Elizabeth Ross-Harrison - Media

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Print newspapers will become obsolete. They aren't already? Ok, being a little mean, since we cut our subscription to Sunday service from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Why did we cut it? Because for the privilege of being subscribers to one paper a week, we were being charged more than it would be for the New York Times to be mailed to us (assuming that the Times had a one-day subscription, as opposed to their weekender.) Bluntly, it is cheaper for us to go to the corner store to buy the paper each Sunday, and the only thing we would miss if we didn't would be the TV guide (not necessary thanks to search options on our cable), and the coupons. If coupons are the only "good" thing about buying a newspaper, that's not a good sign.

Fox News is not "fair and balanced." Fox News can be considered "Fair and Balanced" only when Stephen Colbert can be considered a true neo-con! Seriously, 20 years ago, I sat down in my first journalism class in college. I had my handy-dandy AP Stylebook sitting in front of me, and our professor informed us that our first assignment for the class was to memorize the entire section on ethics. Later, we found out that we really didn't have to memorize it word for word, but all of us ended up reading those pages at least 20 times that term. Bottom line is that although I can't tell you the exact wording used, I most certainly know to this day when I cross the lines created in that section. People who work for Fox News obviously did not have a professor like I did, or they missed that assignment entirely.

Diane Sawyer is a good replacement for Charles Gibson as anchor of ABC World News. Diane Sawyer is probably the best choice ABC had for the anchor desk.

The Fairness Doctrine should not be reinstated. Equal time looks nice on paper, but in practice? The people would lose the ability to shut down the proliferation of downright stupid ideas through feedback to media outlets.

I prefer Twitter to Facebook. Straight communication without distractions. It's easier to avoid distractions on Twitter than Facebook.

The newspaper industry should not receive a limited exemption from antitrust laws. Times change. Survival depends on reinventing oneself. If newspapers can't find a niche to keep alive, they have no business remaining in business.

"The Glenn Beck Program" is the best Fox News evening program. He's usually the most amusing, if nothing else...

Charles Gibson is the evening network news anchor I trust most. Partial more because of the network, not the man, though.

Twitter is not a fad. It is being hyped a bit like some other social media sites that haven't survived (or flourished), but it has done one thing the others haven't. When user needs change, it evolves. As long as it continues to do that, it will survive.

TechCrunch should have published internal Twitter documents leaked to them by a hacker. It's a "live and learn" situation for Twitter. Conversely, it would not be alright for another publication or site to publish similar information if it was about a non-tech company. Sorry, but tech companies should be held at a higher standard when it comes to keeping their information secure. That is a major part of their primary business, isn't it?

The Internet should not be regulated by one governing body. We aren't in a position to create such a governing body that would fair for all concerned. Bluntly, the world is too big, and there are too many differences involved. A U.S. based regulatory board would create more problems than it would solve.

The government should provide financial assistance to the print journalism industry. Only if the industry needs it to get off paper and into e-news.

Blogs are credible sources of news. Some are.

The use of the Internet has affected the English language. Not 4 da better!

I do feel secure using Craigslist for transactions. Meaningless, since I don't tend to use it regardless, but if I would find the need, I wouldn't worry.

Facebook merits a higher valuation than MySpace. MySpace has lost quite a bit due to teens and fluff.

The media does have a social responsibility to promote positive body images. But "social responsibility" is a generally meaningless term for the media that is easily ignored.

Public broadcasting is the most reliable source for television and radio news. Where else can I find someone who has the nerve to carry Al Jazeera English?

Hulu merits a higher valuation than YouTube. No contest. Hulu carries shows people actually know, that haven't been altered. Sure, YouTube has its place, but it's out-growing its income. It's losing money, and fast.

The New York Times' coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is balanced. But I am referring to actual "news coverage," as in not choosing to skip including wire reports because of content. Papers have their slant on the opinion page.

The Internet has had a positive effect on journalism. Agreeing with Kos and Huffington.

Social networking web sites are not a fad. As a category, no. Individual sites, many are. Like MySpace has essentially moved beyond its heyday.

The Pulitzer Prizes are still relevant. But not for the public. It's still means quite a bit in the publishing industry, no matter how much the television networks would like to think otherwise.

Craigslist should remove its 'Erotic Services' listings. Most of said "services" are considered illegal, and isn't there already a policy against unlawful activities on the list?

Google should attempt to acquire Twitter. Just because I'd rather see anyone other than Microsoft end up with it.

Newspapers should be publicly financed. Maybe then we would actually get news, instead of the nonsense they put between ads today. Seriously, the reliance on ad dollars has compromised the objectivity of editors and publishers.

Twitter does not promote narcissism. Forget about fishes in ponds. There are far too many fish in the Twitter sea.

President Obama's Tonight Show appearance will have a positive effect on him politically. Either no effect or a positive one here. Bottom line is that eventually the pundits will come out and admit that his approval ratings are directly related to his accessibility to the public. Can't get much more accessible than being in the hot seat on late night TV.

It is appropriate for the President of the United States to make appearances on late night talk shows. It is appropriate for the President to close as many gaps as possible between himself and the public. Appearing on late night talk shows makes him more accessible to the public.

Jon Stewart's criticism of CNBC was appropriate. Depending on Reuters on this one, since I don't tend to watch him. Honestly, I find it amusing that Zucker is in such a tizzy over this one. Stewart is there to mock the news, just like Letterman and his "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches."

MSNBC is politically biased.

The New Yorker cover featuring Barack and Michelle Obama is not effective satire.

Newspaper organizations are not necessary to maintain journalistic standards.

Blogs have a positive effect on politics.

Checkbook journalism is not an acceptable way to pursue news stories.

The media is politically biased and generally leans to the Right.

Laws allowing journalists to protect confidential sources should apply to bloggers.

Any publisher of leaked information always should have the right to maintain the confidentiality of his source.

The Vanity Fair photos featuring Miley Cyrus were not appropriate.

Bloggers should not be held responsible for comments posted on their blogs by others.