On the 10th anniversary of Prince’s death, I offer some thoughts on an artist who provided lifelong inspiration and the amazing night when I finally got to interview him in person. https://loom.ly/jTcemrw
Ken Burns says "history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes" in a wide ranging interview, where he explains how historians should fearlessly "call balls and strikes" and why his work could only air on public TV. Honored to interview him for Tampa's WEDUPBS. WATCH: loom.ly/jid29YE
If you missed, here's my completely idealistic and probably flawed take on why I found the White House Correspondents' Dinner -- currently scheduled for Saturday, with Trump planning to attend -- a journalistically useful event. READ: https://loom.ly/lcDLiLo
This is a fascinating look from the New York Times on how advisors and confidants of Michael Jackson have scrambled after his death to rescue his estate from bankruptcy and save his brand from oblivion. Read this before you go see the biopic Michael, for sure. READ: loom.ly/mjJS9lQ
At the risk of inserting my foot completely in my mouth professionally, I wrote a bit about why I don't hate on the White House Correspondents Dinner like some other journalists do...even though I probably should. https://loom.ly/eD45ROI
First, that’s BS. Second, without federal funding, NPR now must rely more on donors, especially wealthy ones.
Ira Glass doesn’t work for NPR.
Honored to provide the keynote address TOMORROW for Virginia's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists' regional convention, Stakes of the Story. The lunchtime presentation kicks off a day of events focused on sharpening the skills journalists need. DETAILS: https://loom.ly/UyPmyu0
You are not listening to the same NPR I am hearing...
Gonna need a little more explanation here, my friend.
NPR has received a larger, single donation from the estate of someone who died. Hence the odd, qualifying language.
NPR announces it has secured philanthropic gifts totaling more than $110 million -- including the largest by a living donor in NPR's history -- as a strategic investment in its future. This comes after Congress chose to eliminate federal funding for all public media. https://loom.ly/B71nWB8
Want to help make journalism better and safeguard democracy? Check out this poll to drop your ideas on updating journalism's oldest Code of Ethics and sign up to join two outstanding virtual panels on the future of journalism. DETAILS HERE: https://loom.ly/B8mTcrY
Banner weekend for U.S. VP JD Vance: Days after the vice president inexplicably stumped for an authoritarian ruler overseas, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban concedes a gigantic defeat AND 21 hours of Vance-led pace talks for the Iran War collapse with no agreement. https://loom.ly/hoAxr3A
My last ditch appeal asking those who care about journalism to fill out a new survey from the Society of Professional Journalists asking for YOUR feedback on updating SPJ's Code of Ethics. Poll is open until 11:59 p.m. TODAY! https://loom.ly/FtiGi3g
BUT - it is a reporter's job to try and build rapport with the people they are covering. Even when they are doing terrible things.
Yeah. I hear you there. I feel conflicted, because I got so much done as a reporter when I attended. But as a media critic, I admit I have a particularly biased point of view. It was, shall we say, a target rich environment! LOL.
Honored to participate in two days of panel discussions on journalism ethics in the modern age, organized by the Society of Professional Journalists. My panel, asking why should we even bother updating the SPJ Ethics code, is at 7 p.m. April 29. SIGNUP for the ZOOM HERE: loom.ly/AKFoiTM
At a time when we really need the funk, I'm sending out one of my favorite Prince performances, "Dear Mr. Man" for a Funky Friday celebration. Let's ride this groove into a wonderful weekend! WATCH: https://loom.ly/Ajb5cPk
That new show may or may not happen and it may or may not be a hit. But the show which clearly IS a hit has white actors as the most prominent stars, as seen by who from the cast got nominated for Emmy awards. I love the show. But it has not showcased actors of color well as white performers.
In the show’s storytelling it might be empowering. But in the real world, it means performers of color have a harder time staying on a hit show which then frames their removal as a positive story choice.
A realistic depiction of society is showing that people of color have to wade through so much racist bullshit in their lives that it takes an awful lot to fuck with most of us.
For sure. But The Pitt has a character who got beat up by a patient and still returned to work. I have covered TV a while. There is a dynamic at times where some characters go through things and persevere, while others leave. If the characters who leave are always nonwhite, that is a problem.
You haven’t watched the show, then. There is a Black male doctor this season, played by Shrinking’s Luke Tennie…
Gotta say - this article asks questions abolut The Pitt's treatment of Black and brown female characters I have been wondering about myself. https://loom.ly/BiYaf_c
TV is often about escaping the tough truths of real life. But over the next week or so, there is a rush of series debuting which dig into subjects we're facing right now, from the oppression of women to the rise of authoritarianism in America. READ my NPR preview story: https://loom.ly/vAKZzMQ
CBS is replacing Stephen Colbert's The Late Show with Byron Allen's tired comedy showcase Comics Unleashed. This is how bending the knee results in much worse pop culture content. Expect ratings in that timeslot to fall off a cliff. https://loom.ly/YfSggdo
I hear you. Black and other non-white folks hear similar messaging about racial prejudice on the daily. From demonizing DEI to claiming immigrants bring more crime and unemployment when the opposite is true.
The oddest thing, in reaction to my essay on why it's terrible that Louis CK is back in business with Netflix, has been seeing men argue what he did wasn't bad as celebrities physically assaulting women. As if pressuring women to watch him pleasure himself was a minor offense. READ: loom.ly/CEnLL5c
Read this. open.substack.com/pub/ericdegg...