Democrats need to learn a lesson
To the Editor:
Millions of people tuned in to the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on June 27. What did we see? No one could deny that we saw a president clearly diminished cognitively.
Looking forward to SMN in 2049
This week SMN is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a business. As we mark the milestone, this industry is changing so fast it’s dizzying.
Don’t overlook Matt Peiken’s ‘The Overlook’ pod
After 20 years in daily newspapers, journalist Matt Peiken took a buyout from the St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press in 2007 and embarked upon his first foray into the entrepreneurial world — a daily video program called “3 Minute Egg.” Over nearly three years, he produced more than 300 short documentary videos that eventually became a pre-YouTube era public television hit.
Important lessons from time spent with my dog
It’s been another hard news week. It seems like that’s becoming the norm in modern American society. No matter which news outlet you favor, there are a slew of heartbreaking or alarming stories. Even if you simply pop on your phone to get directions or check your bank account, it’s hard to avoid the headlines.
Untangling the web: Leading Native journalist says ignorance on Native issues poses danger for tribes
As voting hours ended on Election Day 2020, talking heads waiting for results to roll in filled the TV airwaves with speculation based on the exit polling data before them. What might it mean for the final results, and for the future of the American presidency?
Finding light in the darkness: A conversation with Jane Ferguson
In the realm of foreign journalism, few correspondents are as fearless and compassionate as Jane Ferguson.
How valuable is the survival of local news?
“A democracy ceases to be a democracy if its citizens do not participate in its governance. To participate intelligently, they must know what their government has done, is doing and plans to do in their name. Whenever any hindrance, no matter what its name, is placed in the way of this information, a democracy is weakened, and its future endangered. This is the meaning of freedom of press. It is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.” — Walter Cronkite
The truth is not as simple as it seems
So here’s a reality of the explosion of information that we all live with today: it is now more difficult than ever — not easier — to discern the truth.
Twenty-two years later, some things haven’t changed
Early morning, June 2, 1999. I remember exactly where I was at and what I was doing. More on that later.
A healthy, diverse media landscape is a good thing
We who live in Western North Carolina are fortunate in many ways. We know that. It’s a beautiful place with a vibrant economy populated by interesting people from all over. It’s easy to commune with friends at a brewery or restaurant (adhering to covid restrictions) or slip away to the woods in the East Coast’s largest wilderness area.
