The Kicker
Must-reads of the week
The upside of newsroom cuts at The New York Times, the thin line between business and editorial operations at Vice, and a new study questioning whether the internet is really killing newspapers
By The Editors Oct 3, 2014 at 02:55 PM
Culled from CJR's own stories, plus the frequently updated "Must-reads from around the Web," our staff recommendations for the best... More
The Audit
Scary numbers in Moody’s public pension report, sans context
Media coverage of ‘$2 trillion’ gap is incomplete at best
By Ryan Chittum Oct 3, 2014 at 11:45 AM
A Moody's report last week warning that top US public pensions are underfunded by $2 trillion got wide coverage in... More
United States Project
How a business reporter started covering the pot beat
With Florida voters likely to approve medical marijuana, Michael Pollick is reporting on what comes next
By Susannah Nesmith Oct 3, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Business reporter Michael Pollick covers Florida’s medical marijuana ballot initiative for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. (Courtesy Michael Pollick) MIAMI, FL... More
Behind the News
Explanatory news startup aims to build a new type of online community
Dutch website De Correspondent responds to negative comments sections with a new kind of quality engagement
By Lene Bech Sillesen Oct 3, 2014 at 06:50 AM
In April 2013, Nieman Lab covered the story of an amazingly successful crowdfunding campaign run by Dutch startup De Correspondent,... More
The Audit
The upside of yesterday’s New York Times news
Paywall 2.0 flop triggers layoffs, but digital ads and digital circulation surge
By Ryan Chittum Oct 2, 2014 at 10:31 AM
The New York Times is cutting 100 jobs from its newsroom, and you'd get the impression from the reaction that... More
United States Project
Colorado’s elections seem boring, but they shouldn’t
As candidates control the message, these campaigns deserve more enterprise coverage
By Corey Hutchins Oct 2, 2014 at 06:50 AM
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — If you've been paying attention at all to American politics and the 2014 midterms, you know... More
United States Project
Will journalists get fined for photographing trees? (UPDATED)
The new US Forest Service rules explained
By Jonathan Peters Oct 1, 2014 at 01:03 PM
You’ve probably heard: The US Forest Service is savaging the First Amendment. It’s trying to codify a provisional rule, in... More
Data Points
How OkCupid is bolstering data journalism
Digital companies discover patterns in usage
By Tanveer Ali Oct 1, 2014 at 06:50 AM
In the introduction of Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One is Looking), published last month, OkCupid co-founder... More
Language Corner
Shakespeare didn’t say that
Lines that are (mis)attributed to the Bard
By Merrill Perlman Sep 30, 2014 at 02:50 PM
Hell hath no fury like a writer scorned, and, should Shakespeare be alive today, he might feel much scorn'd. People... More
Behind the News
Stories I’d like to see
Where did the Department of Education’s ‘Race to the Top’ lead?
By Steven Brill Sep 30, 2014 at 01:40 PM
We are fast approaching the fifth anniversary, on Jan. 10, of when state applications are due to apply for awards... More
Full-Court Press
In all the goodbyes, media didn’t catch why Jeter will be missed
The shortstop had plenty of positive attention thanks to an absent third baseman.
By Christopher Massie Sep 30, 2014 at 11:00 AM
From the perspective of the New York Yankees' marketing department, it is lucky that Alex Rodriguez spent the final season... More
Behind the News
This is how Tehran Bureau covers Iran
Its reporting model, using undercover journalists and distant editors, is one way to cover closed societies
By Kelly Golnoush Niknejad Sep 30, 2014 at 06:50 AM
At the turn of this century, I started noticing a torrent of messages from Iranian strangers each time I logged... More
The Second Opinion
Can a chilling New York Times story help spark new dialogue on end-of-life care?
The paper continues its strong coverage of the aging beat
By Trudy Lieberman Sep 29, 2014 at 02:50 PM
The New York Times is on a roll these days when it comes to the aging beat, and Nina... More
United States Project
How Iowa reporters are teaming up to cover a tight Senate race
Eight papers use a new transparency tool to get a handle on the political ad wars
By Deron Lee Sep 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM
PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS — Politics has long been a key beat for Iowa media. But today, political campaigns in the... More
Behind the News
Good news is good business, but not a cure-all for journalism
Positive news sites are presented as the answer to news fatigue, but solutions journalism practitioners disagree
By Lene Bech Sillesen Sep 29, 2014 at 07:00 AM
Most news consumers probably know that the news these days is mostly dire, and that the act of staying informed... More
The Kicker
Must-reads of the week
A discredited book on Monroe/DiMaggio, the perspectives of female sportscasters, and reporting on Syria
By The Editors Sep 26, 2014 at 03:02 PM
Culled from CJR's own stories, plus the frequently updated "Must-reads from around the Web," our staff recommendations for the best... More
Full-Court Press
Why Bill Simmons might leave ESPN
Other outlets would jump at the chance to gain his following
By Christopher Massie Sep 26, 2014 at 12:05 PM
"Don't get fired, Bill." That's Jalen Rose's maxim, repeated whenever he sees Bill Simmons, his ESPN colleague and periodical podcast... More
The Audit
Going easy on Eric Holder’s Wall Street inaction
Press coverage falls short on the attorney general’s failure to prosecute fraud
By Ryan Chittum Sep 26, 2014 at 12:04 PM
There's one word missing in too many major press accounts of Eric Holder's tenure as Obama's only attorney general: bankers.... More
Critical Eye
In a new film, once-shunned reporter’s reputation comes full circle
Kill the Messenger as Gary Webb’s final act
By Chris Ip Sep 26, 2014 at 12:00 PM
Jeremy Renner as San Jose Mercury News investigative reporter Gary Webb in Kill The Messenger (Chuck Zlotnik/Focus Features) When filmgoers see Kill... More
Behind the News
How tech reporters can deepen their beat
Hint: learn technical language
By Brady Dale Sep 26, 2014 at 06:50 AM
Ask a tech journalist about the latest cool features from the likes of Google Maps or Spotify, and they are... More
Behind the News
Reporters jump the gun on Eric Holder replacement speculation
After news broke of the attorney general’s resignation, journalists got ahead of themselves
By David Uberti Sep 25, 2014 at 04:29 PM
Hours before Attorney General Eric Holder announced his resignation Thursday afternoon, speculation among reporters about his replacement had already... More
Behind the News
How news outlets can cover the war on ISIS with social media
With few journalists on the ground in Iraq and Syria, news organizations turn to social media
By David Uberti Sep 25, 2014 at 02:55 PM
It began, as so many things do nowadays, with a tweet. Breaking: Huge explosions shook the city in what might... More
Behind the News
Startup site manifestos are press criticism
They all have mission statements speaking to what is missing from news and how they plan to fix it
By Nikki Usher Sep 25, 2014 at 11:00 AM
On the first day of The New York Times' existence, back in 1851, an editorial titled "A Word About Ourselves"... More
Why one editor won’t run any more op-eds by the Heritage Foundation’s top economist - A reply to Paul Krugman on state taxes and job growth made some incorrect claims
This is how Tehran Bureau covers Iran - Its reporting model, using undercover journalists and distant editors, is one way to cover closed societies
Alessandra Stanley’s troubling history of error - Scrutiny alone isn’t enough to solve the problem
Why Bill Simmons might leave ESPN - Other outlets would jump at the chance to gain his following
Simon & Schuster should come clean about discredited Monroe/DiMaggio book - C. David Heymann’s Joe and Marilyn is full of highly dubious information—just like many of his previous books
Simon & Schuster should come clean about discredited Monroe/DiMaggio book (8)
Going easy on Eric Holder's Wall Street inaction (4)
The upside of yesterday's New York Times news (4)
Can a chilling New York Times story help spark new dialogue on end-of-life care? (4)
Reporting on healthcare when it's politically hot or not (4)
Email blasts from CJR writers and editors
Remembering parents lost to AIDS
Swedish scientists sneak Dylan quotes into articles (The Guardian)
Whoever nets the most before retirement wins a free lunch
Mag for dog haters is a hit in Germany (WSJ)
Poop and Pooches. That is all
A data viz reading list (Susan McGregor)
Useful resources for journalists
Greg Marx discusses democracy and news with Tom Rosenstiel of the American Press Institute
CJR's Guide to Online News Startups
ACEsTooHigh.com – Reporting on the science, education, and policy surrounding childhood trauma
Who Owns What
The Business of Digital Journalism
A report from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Questions and exercises for journalism students.
