How social media makes for lazy journalism

A few weeks back I was texting back and forth with my oldest son, Grant, who’s a grown man with a family of his own.  He’s also a diehard baseball fan, just like his old man. 

During a National League playoff game we were watching together, several hundred miles apart, we began sending text messages to each other. 

The Chicago Cubs were playing the Washington Nationals, as I recall.

In one text I sent I said “I don’t like (Cubs manager) Joe Maddon.” 

Grant asked why.

Real journalism: Still on life support

Editor's note: The following is a Facebook post I wrote in November of 2015, after seeing then-University of Missouri Communications Dept. assistant professor Melissa Click take part in threatening a student journalist attempting to cover a campus protest. 
My sentiments haven't changed a bit, so I definitely feel like it's worth re-posting on this blog. 


I won't say journalism is dead, but in many ways the journalism I fell in love with as a kid is all but gone. Those who cared to notice saw the signs of decay worsen over the past few years, but the sickening video of a journalist attempting to cover University of Missouri protests earlier this week encapsulates exactly what's wrong. 

C'mon, man! Newton needs to know better than to use sexist remark

ESPN has a segment on its popular show “Monday Night Countdown” in which analysts choose something strange, funny or unbelievable that occurred during the previous week’s football-related events and have a good laugh about it. 

The segment is called, “C’mon, man.” 

Not everything ESPN does appeals to me personally, but for the most part “C’mon man” is fresh and fairly clever. 

In the wake of tragedy, how about we wait a few days before ramping up the rhetoric?

"What a terribly senseless tragedy,” we say, slowing down for a pious second or two before lunging for the virtual soapbox. 

By “terribly senseless tragedy” I mean what went on in Las Vegas over the weekend; or any other frighteningly violent event in which innocent people are shot, stabbed, bombed or run over. 

Just remember, our flag and our National Anthem represent freedom for all

Having covered sports and sporting events most of my life, I've seen and heard the National Anthem played several hundred times, long before these NFL protests came along.

We like saying "Never Forget" but we can't seem to remember why

This is something I felt inspired to write back in 2015. I post it again today not to boast or pat myself on the back. It's just that I stand by these words now more than ever. The hurricanes we've seen the past couple of weeks seem to have pulled us together, and once again we see unity coming from disaster. But I still wonder why we can stay united. 

Sept. 11, 2015 

Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey shows America is far from broken

ABC News.go.com

America is not without its faults, obviously. Still, I'm always amazed by two facts: 1. American citizens -- regardless of race, religion, political affiliation etc. -- will always be quick to selflessly help their neighbors in a time of crisis; it's just who we are. 2. As time passes, we tend to forget our benevolence. As we lose our humanity, we give space to negativity, hate and victimhood. 

When hate and hate collide

This is hateful and disgusting.

Hate is divisive, it always has been and always will be. That's the point, really. If you hate someone or something, you don’t want to be associated with it in any way; you want to drive it away. 

Well of course you're angry, everybody's angry ... and here's why

(CNN photo)

Okay, here's what happened:

Unless your action matches your words, this is what hypocrisy looks like

My concern is that these comments will get twisted, because on a few of my recent social media posts, my friends appear to have allowed their reactions to get ahead of their brains. So, please, open your eyes and your minds and try to contain whatever hair-trigger overreactions you might be dealing with at this time.

I am in no way a "Trump guy." I don't like him and I think he's potentially very, very dangerous. On the other hand, I'd much prefer that he succeed as President rather than fail.

Hopefully you're still reading and not overreacting, because here comes the voice of reason regarding Hollywood, protests and politics: