media
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We Were All Girlfriends: Judy Markey, Much-Loved WGN Radio Personality, Dies At Age 82
In May of 2009, I wrote the following. Last week, on our way to Klein Flowers in Madison, the first thing we did when we got in the car was tune in to “Kathy and Judy” as we went shopping for flower plants. This week, on the way to my parents’ home 90 minutes north,… Continue reading
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Nancy Kassebaum Not Forgotten By Politicos And Readers Of Newspapers
Nancy Kassebaum died last Friday, and unless you’re one of the dwindling Americans who still read newspapers, you might have missed it. Television news, with its breathless devotion to storms with rain or planes that blew a tire, largely shrugged. A former U.S. senator with an amazing history passed away, and the national broadcast networks… Continue reading
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Remembering Elvis On August 16th
We pause on the anniversary of Elvis’ passing because his presence never really left us: the power of his music, the immensity of his stage command, and the quiet moral fiber that shaped him as a human being. All this still connects countless millions to the man. It is a comforting feeling, akin to anticipating… Continue reading
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A President’s Exit Should Never Leave the Press Behind; Trump Chose Wrong In Turkey
Donald Trump’s acknowledgment that he was secretly moved off Air Force One in a catering truck at a NATO summit in Turkey last month revealed far more about presidential responsibility than many at first blush might understand. There was a deeper problem that should trouble anyone who cares about journalism, presidential history, or the basic… Continue reading
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Caffeinated Politics Podcast: Israeli Vote in Congress, Climate Change Leads Newscasts, And Public Safety With Gun Bans in Cook County And Connecticut
Democrats Break With Blind Support For Israel Testosterone, Lethality, And What The Military Isn’t Testing When The Atmosphere Became The Lead Story The Supreme Court, Assault Weapons, And What Comes Next Continue reading
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How Extreme Weather Took Over the Evening News
For the bulk of my adult years, I have been interested in which news story is the lead on each of the three main news networks’ nightly broadcasts. In recent years, an increasing number of leading stories have focused on weather events across the nation. When I want to hear about the turmoil at 10… Continue reading
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Mysogyny Against Female White House Reporters Must End
We have come to the point where we must stop pretending that the degradation of our institutions is just another day at the office. That point arrived the moment Donald Trump again unleashed yet another tirade at a female reporter doing her job. This time, it was ABC News’ Rachel Scott, a strong, confident Black… Continue reading
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Madison TV News Story About Grocery Prices Was Seriously Tone Deaf
If one were looking to report on the impact of high grocery prices on the wallets of Madisonians, it might be assumed a reporter would head to Hy-Vee, Metcalfe Market, or a Woodman’s store. But when the WKOW news team chose the story, they went to Whole Foods. Or, as it is comically referred to,… Continue reading
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Wisconsin Journalist Shelly Kittleson: Truth Tellers Must Not Be Silenced
The news of Wisconsin journalist Shelly Kittleson being kidnapped in Iraq is unacceptable. News reports place her hometown as Monticello, Wisconsin. Her work as a journalist specialising in the Middle East and Afghanistan is published in international, US, and Italian outlets. Iraq’s Ministry of Interior said that security forces have launched an operation to track… Continue reading
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