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11 Apr 2009 12:56

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Politics, Tech: “Can social networking save journalism?,” Techcrunch asks

  • Perhaps good journalists, intuitive and ambitious journalists, might figure out how to survive this Darwinian state of media evolution on their own. Others may need the help of early risk-takers and success stories before being able to individually adapt to the socialization of content.
  • Brian Solis • In a long piece about the future of journalism – not newspapers, journalism. “Can the Statusphere Save Journalism?” was inspired in part by a conversation with Walt Mossberg. Intriguing thoughts, dude. You’re a regular Clay Shirky. • source

11 Apr 2009 11:10

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U.S.: A reporter clashes with the VA over veteran interviews

  • He was forced to hand over his equipment. WTF? David Schultz, a reporter for American University’s WAMU-FM, went to a town hall meeting for minority veterans at a VA hospital in D.C. on Tuesday. But when he asked a patient some questions, a VA public affairs officer told Schultz to stop, claiming the interview was illegal. The officer then got police, who confiscated his equipment. The VA hospital claims that Schultz did not follow proper procedure, but relented and agreed to give back his equipment. source

11 Apr 2009 10:58

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Biz, Tech: Post-Lauren, Microsoft’s latest attack on Apple? The “Apple tax.”

  • Macs are pretty cool, Jack thinks, but at a $3,367 premium over five years? Now, that’s not cool!
  • Roger Kay • Author of “What Price Cool?,” a white paper sponsored by Microsoft that takes to task Apple’s reputation as a maker of “cool” computers. MS seems to have a pretty good anti-Apple campaign going right now, considering the fact that we’re secretly in love with Lauren, even if just to convert her into a Mac user. Love ’em and leave ’em, that’s our style. • source

11 Apr 2009 10:49

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World: More protests: Georgians want their president to step down

  • 60,000 showed up on Thursday, the peak of the protests against President Mikheil Saakashvili source

11 Apr 2009 10:43

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World: The Somali pirates’ often-banal home videos of pirated ships

Lax treatment of hostages, low-key approach – it’s bizarre to see a first-person glimpse of a pirate hijacking. source

11 Apr 2009 10:32

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U.S., World: Obama: The U.S. needs help from other nations

  • These are challenges that no single nation, no matter how powerful, can confront alone. The United States must lead the way. But our best chance to solve these unprecedented problems comes from acting in concert with other nations.
  • President Barack Obama • In his weekly radio/Interweb address. The president just returned from an overseas trip through Europe and Iraq, so his words carry extra significance. • source

11 Apr 2009 10:19

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World: Thailand’s the latest country to have crazy protests

The protesters broke into a convention center, forcing cancellation of an Asian summit about the economic crisis. Yikes. source
 

11 Apr 2009 10:07

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Offbeat, U.S.: Dutch journos can handle war zones, car jackings in Detroit

  • They were doing a report on the city. Reporter Jacqueline Maris, who works for VPRO, The Netherlands’ national public radio, and freelance photographer Daimon Xanthopoulos have been to scary parts of Africa and the Middle East on stories, but they got a Motor City welcome in Detroit when their rental car got jacked at gunpoint last week. The car was recovered later that day. Despite this, they still see positive signs in the city, people making things better, beyond what Maris called “those stupid criminals.” source

11 Apr 2009 09:38

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World: Why it sucks to be a single dude in China

  • 32 million more men than women; thanks, Chinese birth limits source

11 Apr 2009 09:33

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U.S.: The Obamas need a church. Must be in D.C. No crazy pastors.

  • It’s extremely competitive. Every church in the city is trying to attract the Obamas.
  • Michael A. Brown • D.C. city councilman, on the Obama family plight of finding a new church in Washington. Part of the struggle they face is that they need to find one without a controversial pastor, so Obama’s staff is vetting preachers. The Obamas will likely try out a church in the city tomorrow, Easter Sunday. • source