Life in the Newsroom: February 2006 Archives

On tonight's newscast our producer Tracy Perlman used our nameless pony as the subject for the kicker. To enspire us with story ideas we have two newsroom mascots: Princess Nat and her nameless friend. But we can't possibly have a mascot without a name, so the online producers in the newsroom started pondering the name of Princess Nat's new friend. A fellow newsroomer named her "Hell's Angel," but look at her.... it just isn't fitting. Then, in an exclusive interview with "her" we found out that she might be ... wait for it ... a man! Despite the gender issue we are still left with a pony without a name. If you have any name suggestions for our new friend post a comment.

The only time anybody ever tried to punch me because of something I created for a newspaper or TV station was over a cartoon.

It was a long, long time ago when I was just starting out as a high school journalist and cartoonist. A quarterback thought my cartoon had dissed his girlfriend. (Okay, it had; but it only kinda looked like her.) He came looking for me.

The most uncomfortable experience I ever had here at KU was over a cartoon. In the late 1970s, a University Daily Kansan cartoonist decided to take exception with what he thought was the local Jewish reaction to a reception featuring Hitler's punchbowl at a museum event. I was Kansan adviser then and it was the only time I know of that the Faculty Senate ever censured the student paper.

Something about cartoons makes the people they offend very angry and very volatile. The aftermath of the Danish political cartoons supports that theory with terrifying clarity.

I am more than willing to take heat for the First Amendment. I am more than willing to defend student journalists who might decide to publish the offending cartoons. I would take a punch for free speech but, when it is my decision to make, I won't ask others to take the punch for me — or even with me.

The reason you won't see the face of The Prophet on the web sites for which I am responsible is overwhelmingly influenced by my concern for my students, my colleagues and my newsroom. People who believe it is right to riot and okay for others to die because religious beliefs have been breeched by a newspaper do not carry much weight in my personal Potter Box.

They do, however, intimidate me.

This is not a good thing for the media, for the faithful, or for the world. But, I have too many years in the trenches to send my troops over the top to face this kind of reaction and danger. May Allah help us all.

Ann Brill, Dean of the School of Journalism, joined the hosts of Jayhawk Sports Talk Friday night. Aaron Whallon, Rahul Sharma, and Alex Wiebel grilled Brill about everything from sports journalism theory to this weekend's Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri on the hardwood. Sharma honored Brill for her leadership qualities and exemplary work as a community volunteer in his customary segment Sharma Salutes. The hosts even introduced a brand new segment on the show entitled The Brill Sergeant, where Brill predicted the winner of Saturday's game between Kansas and Missouri.

The show replay Friday at 10 p.m. and 12 a.m., and again Monday at 5 p.m. before KUJH-TV News.

This past week was eventful to say the least. The "sleepy" town of Lawrence became divided after a shooting at the Granada left one dead, another critically injured, and a suspect on the loose. While the death was newsworthy for a day, it quickly shifted to a battle between Lawrence and Topeka, and how hip-hop music brought out the worst in us all (See comments in the Lawrence Journal World article, Business neighbors split on music's role).

While working my newsroom shift and posting the story, I thought it would be interesting to talk to the artist who was performing at the venue of the shooting and give him a chance to answer his critics chastising him and fellow hip hop artists for instigating violence.

Thankfully Doe, a Topeka native, called the newsroom for an exclusive over-the-phone interview to give us his side of the story. What transpired was an argument between the artist and venue over an alleged payment of additional security that was not present during the shooting.

It was exciting being a part of the top story, Rapper points blame at nightclub security, especially one that I had a lot of interest in.

This article,Imagining the Google Future is of particular interest since we just watched EPIC 2015 a couple weeks ago, and we've been discussing the future of the media. The reporter goes so far as to call Google a "cunning enterprise." And, frankly, if you look at some of their numbers, you may very well agree. In 2005, Google was big news!

• Sales of an estimated $6 billion
• Profits projected around $1.6 billion
• A share price above $400

But what does the immediate future hold for Google? Where will they go next? Is the Google Grid actually on the horizon? And, what can media organizations learn from Google? Their online advertising strategies have proved nothing short of spectacular.

CNN Money wants you to submit your version of Google's future. Scroll down to the bottom of the Imagining the Google Future story, and follow the link. Extra J694 credit for anyone who gets their submission published.