Remembering the political insights of a journalism giant
"In the next life, Jack, I’ll be looking for your desk first thing. We’ve got so much more to discuss," The Reporters Inc.'s Mark Saxenmeyer writes. In this loving tribute, Saxenmeyer honors his former co-worker and friend, Jack Conaty.
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The unwatchable state of local television news
"As you look at state of local news today what do you see?" Joel Cheatwood, the co-founder and managing partner at Cheatwood Media Group, asked Reporters Inc. executive director Mark Saxenmeyer what he thinks of the state of TV news today. Here are Mark's refreshingly honest answers.
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When a wannabe dictator attempts to destroy truth
History is filled with dictators, kings, emperors and czars whose people were blocked from the truth, unaware of what was really happening. Their newspapers--if they had any-- were simply controlled propaganda. Truly "fake news." Tim Munkeby claims history is repeating itself again, but this time it's happening in the United States.
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How some of society’s most controversial issues are examined in the media.
The Reporters Inc. is pleased to present exclusive excerpts from a new compilation of scholarly readings that examine present-day matters of race, gender and socio-economic class seen in the media. Told from varying perspectives, we're including pieces that explore everything from body image, sex trafficking and economic inequality to cultural stereotypes. These readings show that race, gender and class truly matter.
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Community radio stations give indigenous Guatemalans a voice
Radio San Jose is one of Guatemala's so-called "pirate radio" stations, offering its poor Mayan population one of the few ways to get their voices heard on the airwaves. However, the government refuses to legalize it, and similar radio stations.
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Nonprofit journalism grows and struggles simultaneously
Since 2007, the nonprofit news sector has continued expanding, matured, and contributed to democratic processes well beyond its size, according to writer Bill Birnbauer. However, unlike commercial media that is funded by advertising and subscriptions, nonprofit news sites depend on grants from foundations, wealthy supporters, and, to a lesser extent, individual donors and fundraising activities. This reliance on grants and donations puts nonprofit news organizations at potential financial risk despite their significant growth.
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Chicago television producer examines four decades of troubling media issues, trends
Roy Santoro believes the growing cultural divide in the United States, along with charges of "fake news," high profile mistakes and other issues have put the news media in a perilous position. Drawing on his 40 years in broadcasting, Santoro has written a book designed to remind the American public how important a free and independent media is to democracy. The Reporters Inc. is pleased to present three exclusive excerpts from Broken News: Journalism in Crisis.
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Journalist shares concerning parallels between U.S., Uzbekistan politics
Jerry Huffman spent nearly two years trying to establish an independent media organization in Uzbekistan, a country that human rights watchdogs define as an authoritarian state with limited civil rights. Recently, Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened legal action against publications, and blocked access to various organizations that he believes portray him in an unfair light. Huffman shares his concerns about the parallels between life in Uzbekistan and the current political climate in the U.S.
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Identifying the good and bad people
Writer Tim Munkeby has a brilliantly simple notion: the world, he believes, tends to be made up of two very distinct types. Type #1: Those whose consistent actions and behaviors toward others and the universe might best be described as "Angelic." Type #2: Those who act and react in ways that most often make them--for lack of a better or inoffensive word--A-holes.
(more)Here’s how, and why, I created The Reporters Inc.
Mark Saxenmeyer shares how the non-profit, The Reporters Inc., began and why he felt it was needed.
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Consumers are switching to community news
"At a time when Americans have more choices for news than ever," reporter Ashley McMahon writes, "surprisingly it's the smaller venues that are gaining steam." McMahon says community online news sites give people access to what directly matters, and truly affects them most.
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The deep sting of loneliness
The Reporters Inc.'s Mark Saxenemeyer has started taking his admirer's phone calls again. Not all of nine or twelve them, but at least one a week. "When you're lonely, you just want someone to listen," Saxenmeyer writes. "When you're lonely, you simply need to be heard."
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So much to discover, even in the alley
The Reporters Inc.'s Mark Saxenmeyer ponders the "journalistic mysteries" that remain untold, including the stories he sees as he looks into his back alley.
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