"Mark P. Becker, Ph. D. Board Chair"
Becker is now Board Chair of the new “anti-'woke' public college accreditor” Commission for Public Higher Education.
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/ju...
former GSU President Mark Becker who sold out his own students’ college radio station to politically-controlled Georgia Public Broadcasting with most of the state’s journalists, especially is political ones, easily acquiescing to the blatant interference in a student media organization.
isn't truly a meritocracy but a place where political connections and cronyism, and a pliant press corps, reward established networks.
Adding to my skepticism of how the Georgia Press covers the USG is that the search for the next Chancellor will include consultation from
a wire service started by the Georgia Press Association through their nonprofit foundation.
The article, at least in the print edition, made no mention of the controversy surrounding Perdue’s protracted appointment, a prime example of how higher education
brianpbannon.medium.com/its-always-c...
Sonny Perdue to retire from Georgia higher education system.
That said, today’s Sunday paper was pretty sparse with the front page given over to two bar or restaurant stories, and a glorified UGA press release for a research projects.
The hard news story of Chancellor Sonny Perdue announcing his retirement was taken from the Capitol Beat News Service,
Since the AJC ended print editions, the Athens Banner-Herald has been on sale at the Publix on Ponce de Leon Ave. I’m not sure how extensive the Athens paper’s distribution in Atlanta is, but as part of Gannett which also owns USA Today I imagine getting it into stores wouldn’t be that complicated.
Here's the debut episode of the ATL Arts Collective podcast, a successor to WABE's cancelled arts radio show.
#atl
Episode webpage: www.atlartscollective.com/e/%e2%9c%a6-...
You’d never know it from the AJC article but the AJC had a show on WABE until just before the federal rescission debate.
brianpbannon.medium.com/ajc-exit-wab...
yet both are still directly competing in Atlanta, stifling Album 88 which is noncommercial radio in a truer sense, and cutting arts and classical music while keeping Bill Nigut.
Meanwhile, smaller news orgs are struggling.
more grass roots or even more elitist, akin to an opera company or museum.
In Atlanta, that’s long meant “relationships with major donors" i.e. Foundations, corporations, billionaires like the Cox dynasty and Arthur Blank.
Since rescission, both GPB and WABE have had record fundraising...
“Leadership spent five months planning a live benefit event, the 1st of its kind in WABE’s 78-year history. It didn’t promote it to the public, focusing instead on selling tickets through relationships with major donors.”
Loss of fed. funding can either make pub media...
www.ajc.com/business/202...
Dayton is where Cox began and, like Atlanta, has long dominated local media.
WYSO is part of the Ohio Newsroom.
There isn't an equivalent Georgia newsroom. I suspect because "preserving the AJC" took precedence.
The Ohio Newsroom | WYSO www.wyso.org/the-ohio-new...
The e-paper version of the article pictures the incumbents, the born-digital version pictures the socialist challengers.
... it’s an undercurrent in their critique of the Neoliberal view of "public" institutions, billionaire-owned media, the consultant class, money in politics, and the need to run for office in new ways.
Meanwhile, GA Repubs are now fine with public media.
brianpbannon.medium.com/from-anti-am...
He’s now a regular in the Cox and Friends universe as was former state Rep. Teri Anulewicz who lost to Democratic Socialist Gabriel Sanchez in a 2024 primary.
To my knowledge, no Georgia DSA candidate has made Republican control of GPB or establishment Democratic fealty to Cox an issue but...
This AJC column on socialist candidates quotes "GOP strategist" Stephen Lawson.
Lawson is a Denton’s lobbyist who works with GA Republicans like House Speaker Burns.
He also was appointed to Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Board last year by Gov. Kemp.
#gapol
www.ajc.com/politics/202...
On the one hand this is another blow to the rule of law and a symbol of a two-tiered justice system. OTOH, my old Park Atlanta tickets have all somehow been expunged.
Compact car with large inflatable 404 Lager beer can on roof.
Compact car with large inflatable 404 Lager beer can on roof.
Compact car with large inflatable 404 Lager beer can on roof.
The 770 Lager tips over the tiny car.
#atl
Your periodic reminder that this is the same guy who Meet the Press and Wolf Blitzer kept bringing on to preach civility in politics.
Investments in statehouse reporting are welcome, but if "partnerships" remain within a network of elite media owners and their former executives, accountability for those owners remains unaddressed. I fear it's Old Media aristocracies extending their gatekeeping into the nonprofit era.
in Southern newsrooms also raises my eyebrow given the Times' similar deference to Cox as a fellow 19th Century newspaper Dynasty.
brianpbannon.medium.com/family-busin...
and then on WABE under former Turner executive, and daughter of a past AJC publisher, Jennifer Dorian. I'm glad Mississippi Today is getting some investment, but am leery of more "partnerships" with the AJC that will exempt it and its owners from scrutiny.
Embedding NYTs investigative fellows...
And milked the hell out of Downton Abby and its glamorizing an un-elected aristocracy.
AJC publisher Andrew Morse came from CNN whose media reporters rarely cover Cox adversarially. "Saving the AJC" has been a priority of Georgia for over a decade incl. giving it shows on GPB under Ryan...
She engaged in a cable-like maneuver to hijack college radio station WRAS as a 2nd NPR affiliate to directly compete with WABE. She also hired old CNN colleagues like Bobbie Battista more out of friendship and loyalty than public service mission.
Former CNN executive Teya Ryan took over state-run Georgia Public Broadcasting in 2009 with a mandate to make it more commercial-like and pro-business. Her major TV programming initiative was high school football which is popular with state lawmakers but a far cry from Frontline or Nova.
Atlanta being the birthplace of CNN has had an impact on all its newsrooms including its non-profit and public media outlets. I’d argue a detrimental one. The competitive cable news mindset, CNN founder Ted Turner viewed as a “benevolent billionaire,” his preference for non-union labor.
"Andrew Morse, the president and publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, worked alongside Lack when Morse led Bloomberg Television....
"The two have had conversations about striking a partnership between the AJC and Deep South Today."
I have some concerns...
www.ajc.com/business/202...
Facebook Post from a 404 Day event.
Cartoon showinv Bottoms surrounded by HBCU logos, sports mascots, and Atlanta skyline.
*Keisha.
On her Facebook page Bottoms did post from a separate 404 Day event. (And posted what looks like an AI cartoon.)
Jason Esteves was the only candidate for Gov. I saw at the 404 Day parade. It's a new parade, only its 2nd, but Keishia Lance Bottoms was the previous Mayor.
#atl
#gapol
