News of the movement for July 25, 2012


Journalism and Beyond

When Will U.S. Politicians Stand Up to Rupert Murdoch?

This week's Murdoch news raises as many questions as it answers, as the phone-hacking scandal enters its second year dominating front-page headlines worldwide. But the controversy that has rocked Murdoch's British empire has caused little more than a ripple among America's political leadership.

Timothy Karr, Free Press

Phone-Hacking Charges Seen as Chill on British Journalism

To many in Britain, the prosecutors’ decision to lay criminal charges against eight of the most prominent figures in British tabloid journalism over the past decade was a dramatic step toward exacting accountability for the tangled web of wrongdoing in Rupert Murdoch’s London newsrooms.

John F. Burns, New York Times

Aurelius, Others Appeal Judge's Confirmation of Tribune Bankruptcy Plan

Junior bondholders in the Tribune Co.'s bankruptcy appealed the confirmation decision in the case and asked the judge to stay consummation of a restructuring plan that would hand ownership of the Chicago-based media company to its senior creditors.

Michael Oneal, Chicago Tribune

Could Kickstarter Be Used to Crowdfund Journalism?

Under increasing financial pressure from the Web and the decline of print advertising, newspapers and other traditional media outlets have been laying off staff and trying to fill the gap with services such as Journatic -- the hyperlocal aggregator that uses offshore workers -- or simply doing without things like copy editors. But are there other solutions to that reporting gap? Crowdsourcing journalism through sites like reddit could be one, but crowdfunding could be another.

Mathew Ingram, GigaOM


Media Policy in Congress

Lawmakers Ponder Blackouts in Senate Hearing

Like consumers, Senate Commerce Committee members don't like blackouts on cable systems. But they aren't sure what, if anything, to do about it.

Katy Bachman, AdWeek

Lawmakers Divided Over Whether to Overhaul Cable Rules

A Senate panel appeared as divided as the industries it regulates over whether lawmakers should change a 1992 law aimed at promoting competition in the cable television market.

Juliana Gruenwald, National Journal

Rockefeller: Customers Should Get Refunds for Channel Blackouts

Sen. Jay Rockefeller argued that customers should get refunds if programming disputes cause them to lose access to some television channels.

Brendan Sasso, The Hill


Future of the Internet

The Wireless Market Is Seriously Messed Up When Every Incentive Is Anti-Consumer

I get that wireless firms are supposed to maximize profit. But when every single incentive to profit maximization relies on providing less service for more money and discouraging people from using your service, something is seriously messed up.

Harold Feld, Wetmachine

Untruths at the Origins of the Internet

L. Gordon Crovitz of the Wall Street Journal argues that it's a "myth" that the government developed the Internet. The only trouble with his argument is that it's utterly wrong.

Dan Mitchell, Fortune

Congressman Darrell Issa's Call to the Internet's Right Side

In a recent interview, Rep. Darrell Issa makes his case for why a conservative approach is the best hope for keeping the Internet full of win.

Nancy Scola, The Atlantic

Harry Reid Urges Action on Cybersecurity

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid defended his decision to address cybersecurity reform before the defense reauthorization -- and he used the words of his chief critic on the timing, Sen. John McCain, as justification.

Tony Romm, Politico

ISPs Itching to Bring Data-Cap Racket to Home Broadband Services

As much as consumers hate having their mobile data capped, there's no question that caps on wireline broadband services have the potential to be a far greater burden than mobile caps. New reports suggest that unless ISPs either invest in bringing fiber to the home or use better switching technology to ensure faster traffic routing, that's exactly what users can expect in the near future.

Brad Reed, BGR

Millions of Americans Now Fall Within Government's Digital Dragnet

Until recently, average Americans could convince themselves they were safe from government snooping. Yes, the government engaged in warrantless wiretaps, but those were directed at terrorists. Yes, movies and TV shows featured impressive technology, with someone's location highlighted in real time on a computer screen, but such capabilities were used only to track drug dealers and kidnappers. Figures released earlier this month should dispel that complacency.

Mark Stanley and Jake Laperruque, Ars Technica