Troy

Here is another Brother I recently discovered during a recent trip to Tampa. He was covered in the free newspaper (right before the Asian massage parlors), sad. Deggans had a book published earlier in the year called What can be learned from media coverage of 2012 election By Times TV/Media Critic In Print: Monday, November 5, 2012 "It certainly brings about a feeling of exhaustion," said Dylan Byers, who covers media for POLITICO, noting the Internet-fueled 24/7 news cycle has increased the flow of stories and pushed journalists hard this election season. "Because of how fast the media moves now, there's greater demand for news coverage than there are stories. People are going to look back, and perhaps wish they had spent more time on bigger pieces with greater impact." Read the whole article Excerpts from the article are below. (My commentary in parentheses): 1 - Social media smartens up and dumbs down the coverage. "Do I think 'binders full of women' was the most substantive thing said during the debate? No, obviously not," Byers added. "Is it worthwhile to have a conversation about equality in the workplace? Absolutely." (I would say mostly dumbs down, mis-information spreads quickly, mostly a vast sea of uninformed opinions) 2 - The political press has a tough time putting issues on the national news agenda if neither candidate wants to talk about them. Critics pointed out that the presidential campaigns and even the televised debates missed addressing a host of important issues, from the rise of poverty rates during the recession to questions on climate change, pollution and the environment. (Journalists,I 'm learning don;t ask hard question for fear of losing access, and don't get deep for fear of losing an audience) 3 - News consumers don't just want fact-checking, they want truth-checking. Facts can be easier to verify. But judging what a collection of facts means often requires making a judgment call... (This is why people are so confused. the truth seeking part of the journalist's job seems to have taken a back seat to whatever drives ratings)

Well said Cynique. I KNOW I'm in a small minority with my less than hyperbolic support for Obama. So it is good to read when someone else shares my sentiments. Someone wrote the happiest day of his life. My God! I can see Barack saying that. But even Barack, I suspect would give a more conventional answer like when I married Michelle or the birth of his children. Needless to say I hope things improve, but given that things are pretty much the same as they were before the election, I'm not very optimistic... at least not so optimistic that yesterday would crack the top 1,000 happiest days of my life.

MZURI! I'm glad life is good with you. Life is good with me too despite my bitching and moaning about everything else lately :-) While the prospect of Romney in the oval office gave me the heebie-jeebies and I can't exactly fall to my knees and thank the Almighty over an Obama win either. People were dancing in the streets here in Harlem. I'll get more excited with results...

Has anyone heard of or read this book? The author, Deggans, is a popular critic out of Tampa Bay' Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation by Eric Deggans Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (October 30, 2012) Gone is the era of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, when news programs fought to gain the trust and respect of a wide spectrum of American viewers. Today, the fastest-growing news programs and media platforms are fighting hard for increasingly narrow segments of the public and playing on old prejudices and deep-rooted fears, coloring the conversation in the blogosphere and the cable news chatter to distract from the true issues at stake. Using the same tactics once used to mobilize political parties and committed voters, they send their fans coded messages and demonize opposing groups, in the process securing valuable audience share and website traffic. Race-baiter is a term born out of this tumultuous climate, coined by the conservative media to describe a person who uses racial tensions to arouse the passion and ire of a particular demographic. Even as the election of the first black president forces us all to reevaluate how we think about race, gender, culture, and class lines, some areas of modern media are working hard to push the same old buttons of conflict and division for new purposes. In Race-Baiter, veteran journalist and media critic Eric Deggans dissects the powerful ways modern media feeds fears, prejudices, and hate, while also tracing the history of the word and its consequences, intended or otherwise. Eric Deggans serves as TV/Media Critic for the Tampa Bay Times, Florida's largest newspaper. Some people call him the most critical guy in the place, because he's served as TV critic, Pop Music Critic and Media Critic at various times. He also provides regular commentaries on TV for National Public Radio and writes about media issues for the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University. Raised in Gary, Indiana, he earned a degree in journalism from Indiana University, working at newspapers in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Asbury Park, N.J. before landing in Florida. A drummer for more than 30 years, he performed in a band signed to Motown Records in the late 1980s and still plays the occasional show with local artists. He has won awards for his journalism from the Florida Society of News Editors, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Society for Features Journalism and American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors; his work also has appeared in the Washington Post, Seattle Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Ebony magazine and Rolling Stone Online.

I hear you FinanceFree the next four years will be interesting. I just hope for the sake of my small business and family that things improve -- in a hurry! I not sure how many shocks my little business can absorb, shitty economy, publishing in turmoil, high tuition, even Hurricane Sandy...

I'm sure you'll do just that Hickson! Nah'Sun, I was thinking about your comment equating eBooks to MP3's. The other problem I see is the following: Music has become freely available on-line. Often I have found music on Youtube that I simply could not find (to buy) on iTunes. Of course a great number of people don't pay for music at all simply downloading it from various online resources. As revenues from record sales dry up, musicians have the benefit of making money by performing. Authors don't really have the option of going on tour to generate some income. Sure some celebrity authors can sell tickets to a signing and include a book as part of the deal, but potential revenue is miniscule -- especially if the "book" is an electronic file. Besides, the average author will never make any money at a "ebook" signing -- unless of course they put on a show. What will happen when ebooks are flying around the internet for free with no revenue going to the author? If anyone thinks this will not ultimately happen, they are woefully naive. As ebooks proliferate (even when they are not being pirated), the pressure to lower prices will increase, so much so that it will discourage more and more people from writing and the publishing industry will follow the music industry -- down the drain. It is happening now.

MVmedia Publishing and Beyond http://www.mvmediaatl.com/ Once Upon A Time In Afrika Teaser

Cynique the athletes to make it to the level of a Derek Rose are few and far between when compared to the huge numbers of athletes who have sacrificed they bodies, and education and have gotten relatively nothing in return. Rose's wealth does not make up for all the financial and physical resources that are misdirected by athletic programs in large universities (public and private) which are little more than minor training facilities for professional basketball and football. God forbid a Alum gives an athlete a handshake without the NCAA getting bent out of shape. Have you check the prices of Official NFL Jerseys -- $100 on sale for a glorified tee shirt! Have you checked the prices of tickets for a half way decent seat? Have you looked at all of the municipalities that will move heaven and earth to build a new stadium but don;t have enough affordable housing. New York City completed 3 in the last couple of years. While the homeless population rises. We don't even have adequate shelter for emergencies. My old high school a few blocks from The Brooklyn Net new arena could not admit students today because it was used as a shelter for flood victims. Major league sports takes far more from us than we get in return. We are all the victims whether we recognize it or not. Actually it is probably easier and safer from a mental health perspective to grab a beer and worry about who won the game last night -- instead of contemplating how many way we are getting screwed over by the rich in this country.

Oh I thought he was talking about Robert Johnson from BET.

You may be right Cynique, but I'll stand with my prediction from 2 years ago. If Mitt wins the popular vote without winning the electoral college Obama will still be the president. Nothing will change that short of a revolution. The line on Obama is 4 to 1 in favor to win the election, and essentially even money on the popular vote.

Nah I was unaware of the rumors, or have forgotten them. I really did not follow Michael that closely. I just know Bad was not all that good. Here is a song that has captured my attention lately. The music, arrangement, singing, lyrics ...just beautiful. There's a saying old Says that love is blind Still we're often told Seek and ye shall find So I'm going to seek A certain lad I've had in mind Looking everywhere Haven't found him yet He's the big affair I cannot forget Only man I ever think Of with regret I'd like To add his initial To my monogram Tell me Where is the shepherd For this lost lamb? There's a somebody I'm longin' to see I hope that he turns Out to be Someone to watch over me I'm a little lamb Who's lost in the wood I know I could Always be good To one Who'll watch over me Although he may Not be the man some Girls think Of as handsome To my heart He carries the key Won't you tell him please To put on some speed Follow my lead Oh, how I need Someone to watch over me Won't you tell him please To put on some speed Follow my lead Oh, how I need Someone to watch over me Someone to watch over me ,"Someone to Watch Over Me," written in 1926 by George and Ira Gershwin was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald

Nah'Sun with a few exceptions the format of the book is largely irrelevant to me. I'm concerned with the bookstore itself. What is going to replace that, Facebook? Was the Gameboy a good replacement for a old fashioned game of tag?

As crazy as this might sound: The president of the largest, 2nd oldest, most frequently visited website dedicated to books written by of for African American readers has not read a complete book in the better part of three months. It is not that I don't read. I read every single day. I spend more time reading and writing than I do watching TV or talking to other people. Of course part of the reason is that I'm busy. Virtually all of my time is spent doing something related to AALBC.com. If I'm not engaged in AALBC.com related work, I'm hanging our with family and friends or doing something to stay in shape. I'm never idle, you'll never be able to call me up, ask what I'm doing, and get the response "nothing". If I'm watching TV is is usually because I'm too tried to do anything else -- least of all read. Recently I've been on a rant about the rapid closing bookstores across the country, how important they are to communities and related issues. Part of my motivation is the knowledge that websites will follow the course of the stores and we'll, effectively, be back in "pre-Terry McMillian" days when there were less than a handful of popular Black novelists. Sure there will be more books published, each year, but it will be impossible to sort the good from the bad, and there will be no platforms to spread the work -- despite all the social media... but I digress. The last time I walked into a book store, purchased a book (Toni Morrison's Home), and read it from cover to cover, was this past summer. Now I've purchased books, in stores since, but I have not finished reading any of them. I've been "working" on Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns for 3 months -- that is if you count "working" on it as it sitting on my nightstand for 3 months with the hope of being read. Wilkerson's tome isn't lonely, there are 10 other books I'm "working" on to keep it company. This not is my 1st period of protracted non-reading and I'm certain it will not be my last. It is dry spells like these that I realize what a wonderful luxury it is to be able to sit down an enjoy a good book that you've selected for no other reason than pleasure or escape; a book that you can read without dozing because you're drained from a working all day. There have been times when I've been able to really immerse myself in the joys of reading. A few years ago I went to the Dominican Republic for vacation; between the beach and the flight I was able to read 5 books in two weeks. Unfortunately circumstances where I have extended periods of time, disconnected from technology and responsibility are increasing rare. Yes, reading for pleasure is increasingly becoming a luxury activity, even for a guy with a really big website devoted to the activity.

All six position sold. I now have one (1) unsold position and an willing to extend the deal. $25 for a paid referral or $25 off to anyone who buys the ad.

Those athletes, Robinson, Ali, in particular were men. They played in an era when money did not completely dominate the sport. Those men fought for something they believed and were willing to sacrifice something to do it. It was a different time. Days of men like Jackie Robinson, in sports, are over.

I remember that "Tower Records" store... I brought the album and later the CD, but I was not really big fan of this album (sacrilege, I know) I was much more into rap at the time. This album was so big because of the marketing, promotion and more. Sure the music was fine (personally I never go back and listen to "BAD") but there was a tremendous marketing machine behind the music -- nothing like it before. or since really.

ABC's 60-second trailer previews the documentary film by award-winning director Spike Lee, celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's landmark "BAD" album and tour. "Michael Jackson: BAD25" will air Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22 ( p.m., ET) on ABC.

Of course you are right Milton. But again this is why Black folks, as a "people", do not control very much here in the US. I'm also making a distinction between a "business" and an "institution". As you described a business is strictly concerned with generating profits for the owner. Noble causes are irrelevant to a business -- unless they generate profits. If a firmly middle class Black family wanted to live a in a Black middle class neighborhood where Black people ran the businesses, provided the professional services, ran and developed the curriculum at the schools and owned most of the homes. Where would they go? In a nation of 40 million plus people this should not be too far fetched, right? Can any one name 5 communities in the vast country of ours with the characteristics I've described? Typically middle class or upper middle class Black families live in white neighborhoods where their children attended predominately white schools where their children of usually 1, 2 or at most a few amount many. The story continues in the best colleges and the best corporate gigs. Of course this sounds like the American dream for most, and financially it works out quite well for some families, but the adverse consequences on a people are profound. To clarify one of your points which business(es) are Johnson children running?

Cool. I'll update the title of this post too. The title of the post is what gets captured by the search engines and make it much easier for people to share information with others via social media. There is no need to be low key here Hickson should give a course on how to work this discussion board. His posts get many views for a reason.

This just in... Apparently public outrage forced the cancellation of this years Marathon. Plus since many runners will not be able to make it into the city, hoteliers can continue gouging NY City residents, who were forced out of their homes and make much more money. Which I'm sure was the real motivation....

The lady, a Sister, who lost her kids is from a borough called Staten Island. Staten Island may as will be another state; it is as different from Manhattan as the rest of the country -- and is treated as such. I believe Staten Island's death toll as 1/2 of the total. People there are hungry, cold, without power, drinkable water, some literally homeless. But we have the resources to host the New York Marathon on Sunday which starts in Staten Island -- there will be plenty of water for the runners. I rode my bike to the Wall Street area yesterday there were pumps everywhere pulling water out of flooded basements, and subway stations. It was a ghost town when it would normally be teaming with people. The Hudson river reeked of raw sewage. Traffic to AALBC.com is down almost 70% from NY and 50% from NY. I have a part time gig helping folks pass the GED exam and I have no clue when I'll be able to work -- loosing money all the way around.

Writegirl. if I may... Uncle Catfish [Kindle Edition] by Chandra Borden http://bit.ly/unclecatfish I’m a daddy’s girl. But that wasn’t always the case. For years I used to run to my father’s arms, squealing “Daddy, Daddy,” with hopes of stealing his heart. In return, Len Earle Woods would greet me the way he greeted everyone, with a laid back demeanor and a cool-dude smile. I wasn’t a daddy’s girl at that point. I was just another kid. But it would take one visit from Uncle Catfish, the summer before my eighth grade year, to change all of that. Click to learn more or to download your copy today! Only 99 cents!

Aptaracorp has released its annual survey of ebook production trends Aptaracorp created the following Infographic in association with Publishers Weekly.

Hickson my most recent sales support your position that ebooks will take over: eBooks outsold physical books on my website (again) for the period of my most recent Bestsellers list September 1st to October 31st 2012. This is skewed by the sale of books that are only available in one format, but for books that were available in both formats the ratio was as high as 3 to 1 in favor of eBooks. I'm also agree that bookstores are indeed relevant but despite their relevance they are doomed to fail. I'm not however confident that the replacement is better. As a result, I'll continue to try to let people know what we are losing, collectively, as a culture. I feel bad for people who never knew a world with bookstores -- just like I feel bad for the kids who never really knew what it is like to play games like tag, jump rope of any of the physical things kids used to do outside. The idea of spending one's childhood connected to a screen, communicating with friends, watching TV, playing and game, or reading a book is, well...depressing.

The results of this survey may be found here http://aalbc.com/blog/index.php/2012/11/01/bookstores-relevant/