Market testing pre-print stories

CP reports:

Reporters at the Chicago Tribune newspaper say they believe the marketing department solicited subscribers' opinions in recent weeks on stories before they were published, a practice they said raises ethical questions, as well as legal and competitive issues.

An email signed by 55 reporters and editors, sent Wednesday to editor Gerould Kern and managing editor Jane Hirt, questions why the newspaper was conducting the surveys and what stories were used. They also wanted to know which readers were surveyed and whether any story had been altered as a result of reader comment.

And we're back?

*tap tap*

This thing still on? Anyone out there still have this in an RSS feed? Please comment if you're there.

Until next time

For the sake of the three people who read this, I should perhaps post a small note saying that, obviously, I've stopped posting for the time being. I'm getting most of my media literacy fix these days from a Toronto freelancer emailing list, and archiving stories of interest is taking place in that context. I'm keeping this blog on life support until time and a broadcast mentality bring me back. If you keep me in your RSS feed, you'll see if and when that happens.

Thanks.

Wong, Globe still on the hook

From the Toronto Star (and not the Globe, it should be noted):

"An Ontario Superior Court judge has dismissed a motion brought by the Globe and Mail and journalist Jan Wong to have a lawsuit against them thrown out – and ordered them to pay $9,160 in legal costs.

...

"While employed by the Globe and Mail as a reporter, Wong impersonated a maid and then wrote about her experiences in a five-part series on low-income living. The newspaper published the stories in the spring of 2006.

Members of a Markham family are suing the newspaper and Wong, alleging they suffered "significant embarrassment and mental distress" after one of the articles contained details about their private lives and household.

The claim filed by Steven and Georgina Nitsopoulos and their son Angelo seeks $50,000 for deceit and invasion of privacy, plus costs. Toronto Maids, which is also named in the suit, has filed a cross-claim against the Globe."

The New Cold War

Mediascout Canada on perceptions of intentions between Russia and the West.

The Biden Scoop

...was gotten by at b2b reporter. This is really worth researching, as Obama had said his mobile-using supporters would get the news of his VP pick first via text message. The message did go out, and the method was widely heralded as "breakthrough," but the media had already go Biden's nom out.

Paul Conley posted his take, with relevant links.

Journos ask cops to stop going undercover as journos

Caught this one on Monday, but didn't dig fast enough.

CBC says...
A group of Canadian journalists called on Ontario's minister of safety and correctional services Monday to order the Ontario Provincial Police to stop impersonating reporters.

It was recently revealed that an OPP constable pretended to be a journalist at a Mohawk rally held in conjunction with the aboriginal day of protest in 2007.

I have mixed feelings on this one. I'm sure the last thing a cop cares about is who he's pretending to be when he/she goes undercover. Still, if done frequently enough, it's going to make being a reporter a tough gig.