Posted by Thor on May 25th, 2009
So, on my daily trip to the local websites, I discovered this gem (text added for truth):
The flash thingy refers to “17 comments and counting” on an article discussing the various restaurantama news from the week (escafe rebricking pains and their new chef and the failed proposal for a creole restaurant in Belmont). While the commentary is pretty boring (think basically 3 people discussing Belmont over tea and cookies), it does bring up some interesting issues regarding the the denial of zoning rights for the creol restaurant. The owners bought a residential property next to a commercial property and hoped to rezone it for restaurant use.
/Either way, C-VILLE, to compare e-penises, we average 35 comments per post.
Posted by Scowly on March 19th, 2009
An author named “cville journalist” sends in the following:
While I applaude the newsplex’s effort to improve their product I cannot help be be amazed by an ongoing practice of their’s that violates a core value of journalistic ethics: Using Beth Duffy to front those “vacation” commercials for a travel company.
Having a primary news anchor shilling for a client is inexcusable.
It’s not just my opinion. Five minutes of Googling the matter offers up plenty of support for why this practice is wrong:
Al Tompkins with the Poynter Institute writes:
Journalists are in the business of telling news, not selling products.
Stations should insure that journalistic merit and public service, not commercial interests, drive special projects.
Stations should establish guidelines for news anchors and reporters delivering public service messages, ensuring that the messages are of legitimate public interest, not colored by commercial tie-ins.
What policy does your station have for commercials that feature individuals who are current or former journalists even if those journalists did not formerly work at your station or network? How can you clarify that someone is paying this person to participate in this announcement?
»Read More
Posted by Scowly on March 12th, 2009
Next Thursday, there will be a “press-release” launch party for a new Charlottesville monthly independent paper. ‘Brave New Word‘ will be distributed at local hubs like coffee shops, health food stores, the Tea Bazaar, and other centers of activity, starting that day. Come let loose on the dancefloor to the expert grooves of DJ Fason Jellows, an experienced record spinner who pleases crowds of all types. The $8 will go toward funding the next issue and helping this new non-profit community organization get its feet on the ground! Share in the vision for a co-operative media network in this area while you meet, greet, and get down!
Gravity Lounge -All ages – $8 – 10PM, Thursday March, 19th, 2009
Update: We incorrectly listed the event as March 18th and have corrected it to March 19th.
Posted by Thor on March 3rd, 2009
We’ve heard of issues with the Daily Progress, which, despite what you may think is actually a relatively healthy business. Birdies explain that the parent company, Media General is actually weighing down our local newspaper. Besides that, there are pretty strong signs that local media is suffering. Anyone notice the rags recently? They are a whole lot thinner. Advertisers get 2-for-1 deals and aren’t spending like in the past.
We’ve aware of the economic issues, but media has remained relatively secure (or so it seems). The word is that media companies are in the shitter and aren’t talking about it. We know some guys are really hoping cVillain goes under. In fact those rumors were spread six months ago, and guess what, like a hungover stepchild coked up and chugging coffee, we’re still here, bitches. Let’s turn the tables and speculate…
Which local media has yet to suffer the most?
[pic from mugley]
Posted by Scowly on January 29th, 2009
From a birdie named Cathrine…
Greetings! I’m a producer for “BackStory With the American History Guys,” a public radio show about American history that is based here in Charlottesville at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and hosted by the historians Ed Ayers, Peter Onuf, and Brian Balogh. The show tries to provide the historical background of contemporary news headlines. So for example, we’ve done recent shows on the history of voting, presidential transitions, and energy consumption.
We’re a call-in show and we’re currently looking for callers for our “Just the Facts?: Partisanship and the Press” show, which will examine how the American media has negotiated the line between partisanship and “objectivity” over time. More specifically, we’re out to call into question listeners’ assumptions about how bias has operated in American journalism in the past (for most of our history, partisanship was the major driving force rather and something to be avoided). »Read More
Posted by Kyle on August 26th, 2008
Hello everyone, we had some updates on Spicy Bear we wanted to share with you. Between DIGG, exciting articles at MUSE on Jazz and the Preston Ave venue, new writers at Style and a new hire, we’re really excited. All the info is after the break..
»Read More
Posted by Thor on July 18th, 2008
While the local media is reporting on the fact that there is no West Nile in Charlottesville, we wanted to let you know there is no EBOLA virus in Charlottesville. According to the Center for Disease Control, there haven’t been any reported cases of human EBOLA virus in Virginia for 2008 to date. There have been some bodily fluids that have been tested, but none were found to contain EBOLA in this area.
If you get EBOLA, it will likely occur in the end of your life and that will happen extremely quickly. You should turn yourself into the authorities if you have any signs of internal and external hemorrhage from orifices, such as the nose and mouth may also occur, as well as from incompletely healed injuries such as needle-puncture sites.
UPDATE: OMG THEY ARE TRAINING FOR BIOHAZARD INCIDENTS.. IS THERE EBOLA IN CHARLOTTESVILLE?!!? (Thanks Tuffy)
[more reading]
Posted by Thor on July 15th, 2008
You have to love it when people get all worked up and scared about blogs. Hello Roanoke Times! cVillain is on your tail.
Listen to this quote from a recent editorial:
Other bloggers do not do as well. They might look like legitimate news sources to the casual observer, but they willfully blur the lines between journalism and campaign hack.
Journalists, real journalists, follow strict rules about conflicts of interest. They do not take money or gifts from groups they might cover. They also maintain a wall between news, opinion and advertising functions.
That is not the case with many bloggers…
Ok, it’s not like the Roanoake Times is scared of bloggers or anything like that. Or are they? Maybe this closing sentence gives us more information:
That does not disqualify bloggers from a place in the media spectrum, but those who rely on them for their news and commentary should keep in mind the potential conflicts when they choose whom to trust.
Seriously dude? If anyone reads anything, anywhere, in any form, it’s biased. It’s biased by advertising dollars, it’s biased by relationships, it’s biased by people’s personalities, insecurities, it’s biased by political beliefs, it’s biased by anything you can possibly think. Oh maybe you forgot to close with “and you should trust the Roanoke Times because we are the only real news source.”
This raises an important issue we’ve been hearing through the grapevine. Some local businesses think our writing is biased. »Read More
Posted by Kyle on July 14th, 2008
Hello Everyone – I thought it would be good to let you know that we redesigned cvilleStyle.com and added Zikki Munyao to our team. I know you probably don’t want to read a press release, so here are some FAQs:
Why did we redesign cvilleStyle.com?
Because Haidee was on strike until we made it look better. No, seriously, the default look to our theme was extremely ugly. We reskinned it with a bright, modern look. I hope everyone likes it. We do.
Who is Haidee?
Haidee Cline has been managing cvilleStyle for several weeks now, but she sent us a short bio which you can read in full. She graduated from the University of Richmond, worked for national geographic and graduated from Darden. She is married to Matt Cline, a Charlottesville dentist. She has a slight obsession with shopping, decorating and parties. If you see her, make sure you ask her about this slight obsession.
Who is Zikki?
Zikki Munyao grew up in Kenya and recently graduated from the University of Virginia. He was a member of the US Army and has experience driving 18-wheelers, so we decided to hire him to manage our advertising sales. He is a billiard player and enjoys mountain biking. He’s busy meeting everyone in Charlottesville, but I’m sure he’ll make time for you. Say hi if you see him!
[full press release here]
Posted by Scowly on July 7th, 2008
We just got big news from a little birdie…
25 People Have Been Laid Off at The Daily Progress.
Media General, the Daily Progress’ parent company decided to move printing operations to Richmond to save on printing costs. The employees who used to work for the printing press no longer have jobs, but they will get severance packages.
[via Daily Progress] [pic]
