Archive for the &;60-minutes&; Category

LA Times Finally Catches Up toMMQB

July 8, 2007

On June 15, we published an item on the Motion Picture Academy of America (MPAA) leaving its long-time digs in Encino and moving to the Sherman Oaks Galleria.  On Saturday July 7, the LA Times finally caught up, &;reporting&; the move in a page two business section story. I developed the MPAA story myself the old-fashioned journalistic way, moving around the city with my eyes open.  Seeing “For Rent” signs in the courtyard of the MPAA offices, I contacted a spokesperson (who told me I was the first reporter to call), confirmed the move and published the item. The Times taking 22 days to run big news on one of Hollywood&;s most important organizations is inexcusable. I don&;t hate the mainstream media, or the Times. In fact, I recently won another award writing for the LA Times&; now-slashed magazine, West. But it&;s frustrated to see&;and try to work in&;what the Times&; own Tim Rutten calls &;the generalized collapse of confidence by newspapers engendered by print journalism&;s passage through an economically wrenching transformation.&;

Posted in 60-minutes, business-journalism, Journalism, Los-Angeles-Times, MPAA | Leave a Comment &;

60 Minutes Plays Softball with LouDobbs

May 7, 2007

After public relations disasters like Don Imus and Janet Jackson, it&;s interesting that CBS, once called &;the Tiffany network&; would take a chance on the increasingly demagogic Lou Dobbs. Now CNN&;s Dobbs has not one but two networks  to lash out on.  On 60 Minutes Lesley Stahl asked a couple of tough questions, but mostly was bowled over by her new colleague&;s charm offensive.  He even played the married-to-a-Mexican card.  Stahl and Lou wrapped up by driving a tractor together, on the 300-acre New Jersey farm owned by this voice of the middle-class.

Posted in 60-minutes, business-journalism, CBS, CNN, Imus, Janet-Jackson, Journalism, Lou-dobbs, public-relations-disaster, Television | 2 Comments &;