Give It to Me ... Local?
OK, when Rick James told us to “Give it me, baby,” we got it. But when The Clarion-Ledger plasters its new saying—“Give It * to Me Local.
Favorite JFP Moments: Yours and Ours
As the JFP approached its 10th birthday on Sept. 22, 2012, we asked current and former staff and interns, as well as readers, to share their favorite JFP moments.
WGBH Boston Buys Public Radio International
Boston public media station WGBH, the producer of such marquee PBS shows as "Nova" and "Frontline," has acquired Minneapolis-based Public Radio International, the companies said Thursday.
JFP Wins Multiple Awards for 2011 Work
The Jackson Free Press got amazing news from Detroit Friday afternoon when we learned the Association of Alternative Newsmedia was presenting us a coveted first-place public-service award for our team coverage of the personhood effort last fall.
WJXN: Pirate Radio?
Jacksonians have been talking about the radio station with no DJs, no commercials and a music lineup like none they've ever heard.
As If We Lost the Saints
A tornado touched down in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi the evening of May 23. It was a busy Wednesday night in The Times-Picayune newsroom. The paper's website, NOLA.com, posted reports of heavy wind damage in Arabi, then later the news of a possible tornado striking. Staffers were busy collecting the information and reporting it promptly. But the tornado is not the only thing that kept New Orleans' journalists up all that night.
Why Write for the JFP?
Ugh! He's in my office again, with his holier-than-thou arrogance, his buffed-up hair and skin so alabaster he can't have ever seen the sun! What does he want this time? He's complaining about something. I do that thing where I look the speaker in the eyes and nod like I'm engaged, but my mind is elsewhere (note to self: middle daughter has caught on and extracted quite a bit of money from me last time).
Free State of Jones
Jones County is a study in duality. It has two courthouses in two county seats: Ellisville and Laurel. During the Civil War, the county supposedly seceded from the state of Mississippi and the Confederacy, a contested historical legend. Howard Industries boosted economic development in the county but, in 2008, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested almost 600 undocumented immigrants who worked there. It was the largest ICE raid ever.
One Night at Fenian's
On Wednesday, May 2, a friend asked me to go to Fenian's. I agreed and prior to leaving my house I asked who else would be there. She told me House members would probably be there as it might be the last night of session.
The Pejorative Report
When Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut, it was clear he was using a pejorative term. He meant to belittle Fluke, a law student at Georgetown University who spoke before U.S. House Democrats in support of birth control. Limbaugh is a showman, not a journalist, yet his language created a backlash for the outspoken conservative radio personality.
Farewell to a Newspaperwoman
When I entered the classroom at Millsaps College, where I teach a continuing education course for writers, there was a bright-eyed student seated at the table, notebook opened and ready. She looked to be about 80.
Laurel Leader-Call to Close
The Laurel Leader-Call plans to close this week. The paper announced that this Thursday's edition will be the last for the newspaper, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year.
Charging for Inexperience
As a dozen experienced journalists at The Clarion-Ledger weigh the pros and cons of taking an early retirement, the daily newspaper's parent company wants to start charging for online content.
Truth Troops
Some people—including some journalists I've worked with over the years—assume Stars and Stripes is a propaganda arm of the Department of Defense. It's not. It's an all-American institution that is in danger.