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The Fifth Estate
Michigan Messenger Online News Site Shuttered—Why You Should Care (A Lot)
by P.D. Lesko
If you never read the Michigan Messenger, you missed some of the best investigative reporting around. Eartha Jane Melzer on the Benton Harbor and environmental beats outreported virtually every other news outlet in the state.…
8.9 Percent Voter Turnout in One of America’s “Smartest” Cities Linked to Lack of Quality Local Reporting
The City of Ann Arbor web site has a page titled "Recognitions." In 2010, among the recognitions Ann Arbor received:
2010:
Taste Contest Award (Ann Arbor Water Treatment Plant) – American Water Works Association, Michigan Section, 2010…
If You Read This, Governor Rick Snyder and Fox 2 News Political Pundit Tim Skubick Might Think You’re Stupid
Well, Snyder and Skubick won't think you're stupid, exactly. Just dumb. Skubick (pictured left), who most recently prognosticated that the recall effort against Governor Snyder was "dead as a door nail" just a few days before the Michigan…
Savaged: Dispatch From The Netroots Nation Progressive Bloggers Conference
by Chris Savage
I'm in Minneapolis this week attending the biggest progressive bloggers conference in the country. It's annual event; three days of workshops, speeches, and netroots networking: Netroots Nation. This is how you know you're…
Influential Right-Leaning Political Analyst Declares Snyder’s Governorship A “Failure” In Washington Post Op-Ed
The Left has been screaming since Rick Snyder presented his budget. Then, when Snyder proposed deep cuts to education to "reinvent" Michigan's economy, Independents started in on the Governor's "vision for Michigan." Just a few days ago,…
Did Michigan’s Booth Newspaper Co. Coordinate An Editorial Attack Against Grassroots Recall Groups in June?
The FCC recently came out with an extensive report concerning the state of American media. In the Executive Summary, FCC researchers write:
Yet, in part because of the digital revolution, serious problems have arisen, as well. Most…
AnnArbor.com Is A Failure Because Tony Dearing Was “Clueless” Argues Former AA News Reporter
A2P Notes: Just after AnnArbor.com was launched, essayist Jack Lessenberry wrote in the Metro Times:
Now I like to think of myself as a fairly sophisticated newspaper critic. I've worked for a lot of them, have had bylines in The Washington…
The Politics of Buyer’s Remorse: Group Files Petition to Recall Gov. Rick Snyder
According to a piece published today in The Detroit News, "A group that wants to recall Republican Gov. Rick Snyder says it will file its proposed petition wording with the state of Michigan this morning. Michigan Citizens United, which…
Detroit Society of Professional Journalists Dishes Up Awards to Ann Arborites
"Journalists, if they do their jobs right, are never very popular. Much of the time, we’re bringing you bad news, and some of the time, we are obnoxious about it."—Jack Lessenberry on "Why Journalism Matters." To read the rest of the April…
National Media Slam AnnArbor.com For Ethical Lapse & Conflict of Interest
March has not been a good month for Ann Arbor's 18-month-old digital media extravaganza AnnArbor.com. Today, the digital site was lambasted by national media for a perceived ethical lapse and conflict of interest in appointing a U of M PR…