Parallel Universe August 29, 2007

The idea that media can be managed has spawned an entire industry.
The idea that media can be managed is fairly amusing to most news people I know, who refuse to be managed (except by the newsroom boss, of course).
Does the term “free speech” ring a bell?
Today in the Dade County Courthouse, I actually had [...]

Noir, Nightly August 27, 2007

I had a bloody good time last night. Torture, shootings, mutilations, rivers of red – horribly entertaining.
It was the Gablestage production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore, noir-dark and pointedly funny.
Plenty has been written about the production locally and on Broadway, so I’ll leave the critique to the critics. But less [...]

Teach-onomics August 24, 2007

Is there anyone out there who thinks South Florida teachers are paid enough? Who wouldn’t think it divine justice if salaries for teachers and pro football players were switched?My email inbox filled with letters from teachers from Broward County this week, as their union battled for more in their contract. No doubt, the [...]

Into the Storm August 19, 2007

Dean is ugly. Big. Already a killer. And just getting started.
Every hurricane expert and public safety professional, without exception, preaches preparedness, and if so ordered, evacuation. You will never hear any one of them suggest heading to an island or sliver of coast where a Category 5 is projected to hit head-on.
In [...]

Satan, Maybe? August 15, 2007

After spending most of the last 20 years in newsrooms (in Miami no less), I truly didn’t think there was much left that could surprise me. Wrong. Today I received an email from the High Priestess of the Church of Satan. Honest. The concern was a report we’d done on a murder trial I’m covering [...]

Airline Idiocy – Part Deux August 14, 2007

The American Airlines counter at Miami International Airport was our first stop on vacation. The agent weighed our suitcase and informed us that it was six pounds over the 50 pound limit.
“But since you are two people with one suitcase, that’s fine,” he said.
That made sense to us. Every flyer is allowed to check a [...]

A Few Good Journalists August 10, 2007

One of the things I love about our newsroom: we can laugh at ourselves. And trust me, there is NEVER a lack of material.
The following is a twisted little news take-off on the defining scene of “A Few Good Men”, written by my friend and colleague Robert Alpizar eight years ago during a slow [...]

Vote by Remote August 5, 2007

This little item didn’t appear on many (if any) front pages this week, didn’t make top headlines, so I will share here – in case you missed it:
“Public Blames Media for Too Much Celebrity Coverage”
(Stop here for a moment and consider that statement)
That’s the title on survey results released late this week by the [...]