WHAT do you think of the front pages this morning? On days of such significance, newspapers often try that little bit harder to produce something memorable that catches the imagination. Mike Philpott takes a quick look at how the Press treated the IRA statement. Was the coverage good for you too? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
A piece of relief today’s statement. It seems Setanta is emerging as one of the big candidates to take some of Sky’s coverage of the English Premiership, following a directon from the EU. Games from the Scottish Premier League will be covered from this weekend on a pay per view basis. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and …
Gerry Gregg, a producer on RTE’s Today Tonight current affairs programme during the turblent years of the early 80s reflects on his own difficult time there. He fields the widely made criticism of RTE at that time that it was dominated by key members of the Workers Party. And he goess on to accuse the national broadcaster of declining standards.By Gerry Gregg Joanna Mathers was just 25 years old in the spring of 1981. She was a first class honours …
That’s despite the reported unresolved technical fault.. and sometimes this interwebby thingummy really outdoes itself.. You can watch NASA’s coverage of today’s [hopefully] launch of Space Shuttle Discovery live online [Windows Media and RealPlayer formats available] launch around 3.39pm.. with live streaming of later mission coverage available too. Update So far, so good Pete Baker
We recently received a letter from one Ed Moloney who was not pleased at a series of comments made by commenters on Slugger during the run up to the election. However after a robust and lengthy correspondence we have resolved the matter amicably – see statement below.Whilst we don’t agree that the statements were necessarily libellous, we also don’t believe that public figures should be subjected to the kind of personal abuse Mr Moloney received. It serves as a potent …
Like him or loathe him, the Republic’s minister for Justice has a knack for getting to the nub of certain issues. This week he’s been in Glenties, Co Donegal addressing the MacGill Summer School waxing lyrical on what he sees as the heavy and fixed charicaturing by sections of the media of right or even centre right politics (subs needed) Update: Full text of the speech. Thanks to Nevin for the heads up! He said there was a strong element …
More good mentions in the media. This time we make it in at Number 48 in Esquire magazine’s Fifty Best things in the media, no less! It’s courtesy of John Lloyd who names Slugger as one of his two most favourite websites. He notes: “Good journalism means asking the right questions and getting together the right answers. And he does that”. Hey, last year the New Statesman; this year Esquire. How on earth am I going to support the lifestyle …
I noted the introduction of the new BBC editorial guidelines previously.. Now, in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on London, one guideline in particular has caused controversy. The Guardian Newsblog noted some of the issues raised about the BBC re-editing reports, while Harry’s Place had an excellent piece on the accusations of bias. In yesterday’s Observer, Nick Cohen argues persuasively, also referencing Norman Geras on the topic, that the BBC guidelines will result in “castrated language which has been …
According to Bernie Goldbach, Slugger’s recent absence from the net was noted and pleasantly lamented by the Sunday Tribune blog correspondent, who refered to us as “one of the Irish blogoshere’s genuine stars”. It’s bit a wee bit like reading a glowing obit, before actually shuffling off this virtual coil. We were offline for several days last week when the limit of our tenure on sluggerotoole.com slipped by without me noticing. I was galavanting in rural Dorset and Wiltshire at …
The virtual bookstore [and the rest] – an online store that, personally, I find invaluable – is hosting and live-streaming a virtual concert later today.. well, early tomorrow.. to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. Starting at 5pm US Pacific time – which converts to 1am GMT.. and headlined by Bob Dylan. Happy Birthday Amazon. Pete Baker
IF anyone from Northern Ireland is affected by events in London or has up-to-date information that we’re not getting through the media, Slugger will obviously be happy to carry your comments below. However, some in the mainstream media would be interested in speaking to locals in London, and as a bit of an experiment, I’m trying to get in contact with users like Lafcadio, who seem to be at the heart of things in Canary Wharf. You can reach me …
We’ve just heard that the Belfast Telegraph is planning to drop one of its most high profile columnists, Malachi O’Doherty. His work features regularly on Slugger and his analysis is often (quietly) adopted into the mainstream discourse of politicians on both sides of the community divide. We’d like to hear your thoughts, supportive or critical on the decision, and more broadly on the significance of O’Doherty’s work. Just remember to play the ball, and not the man! Mick FealtyMick is …
We’ve had our share of difficulties with encouraging, and moderating, reasoned debate – in the past *fingers crossed*.. But anyone thinking that it’s a problem exclusive to Slugger should think again. Via the Instapundit, here’s an interesting analogy from US blog The Volokh Conspiracy – Comments threads as parties.. “But remember, (1) it’s the host’s party, and (2) hey, it’s only a party.”He expands on his reasonable requests for commenters to be – “as calm, reasoned, and substantive as possible,” …
The Instapundit points us to a downloadable QuickTime movie of The Floyd at Live 8.. Wish You Were Here.. although, if you’d prefer to re-view any of the other tracks.. say Comfortably Numb, for example.. or, indeed, any of the other performances.. from any some of the other concerts.. AOL helpfully have a full free selection online… highlights section here. Update As Markham notes, that’s NOT “The Complete List” – Missing are the Moscow, Tokyo, Johannesburg and the Eden Project …
Excellent piece from John Lloyd in this weekend’s FT Magazine (thanks Pete), who has taken the time to read and re-read Rowan William’s thoughts on the media that Pete blogged here on Slugger a few weeks back.Lloyd precises the Archbishops speech thus: – The news meda shouldn’t get a free ride on their claim that they are guardians of democracy; the point has tbe proved, rather than be asserted. – Assuming all that is hidden is suspect, and all public …
A quick note to the BBC.. What is the point of vision.. if you have to lose the sound to watch the Talkback Studio Web Cam? Pete Baker
Slugger makes Tim Worstall’s BritBlog round up this week, along with with controversialist Twenty Major (still smkoing in Dublin bars). Definately worth scrolling down through. Thanks Tim! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
In the indispensable media section of yesterday’s Observer Rafael Behr notes that there is a tendency amongst some mainstream journalists to want bloggers to shut up believing that professional journalism alone is the only legitimate watchdog of power. The failed LA Times wikitorial experiment in last week was simply the latest skirmish in the cold war between big US journalism and its blogosphere. The description will be familiar to regular readers of the comments here at Slugger: What would happen …
The Guardian’s Online Blog wants to know – “What are the most useful sites on the web?”.. as part of a six month review of their previous list…And this, spotted by Ezter, at Crooked Timber.. may suggest the NYTimes Technology editor might know a site he would like to nominate.. although it sounds more like a comment aimed at the NYTimes marketing department – STOP BUGGING ME If newspaper marketers think they are receiving reliable user information via those annoying …
Spotted at Gavin’s Blog.. Google Maps now has, newly improved, stunning satellite images of Ireland.. along with, as Gavin points out, large tracts of the rest of the world… and Gerry O’Sullivan has already been busy creating an aide-mémoire. Pete Baker
