringing to newspaper Web sites younger readers.

Journeymen journalists out to pasture

Crosscut — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:00:01 PDT

Third of a series: The decline of newspapers is putting talented mid-career news people on the sidelines.