The WikiLeaks Controversy

Blogger Glenn Greenwald (a WikiLeaks supporter) explains independent journalism to CNN correspondent Jessica Yellin. WikiLeaks website is here. This leaked video (with about 13 million YouTube views) shows the killing of employees of the Reuters news agency and wounding of children by US attack helicopters in Iraq. Photo above was taken a few weeks ago when I visited the Ecuadoran embassy in London, where WikiLeaks' founder currently resides.

Student Multimedia Journalism

News 21 is a well-funded student journalism outlet (launched by two big foundations) that emphasizes in-depth reporting and multimedia presentation. Journalists at participating campuses investigated broad areas: for example, Univ of Southern California(USC)/money in politics; Syracuse/Latinos in Pennsylvania; UC Berkeley/food safety.

Hoaxes on the Internet

Question: Are younger educated people who were raised on the Internet LESS likely to be taken in by hoax emails such as Obama as "radical Muslim" than Jon Stewart's 80-year-old aunt?

Viral Video Impacts 2008 Presidential Election

This 2008 Brave New Films video short "McCain's Mansions" (with over 600,000 views) boiled up through the media food chain into the mainstream. It impacted the campaign, as shown by this self-promotional video, "The Making of McCain's Mansions."

Can journalists get too cozy with their official sources?

At 2007 Radio-Television Correspondents Association Dinner, top journalists were literally dancing with a top source. These are social/charitable events where journalists and newsmakers are expected to have some fun, but is it symbolic of too much coziness? . . . . . . . In 2003, a CNN executive boasts about giving the Pentagon an advisory role on who its on-air experts would be during the controversial Iraq war. . . . . . . . Whether dealing with political leaders or athletes, the quest for access to newsmaker sources can undermine independent journalism, according to indy TV host Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, one of the most successful web-based TV shows.

Bold, indy blogger launches major controversy

Former IC journalism student Chris Lisee reports on the impact that a single off-key journalist can have.

"Independent Media in a Time of War" featuring Amy Goodman

Video made by a volunteer, indy media collective based on an April 2003 speech by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! At the time, many in mainstream media were cheering what they believed would be a quick, successful Iraq invasion.