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Ombudsman Freshness, In DC -- Yes DC.
Author: Raine
Date: 2011-08-08 12:02:59
Many people aren't aware that many newspapers have a person on staff called an ombudsman. For those that aren't aware of what this position does, let me me allow the Organization of News Ombudsmen explain: There is far more at the link, but I think you get the gist of what an important job it really is. This is the person (or department) that is the people's representative to media outlets while at the same time they are the media outlets' representative to the people. It can't be an easy job to balance such things. Many times, they are contracted independently to a media outlet. For those that have been there -- think arbitrator. It's a relatively new concept to American journalism -- it's a concept that began in 1967 to serve 'readers of The Courier-Journal and The Louisville Times.'
I'm sure by now, you are wondering where the heck I am going.... I ask that you just indulge me a few moments of your day.
A few years ago, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, due to a serious decrease in revenue and readership decided to revamp its entire publication. Along with a decision to decrease circulation, they cut jobs. During this painful process, they held focus groups. They decided to change their editorial and news content based upon those focus groups. This letter from the Editor of the AJC unveils the result: Bold-face mine. To this day, the paper is still struggling. I posted a response in the comments section because - at that point - it was my only choice. The paper had slashed staff as well as delivery. Among the staff released were many international and national reporters. (they decided to rely on news services mainly as a source of information, like Reuters and the AP, for example ) Also on the chopping block was it's Ombusman. There is no position listed to this day. You can email the AJC, but there is no person to put a face to one's concerns.
Anyway, I replied to this editor's letter. This was my comment: I can tell you personally that the publication, after that redesign (both visually and editorially) -- suffered a lack of objectivity and quality reporting. I can still remember the time when people actually quoted national and International stories from the AJC on message boards and forums (Today it would have been Facebook & Twitter ). These days, it is a rarity. Bob knows about this FAR more than me; he lived in Atlanta -- he watched the decline.
With that said, this column from the Washington Post Ombudsman, Patrick B. Pexton is so refreshing. It was published August 5. I strongly recommend reading the entire piece. I have truncated it to the best of my ability.
Whether you live in DC or not, I encourage you to thank Mr. Pexton for saying what so many of us have been thinking, hoping and wanting from our media. You can reach him at 202-334-7582 or at [email protected]. If your newspaper has an ombudsman, I strongly encourage you to contact them.
I have long said I want neither conservative nor liberal news. I want clear unfiltered news. I am happy to see that I am not alone. We try to encourage people to contact our political representatives, we ask that people vote -- but it is also our responsibility to make our voices heard in the media. This is a good place to start. One person is listening loud and clear. He took a brave and refreshing stance for the people that read The Washington Post. It's rare, wonderful, and refreshing.
This is the stuff we need from The Fourth Estate.
& 
Raine
What is an ombudsman?
An ombudsman is someone who handles complaints and attempts to find mutually satisfactory solutions. Ombudsmen can be found in government, corporations, hospitals, universities and other institutions. The first ombudsman was appointed in 1809 in Sweden to handle citizens' complaints about the government. The word is pronounced "om-BUDS-man" and is Scandinavian in origin.
What is a news ombudsman?
A news ombudsman receives and investigates complaints from newspaper readers or listeners or viewers of radio and television stations about accuracy, fairness, balance and good taste in news coverage. He or she recommends appropriate remedies or responses to correct or clarify news reports.
Why should a newspaper or broadcaster have an ombudsman?•To improve the quality of news reporting by monitoring accuracy, fairness and balance. •To help his or her news provider to become more accessible and accountable to readers or audience members and, thus, to become more credible. •To increase the awareness of its news professionals about the public's concerns. •To save time for publishers and senior editors, or broadcasters and news directors, by channeling complaints and other inquiries to one responsible individual. •To resolve some complaints that might otherwise be sent to attorneys and become costly lawsuits.
I'm sure by now, you are wondering where the heck I am going.... I ask that you just indulge me a few moments of your day.
A few years ago, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, due to a serious decrease in revenue and readership decided to revamp its entire publication. Along with a decision to decrease circulation, they cut jobs. During this painful process, they held focus groups. They decided to change their editorial and news content based upon those focus groups. This letter from the Editor of the AJC unveils the result:
This daily newspaper is one designed for newspaper readers. For years our industry has chased those elusive nonreaders. Our market research led us down a different path. What we’d have to do to win over those nonreaders risked driving away our core readers. We believe we can thrive by increasing the satisfaction of those who already engage with us regularly. So … you see a newspaper that looks and reads very much like a newspaper.
We’ve invested millions in press upgrades, more color and a more newsy, sophisticated look. We hired an award-winning design firm, Lacava Design, from Montreal to help us create a newspaper that is easy to use and filled with information.
Also along the way, we found ways to do things more efficiently. Our reader feedback proved valuable when economic necessities forced us to scale back plans and coverage. It was our readers who helped us set priorities for what to keep and what could be sacrificed.
Anyway, I replied to this editor's letter. This was my comment:
Apparently, your testing failed, based upon the majority of comments here on this blog. While I appreciate that you, Ms. Wallace seem to brush off the very people who care about this newspaper — the actual Readers, and defend instead, your testing and your focus groups.
That is, in an of itself, a sad statement about the approach of this new editorial board. If I wanted “newsiness” I can watch the Daily Show. I don’t want NEWSY, I want NEWS.
With that said, this column from the Washington Post Ombudsman, Patrick B. Pexton is so refreshing. It was published August 5. I strongly recommend reading the entire piece. I have truncated it to the best of my ability.
A populist future for The Post
I’m worried about The Post’s position in the Washington and national media markets.
Before I took this job in March, I spent months talking to editors and reporters for most of the publications based in Washington and ones with major bureaus here. All were going through wrenching change and high personnel turnover.
Cost-cutting and new technologies were only partly responsible for the restructuring. The biggest reason was that their leaders all saw that demand for Washington journalism was growing, not shrinking. And they wanted to retool to preserve or expand their market share.
(snip)
The glaring weakness of most, but not all, of The Post’s D.C. competitors is that they’re doing journalism for two limited audiences: fat cats and power elites. The Capitol Hill publications aim for the corporations, K Street law firms and trade associations that can afford thousands of dollars in annual subscription costs. And they are selling to Capitol Hill lawmakers and staffers and executive branch senior officials who must have a constant stream of information, regardless of price.
(snip -- and THIS is where the homerun happens)
The Post will always compete with the inside-the-Beltway journals and with the Times. It has to. But its future lies not with the rich; it lies with the citizenry. This newspaper must be the one source of high-quality, probing Washington news that readers in this region and across the country can look to for holding their government accountable. This publication must be for all Americans.
This means that The Post can’t be a liberal publication or a conservative one. It must be hard-hitting, scrappy and questioning — skeptical of all political figures and parties and beholden to no one. It has to be the rock-’em-sock-’em organization that is passionate about the news. It needs to be less bloodless and take more risks when chasing the story and the truth.
Where do I get this crazy, almost populist notion? From the readers who write to me by the score every day. Whether they are liberal or conservative, that’s what they want. That’s what they deserve. That should be, and can be financially and journalistically, The Post’s future.
Whether you live in DC or not, I encourage you to thank Mr. Pexton for saying what so many of us have been thinking, hoping and wanting from our media. You can reach him at 202-334-7582 or at [email protected]. If your newspaper has an ombudsman, I strongly encourage you to contact them.
I have long said I want neither conservative nor liberal news. I want clear unfiltered news. I am happy to see that I am not alone. We try to encourage people to contact our political representatives, we ask that people vote -- but it is also our responsibility to make our voices heard in the media. This is a good place to start. One person is listening loud and clear. He took a brave and refreshing stance for the people that read The Washington Post. It's rare, wonderful, and refreshing.
This is the stuff we need from The Fourth Estate.
& Raine
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 12:41:00
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 12:41:00
Morning 
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 12:55:40
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 12:55:40
Great blog, Raine. I have used the ombudsman services of NPR. A couple years back on Talk of the Nation the guest was Bush adminstration torture apologist John Yew(sp). The phone lines light up and boy were peopel giving him a piece of their mind. I decided to contact the ombudsman specifically because NPR has given Yew 20 minutes unrebutted to talk about why we needed to torture people. I also mentioned how instead of calling torture, torture and using "enhanced interrogation techniques" they were playing into the Bushie's hands on framing the debate. A few days later the NPR ombudsman was on ToTN discussing these issues. I wasn't the only one who wrote, but there was enough for NPR to have him on the air discussing these issues.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 12:57:22
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 12:57:22
BTW those of you who have HBO. Did you see "Real Time" for this week. I am so gonna join the Donner Party!
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 13:06:26
All of the "new rules" segment that ends with The Donner Party.
"A dog that will bark at a pine cone for nine days"
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 13:06:26
All of the "new rules" segment that ends with The Donner Party.
"A dog that will bark at a pine cone for nine days"
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:08:24
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:08:24
BTW -
Happy B-Day Tri!
Happy B-Day Tri!
Comment by 
Raine on 08/08/2011 13:15:24
Thanks Mondo.
I think the position is really an important one. I do hope WaPo takes heed. Believe it or not, I rarely read the main section. Mr. Bexton expressed things perfectly.
Raine on 08/08/2011 13:15:24
Quote by Mondobubba:
Great blog, Raine. I have used the ombudsman services of NPR. A couple years back on Talk of the Nation the guest was Bush adminstration torture apologist John Yew(sp). The phone lines light up and boy were peopel giving him a piece of their mind. I decided to contact the ombudsman specifically because NPR has given Yew 20 minutes unrebutted to talk about why we needed to torture people. I also mentioned how instead of calling torture, torture and using "enhanced interrogation techniques" they were playing into the Bushie's hands on framing the debate. A few days later the NPR ombudsman was on ToTN discussing these issues. I wasn't the only one who wrote, but there was enough for NPR to have him on the air discussing these issues.
I think the position is really an important one. I do hope WaPo takes heed. Believe it or not, I rarely read the main section. Mr. Bexton expressed things perfectly.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 13:18:41
Happy Birthday Tri-Sec!
Raine on 08/08/2011 13:18:41
Happy Birthday Tri-Sec!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:39:26
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:39:26
So...guess what.....our Neighborhoods Services Dept (Manassas) has asked me and my 1 by Youth cohort in the communtiy to address the city council tonight! I'm so freaking nearvous its not funny 
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 13:43:32
That great!
Raine on 08/08/2011 13:43:32
Quote by wickedpam:
So...guess what.....our Neighborhoods Services Dept (Manassas) has asked me and my 1 by Youth cohort in the communtiy to address the city council tonight! I'm so freaking nearvous its not funny
That great!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:46:54
Thanks, just wish I didn't have a fear of public speaking. Last time I had to make a speech was at the Presidents Breakfast for the city, my hands and legs so bad its a wonder it didn't look like I was having a seizure
They're bringing in everyone who worked on the project but only Nikki (my cohort) and I are talking for the comuntity
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:46:54
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
So...guess what.....our Neighborhoods Services Dept (Manassas) has asked me and my 1 by Youth cohort in the communtiy to address the city council tonight! I'm so freaking nearvous its not funny
Thanks, just wish I didn't have a fear of public speaking. Last time I had to make a speech was at the Presidents Breakfast for the city, my hands and legs so bad its a wonder it didn't look like I was having a seizure
They're bringing in everyone who worked on the project but only Nikki (my cohort) and I are talking for the comuntity
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 13:49:22
Very cool. Remember there are buds who, while we won't be there, have your back. You'll do great!
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 13:49:22
Quote by wickedpam:
So...guess what.....our Neighborhoods Services Dept (Manassas) has asked me and my 1 by Youth cohort in the communtiy to address the city council tonight! I'm so freaking nearvous its not funny
Very cool. Remember there are buds who, while we won't be there, have your back. You'll do great!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:50:53
Aww thanks
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 13:50:53
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
So...guess what.....our Neighborhoods Services Dept (Manassas) has asked me and my 1 by Youth cohort in the communtiy to address the city council tonight! I'm so freaking nearvous its not funny
Very cool. Remember there are buds who, while we won't be there, have your back. You'll do great!
Aww thanks
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 13:51:07
Having an ombudsman for a news organization is really important. It makes the paper/radio network more accountable.
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 13:51:07
Quote by Raine:Thanks Mondo.Quote by Mondobubba:
Great blog, Raine. I have used the ombudsman services of NPR. A couple years back on Talk of the Nation the guest was Bush adminstration torture apologist John Yew(sp). The phone lines light up and boy were peopel giving him a piece of their mind. I decided to contact the ombudsman specifically because NPR has given Yew 20 minutes unrebutted to talk about why we needed to torture people. I also mentioned how instead of calling torture, torture and using "enhanced interrogation techniques" they were playing into the Bushie's hands on framing the debate. A few days later the NPR ombudsman was on ToTN discussing these issues. I wasn't the only one who wrote, but there was enough for NPR to have him on the air discussing these issues.
I think the position is really an important one. I do hope WaPo takes heed. Believe it or not, I rarely read the main section. Mr. Bexton expressed things perfectly.
Having an ombudsman for a news organization is really important. It makes the paper/radio network more accountable.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 14:16:14
Raine on 08/08/2011 14:16:14
I wish Eric Boehlert read the blog today. It's funny that he actually mentioned Ombusman at WaPo. 
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 14:17:09
Funny you should post this, Scoop. There is an article in Slate about the history of autofellatio today.
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 14:17:09
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all & Happy Mondee..
Heh.. when you see it..
Funny you should post this, Scoop. There is an article in Slate about the history of autofellatio today.
Comment by 
BobR on 08/08/2011 14:20:59
BobR on 08/08/2011 14:20:59
I can remember when the AJC was a respectable newspaper. Now it's like the Baltimore Sun (also a formerly great paper) or USA Today. It's empty fluff.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 14:27:09
its depressing, I just got my 401k back to pre crash - not like there's all that much there anyway but still its the principle of the thing
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 14:27:09
Quote by Mondobubba:
Watching the Dow go up and down is hypnotic.
its depressing, I just got my 401k back to pre crash - not like there's all that much there anyway but still its the principle of the thing
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 14:41:13
Raine on 08/08/2011 14:41:13
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 14:42:22
Hey! The Sun is still a good paper despite what David Simon has to say.
Speaking of great papers, Times-Picayune is very good.
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 14:42:22
Quote by BobR:
I can remember when the AJC was a respectable newspaper. Now it's like the Baltimore Sun (also a formerly great paper) or USA Today. It's empty fluff.
Hey! The Sun is still a good paper despite what David Simon has to say.
Speaking of great papers, Times-Picayune is very good.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 14:50:40
It's a mess. It reminds me a bit of the LA riots.
Domino effect in place.
Raine on 08/08/2011 14:50:40
Quote by Mondobubba:
Rioting in London Getting Worse
Domino effect in place.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 14:51:35
Raine on 08/08/2011 14:51:35
I was just thinking of that song, Scoop.
Comment by BobR on 08/08/2011 14:56:44
I thought the riots were because the police killed someone?
BobR on 08/08/2011 14:56:44
Quote by Raine:It's a mess. It reminds me a bit of the LA riots.Quote by Mondobubba:
Rioting in London Getting Worse
Domino effect in place.
I thought the riots were because the police killed someone?
Comment by BobR on 08/08/2011 14:57:40
Have you actually looked at it lately? It looks like USA Today, and is about the same size.
BobR on 08/08/2011 14:57:40
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:
I can remember when the AJC was a respectable newspaper. Now it's like the Baltimore Sun (also a formerly great paper) or USA Today. It's empty fluff.
Hey! The Sun is still a good paper despite what David Simon has to say.
Speaking of great papers, Times-Picayune is very good.
Have you actually looked at it lately? It looks like USA Today, and is about the same size.
Comment by 
Scoopster on 08/08/2011 14:59:16
Someone actually had the uneducated nerve to say to me this morning "they just have that one popular song right?"
Scoopster on 08/08/2011 14:59:16
Quote by Raine:
I was just thinking of that song, Scoop.
Someone actually had the uneducated nerve to say to me this morning "they just have that one popular song right?"
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 15:01:49
It appears that it's kindof going off based on a lot of societal anger -- the economy etc.
Raine on 08/08/2011 15:01:49
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:It's a mess. It reminds me a bit of the LA riots.Quote by Mondobubba:
Rioting in London Getting Worse
Domino effect in place.
I thought the riots were because the police killed someone?
It appears that it's kindof going off based on a lot of societal anger -- the economy etc.
Comment by Scoopster on 08/08/2011 15:04:51
Scoopster on 08/08/2011 15:04:51
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 15:06:21
Raine on 08/08/2011 15:06:21
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 15:28:55
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 15:28:55
In other word "Get a job." 
Comment by BobR on 08/08/2011 15:39:07
Link...
BobR on 08/08/2011 15:39:07
Quote by Raine:Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:It's a mess. It reminds me a bit of the LA riots.Quote by Mondobubba:
Rioting in London Getting Worse
Domino effect in place.
I thought the riots were because the police killed someone?
It appears that it's kindof going off based on a lot of societal anger -- the economy etc.
The violence broke out in the gritty north London suburb of Tottenham on Saturday night amid community anger over a fatal police shooting of a 29-year-old father of four. Police said "copycat criminal" violence spread to other parts of the city Sunday night and early Monday, including, briefly, London's main shopping and tourist district at Oxford Circus.
The protest over the death of Mark Duggan, who was gunned down in disputed circumstances Thursday, was initially peaceful. But it turned ugly as between 300 and 500 people gathered around Tottenham's police station late Saturday. Some protesters filled bottles with gasoline to throw at police lines, others confronted officers with makeshift weapons — including baseball bats and bars — and attempted to storm the station.
Link...
Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/08/2011 15:52:42
Will in Chicago on 08/08/2011 15:52:42
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRISEC!!!!
Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/08/2011 15:58:54
Will in Chicago on 08/08/2011 15:58:54
Raine, thanks for an excellent blog!
As a former print reporter, I took being neutral and being a fair observer as critical. Sadly, this has vanished to a large degree. We have very partisan media, and often media that is all about sensationalism.
I often get more meaningful news from foreign sources than the U.S. For example, did anyone here about this story over the weekend? As the story appeared in Haaretz, we saw hundreds of thousands peacefully protest their government in Israel.
If there was no violence in London, but peaceful protests instead, would we have heard of it?
As a former print reporter, I took being neutral and being a fair observer as critical. Sadly, this has vanished to a large degree. We have very partisan media, and often media that is all about sensationalism.
I often get more meaningful news from foreign sources than the U.S. For example, did anyone here about this story over the weekend? As the story appeared in Haaretz, we saw hundreds of thousands peacefully protest their government in Israel.
More than 300,000 demonstrate across Israel to protest high cost of living
Over 300,000 people took part in third consecutive week of mass rallies across Israel on Saturday; protesters chant 'The people demand social justice'; Sources close to Netanyahu say media inflated number of protesters.
By Jonathan Lis, Eli Ashkenazi, Ilan Lior , Yanir Yagna and Haaretz
Approximatley 300,000 people gathered Saturday night in Tel Aviv, 20,000 participated in Jerusalem, 3,000 in Kiryat Shmona, 5,000 in Modi’in,1,000 in Hod Hasharon and 1,000 in Eilat. However, those close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the media had inflated the numbers of participants in the protests.
In Tel Aviv, people marched from Habima Square, near the tent city on Rothschild Boulevard, to the Kirya defense compund on Kaplan Street.Approximatley 300,000 people gathered Saturday night in Tel Aviv, 20,000 participated in Jerusalem, 3,000 in Kiryat Shmona, 5,000 in Modi’in,1,000 in Hod Hasharon and 1,000 in Eilat. However, those close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the media had inflated the numbers of participants in the protests.
In Tel Aviv, people marched from Habima Square, near the tent city on Rothschild Boulevard, to the Kirya defense compund on Kaplan Street.
Protesters chanted "The people demand social justice" and "An entire generation demands a future."
A number of signs that were hung on Kaplan Street read "Resign, Egypt is here."
If there was no violence in London, but peaceful protests instead, would we have heard of it?
Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/08/2011 16:19:57
Will in Chicago on 08/08/2011 16:19:57
Some positive news that I found elsewhere. A married lesbian couple acted heroically during the recent tragedy in Utoya, Norway.
If a Married Lesbian Couple Saves 40 Teens from the Norway Massacre and No One Writes About it, Did it Really Happen?
By this point, most of you have heard about the tragedy in Norway a few weeks ago when a Christian Fundamentalist* murdered 77** people and injured another 96. The story has been well-covered by International media and the mainstream press here in the US.
What you probably have not heard about is the married lesbian couple who rescued 40 teenagers during and after the bloody event. Several blogs and gay and lesbian publications are now picking up the story, but the heavy hitters who usually kill for hero stories like this, have remained silent.
The Finnish capital city’s largest daily newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, published this account (translated from Finnish):
Hege Dalen and her spouse, Toril Hansen were near Utöyan having dinner on the opposite shore across from the ill-fated campsite, when they began to hear gunfire and screaming on the island.
“We were eating. Then shooting and then the awful screaming. We saw how the young people ran in panic into the lake,†says Dale to HS in an interview.
The couple immediately took action and pushed the boat into Lake Tyrifjorden.
Comment by 
livingonli on 08/08/2011 16:34:49
livingonli on 08/08/2011 16:34:49
Good day folks. It seems like newspapers are aiming to go to people who mostly get news from the internet now or the knuckle-draggers who only get their "information" from Fox News and right-wing talk and web sites. Those moves aren't picking them up because they continue to get news from their standard sources and aren't switching over but alienating the traditional newspaper readership that's finding it harder and harder to find actual news being reported. No wonder why it seems to overseas-based news channels or alternative sources like Democracy Now! to find out what's going on in the world.
And of course, Happy Birthday to TriSec.
And of course, Happy Birthday to TriSec.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 16:50:10
I did hear of thee stories, but you make a very good point, Will.
That was why what Mr. Pexten said was so impressive to me. I couldn't post the entire thing, but This part is quite relevant wrt to what you say:
Raine on 08/08/2011 16:50:10
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Raine, thanks for an excellent blog!
As a former print reporter, I took being neutral and being a fair observer as critical. Sadly, this has vanished to a large degree. We have very partisan media, and often media that is all about sensationalism.
I often get more meaningful news from foreign sources than the U.S. For example, did anyone here about this story over the weekend? As the story appeared in Haaretz, we saw hundreds of thousands peacefully protest their government in Israel.More than 300,000 demonstrate across Israel to protest high cost of living
Over 300,000 people took part in third consecutive week of mass rallies across Israel on Saturday; protesters chant 'The people demand social justice'; Sources close to Netanyahu say media inflated number of protesters.
By Jonathan Lis, Eli Ashkenazi, Ilan Lior , Yanir Yagna and Haaretz
Approximatley 300,000 people gathered Saturday night in Tel Aviv, 20,000 participated in Jerusalem, 3,000 in Kiryat Shmona, 5,000 in Modi’in,1,000 in Hod Hasharon and 1,000 in Eilat. However, those close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the media had inflated the numbers of participants in the protests.
In Tel Aviv, people marched from Habima Square, near the tent city on Rothschild Boulevard, to the Kirya defense compund on Kaplan Street.Approximatley 300,000 people gathered Saturday night in Tel Aviv, 20,000 participated in Jerusalem, 3,000 in Kiryat Shmona, 5,000 in Modi’in,1,000 in Hod Hasharon and 1,000 in Eilat. However, those close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the media had inflated the numbers of participants in the protests.
In Tel Aviv, people marched from Habima Square, near the tent city on Rothschild Boulevard, to the Kirya defense compund on Kaplan Street.
Protesters chanted "The people demand social justice" and "An entire generation demands a future."
A number of signs that were hung on Kaplan Street read "Resign, Egypt is here."
If there was no violence in London, but peaceful protests instead, would we have heard of it?
That was why what Mr. Pexten said was so impressive to me. I couldn't post the entire thing, but This part is quite relevant wrt to what you say:
Cost-cutting and new technologies were only partly responsible for the restructuring. The biggest reason was that their leaders all saw that demand for Washington journalism was growing, not shrinking. And they wanted to retool to preserve or expand their market share.
Washington is still the world’s indispensable city. Decisions made here affect the world in a way that decisions in Brussels or Beijing still don’t and won’t for some time, if ever.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:01:43
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:01:43
POTUS set to speak any moment now.
Comment by Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 17:20:39
Not the actual paper, just the website. Baltimore Sun print editions thing on the ground in these parts.
Mondobubba on 08/08/2011 17:20:39
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:
I can remember when the AJC was a respectable newspaper. Now it's like the Baltimore Sun (also a formerly great paper) or USA Today. It's empty fluff.
Hey! The Sun is still a good paper despite what David Simon has to say.
Speaking of great papers, Times-Picayune is very good.
Have you actually looked at it lately? It looks like USA Today, and is about the same size.
Not the actual paper, just the website. Baltimore Sun print editions thing on the ground in these parts.
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 17:22:37
at 1:30 according the the White House
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 17:22:37
Quote by Raine:
POTUS set to speak any moment now.
at 1:30 according the the White House
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:35:54
After I posted that I saw that the time was rescheduled. My bad. 
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:35:54
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
POTUS set to speak any moment now.
at 1:30 according the the White House
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:37:23
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:37:23
Now he's 7 minutes late. He's getting as bad as Bill Clinton these days when it comes to punctuality! 
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:45:54
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:45:54
15 minutes.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:46:59
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:46:59
11017.22 -427.39‎ (-3.73%‎) Aug 8 1:46pm ET
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Open: 11433.93
High: 11434.09
Low: 11014.57
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Open: 11433.93
High: 11434.09
Low: 11014.57
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:49:34
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:49:34
This is mighty interesting.
In the first day of trading since S&P downgraded U.S. sovereign debt the stock market is off significantly. Right now, the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are all off significantly. Global stock markets are also suffering through a similar selloff in the first trading since the downgrade. So, with stock markets selling off in response to the news, what about the actual asset that S&P downgraded, U.S. T-Bills? How are those doing in today's trading? They're going up.
Yes, you read that right, the asset S&P downgraded is increasing in value as a result of the downgrade. Why? Because whenever there is economic volatility and investors seek a safe haven they go to the one thing that's considered as risk-less an investment as possible: U.S. government bonds. So, while stock markets fall on the news of the downgrade, the actual downgraded asset is trading up today. That's kind of embarrassing for S&P, isn't it?
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 17:50:10
22 min
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 17:50:10
Quote by Raine:
15 minutes.
22 min
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:53:27
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:53:27
POTUS UP!!
Comment by wickedpam on 08/08/2011 17:53:37
wickedpam on 08/08/2011 17:53:37
finally.
Comment by Raine on 08/08/2011 17:55:31
Raine on 08/08/2011 17:55:31
He's totally jiving with the link I just posted.