Tag: El Planeta

Talking about local news with ‘The Codcast,’ CommonWealth Beacon’s video podcast

I had an opportunity to take part recently in “The Codcast,” a video podcast that’s part of CommonWealth Beacon. The other panelists were Sophie Culpepper, who covers local news for Nieman Lab, and Javier Marin, executive chairman of El Planeta, Boston’s Spanish-language newspaper. Moderating was CommonWealth’s editor, Laura Colarusso.

We had a good conversation that covered some important topics including trust, business models and the possibility of government assistance to local news outlets. At a time when nonprofit news seems to be where the growth is, Marin made some cogent points about why we need a vibrant for-profit news sector as well.

You can watch the video version on YouTube or download the audio wherever you get your podcasts.

Violence, art and the media’s responsibilities

Journalists from a number of Boston news organizations will gather this Thursday evening for a panel discussion about the media’s role and responsibilities in covering urban violence.

Part of the exhibit “Anonymous Boston,” which documents the lives of young murder victims and how the media covered their deaths, the discussion will be held at the Fourth Wall Project, near Kenmore Square, at 132 Brookline Ave. The panel is titled “If It Bleeds, It Leads: The Role of Media in Urban Violence.” I will have the honor of moderating.

The exhibit is the subject of this week’s cover story in the Boston Phoenix by Chris Faraone. As you will see, the families of murder victims say the loss of their children is often compounded by sensational, inaccurate media coverage and by hateful online comments.

The Boston Herald is singled out by several people as a particularly egregious offender. Morever, Joanna Marinova-Jones, the community activist who has overseen the exhibit, is in the midst of a libel suit against the Herald. Despite those facts (or maybe because of them), I’m hoping the Herald will accept our invitation for what is intended as a substantive, civil conversation.

Participants who have already confirmed include Boston Globe city editor Steve Smith, Bay State Banner executive editor Howard Manly, WGBH Radio (89.7 FM) senior investigative reporter Phillip Martin, El Planeta managing editor Marcela Garcia, pioneering African-American television reporter Sarah Ann Shaw and Faraone.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., and is free and open to the public.