At nearly three and a half hours, this year's Academy Awards telecast didn't set any records for length. But, it did set a social media milestone, when more than 3,000,000 Twitter users retweeted this selfie featuring host Ellen DeGeneres and several other Hollywood stars.
David Bauder, AP: “Ellen’s Oscar celeb selfie a landmark media moment”
Ellyn Angelotti, Poynter: “Who owns Ellen DeGeneres’ Oscar selfie”
Kawme Opam, The Verge: “Ellen takes a selfie at the Oscars, sponsored by Samsung”
Matt Smith, CNN: “#Busted: Ellen’s Oscars selfie switcheroo”
Slate: "Travoltify your name"
New KOMU-TV News Director
There are some changes coming to KOMU-TV. The station's executive producer, Randy Reeves, will take over the position of news director from Stacey Woelfel on Sept. 1. Woelfel has been named the director of the brand new Jonathan Murray Center for Documentary Journalism.
Margaux Henquinet, KBIA: “KOMU-TV’s Stacey Woelfel named director of new documentary journalism center”
Mary Lorenzo, Columbia Missourian: “KOMU’s Stacey Woelfel will lead MU documentary journalism program”
Ashley Jost, Columbia Daily Tribune: "Reeves to replace Woelfel”
MU News Bureau: “MU Journalism dean names Reeves new KOMU-TV news director”
'Blackfish' investigator challenged
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has requested the US Department of Labor look into the conduct of an employee it says violated federal government violated ethics policies connected to her participation in the production and promotion of the documentary, "Blackfish."
Michael Cieply, New York Times: “SeaWorld questions ethics of ‘Blackfish’ investigator”
Vivian Kuo, CNN: “SeaWorld claims ethics breaches by OSHA investigator”
Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel: “SeaWorld files complaint against OSHA investigator who probed trainer’s death”
Associated Press: “’Blackfish’ director denies SeaWorld allegations”
News boat to set sail in St. Louis
The FOX affiliate, KTVI, will use "AquaFox" to cover water-based stories in the coming months. The station's news director said it will be used for stories about predatory species in area waterways, safety and drunk boating stories and to cover fireworks on holidays.
Kevin Eck, TVSpy: “Meet AquaFOX, the St. Louis FOX station’s news boat”
Orlando Sentinel's photo staff changes
The Orlando Sentinel told its photography staff that its jobs were gone and they had until the end of last week to reapply for new positions that would be more "videocentric" in nature. According a memo sent to staffers, the change is aimed at getting more video produced for the newspaper's website.
National Press Photographers Association: “Photo upheaval at Orlando Sentinel”
Kristen Hare, Poynter: “Changes at the Orlando Sentinel felt ‘extremely familiar’ for a former Sun-Times photographer”
What defines success in J-School?
Of course, journalism education requires training in reporting, editing and producing. Students learn how to ask the tough questions, how to tell meaningful stories and how to deliver them to an audience in an engaging way. But, what more should go into a well-rounded journalism education?
Lance Knobel, Nieman Journalism Lab: “J-Schools: Success in news today is about a lot more than reporting and writing”
Joseph Lichterman, Nieman Journalism Lab: “Cut loose by UC Berkeley, hyperlocal site Mission Local looks to spin off as a for-profit”
Bad-mouthing Billy Corgan
Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Trotter was supposed to cover a performance of former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan's musical interpretation of the novel "Siddhartha," but was turned away. Corgan's publicist told Trotter he was not welcome because Corgan was upset about a column written about him by Tribune columnist Rex Huppke. In that column, Huppke characterized Corgan as "more than a little pompous" and said his performance -- estimated by the artist to run approximately eight to nine hours -- "reinforces that impression."
Andrew Beaujon, Poynter: “Billy Corgan bars Chicago Tribune reporter from show after critical column”
*Rex Huppke, Chicago Tribune: “Huppke: Corgan’s ‘Siddhartha’ jam session takes pretension to the next level”
Rex Huppke, Personal Blog: “Naked without my vest”
*Gregory Trotter, Chicago Tribune: “Corgan’s ‘Siddhartha’ show stirs intrigue”
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