The New York Times
Peter King sees nothing wrong with Muslim surveillance, but lots wrong with the A.P. and the 'Times'
The chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in the House said he will not look into the widespread surveillance of Muslim residents conducted by the New York Police Department, and denounced as "disgraceful" the Associated Press for detailing the tactic in a series of reports and New York Times for questioning it. More
Alex Star leaves the 'Times' Book Review, moves to book publisher F.S.G.
Star is famous for being editor of now-defunct but much beloved by smart people magazine Lingua Franca, and for founding The Boston Globe's popular Ideas section; from there he made his way to The New York Times Magazine. But he joined the Book Review in Dec. 2010 amid Hugo Lindgren's shaking up of The New York Times Magazine, where Star had been deputy editor. More
How 'The New York Times' controls architecture criticism in America, whoever its critic may be
All of these critics said that the idea that the entire architectural press had become caught up with the star architects, and object architecture, was not accurate; but that to the extent it was true, it was a monster the Times created over the last decade or more. The Times, the panelists seemed to agree, had the most influence over how the public perceived what was happening in architecture. And hiring Michael Kimmelman may make the pendulum swing too far the other way. More
(2)With varying levels of triumphalism and caution, local news sifts through newly released (and controversial) teacher rankings
Manhattan Institute's Marcus Winters argued in a piece in the News, which published only some of the data: "What’s important now is that New Yorkers read them cautiously. Unfortunately, not everyone is likely to heed this advice." More
Confused and enterprising 'Times' reporter gets lucky plum seat at Dolan's big Vatican do
They watched as the privileged permanent members of the Vatican press corps vroomed into the square on their Vespas and sauntered past checkpoints into the bowels of the basilica.
This inspired some reporters to make a dash for it and hop over the railings, disappearing into the crowds that had descended on St. Peter's Square just to watch the event on the big screen.
One of the Vatican press officers, a stern and handsome man with grey hair, scolded others, telling them to "get back!" as sword-wielding Swiss Guards in their crazy red-and-blue-ribboned 16th-century guard-garb looked on nearby. More
Bill Keller says 'Times' readers 'have not forgotten that we blew it on Iraq,' and that's one reason Iran is different
"We can't entirely leech the New York-ness out of The New York Times," said Keller. "If we somehow achieved absolute objectivity, it would be kind of tedious to read. ... Watching The New York Times try to be even-handed on some issues is like trying to watch somebody dance their kids' dance styles. We look like we're trying too hard. Yes, we should be even-handed, we should certainly follow the basic rule of reporting, challenging your assumptions, and we should be ruthless about having a public editor or an editors' note to call ourselves out. ... But it is possible to be fair and still radiate a cultural persona." More
(1)A change at the top of The Huffington Post's business desk: More of Peter Goodman on the 'middle class'
Goodman notified his staff this morning that he is moving into more of a full-time writing and reporting role, Capital has learned, though he will remain executive business editor in title and will continue to supervise the coverage from a big-picture standpoint. For the time being, Neil Katz, The Huffington Post's executive news editor, will oversee the day-to-day coverage and manage individual writers' beats. More
'Times' staffers gather for bullpen memorial for Anthony Shadid; his final piece published today
Shadid will have one last byline in the Times encompassing his recent reporting from Syria, possibly as early as this weekend, according to people familiar with the paper's plans. His most recent article before that, a piece out of Tripoli, was in the Feb. 9 edition. More
'Times' reporter Anthony Shadid dead at 43; suffered asthma attack in Syria
"Anthony died as he lived — determined to bear witness to the transformation sweeping the Middle East and to testify to the suffering of people caught between government oppression and opposition forces." More
In 'CQ/CX,' the Jayson Blair scandal takes the stage, with less drama than the real thing
The resignation of the Times’ top editors is an interesting story for people who care deeply about newspapers and pay attention to mastheads; but the fact that a young man with a questionable background could and would intentionally fool those editors—and many many readers—for so long, lying and cheating his way to the top of the nation’s most respected newspaper, abusing even the people who tried to help him the most, is a far grander story about the very core of human morality, and it is relevant to every American, even those who don’t read the Times. More
Jill Abramson to deliver Barnard commencement speech
“We have so many reasons to value Ms. Abramson’s place in history as the first woman to appear at the top of The New York Times masthead,” said Barnard President Debora L. Spar in a statement. “From her early days as a reporter to her current post as the paper’s executive editor, she has been unfailing in her convictions and a true inspiration. I am certain that our graduates will be energized by her words and personal story.” More
Arthur Sulzberger tells shareholders that the Times' search for a new C.E.O. is still in 'early stages'
The New York Times Company's search for a new chief executive "is in its early stages," according to Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the company's chairman and interim chief executive.
"Our board seeks to find an appropriate executive with digital and brand-building experience to help guide this company and its long term growth strategy," said Sulzberger Thursday morning on a conference call with analysts, which came on the heels of a major shakeup in company leaderhip and the $143 million sale of 16 smaller newspapers that made up its Regional Media Group. More
Shalom Auslander on wrestling with his anger, his good reviews, his therapist, and Anne Frank
Like a good writer, Shalom Auslander knows that he should be contradictory. The fun for him is in deconstructing each fluctuation of thought, turning a conversation with himself into a dialectic, considering both the pros and cons of life, death, hope, and despair. In Hope: A Tragedy, this back-and-forth appears as therapy sessions between Solomon Kugel and his therapist, Professor Jove, a celebrity doctor who keeps a kind of anti-inspirational poster with the words "Give up" on his office wall: "It was hope, according to Professor Jove, that was keeping Kugel up all night," the narrator tells us. "It was hope that was making him angry." More
(1)NYPD: Officer who obstructed 'Times' photographer during O.W.S. protest got a reprimand
The New York Police Department reprimanded an officer and a sergeant who obstructed journalists covering an Occupy Wall Street demonstration at the World Financial Center back in December, according to Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne.
One of the incidents involved New York Times photographer Robert Stolarik, who was documenting an arrest when an officer repeatedly stood in front of his camera, attempting to block his shots. The altercation was caught on video and went viral after it was uploaded to YouTube, intensifying a months-long standoff between police and the press. More
'Times' and 12 other news organizations write another letter to the NYPD, calling for answers in police treatment of the press
"There have been other reports of police officers using a variety of tactics ranging from inappropriate orders directed at some joumalists to physical interference with others, who were covering newsworthy sites and events," the letter reads. "Indeed, as recently as this Monday it was reported ... that at another OWS demonstration, police “officers blocked the lens of a newspaper photographer attempting to document the arrests." More
