Comedian Chris Rock has been talking to reporters, doing a publicity tour for his new film, Top Five. The timing has resulting in several questions about Ferguson, the grand jury's decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, the coverage of race in America, and the Obama presidency.
Frank Rick, New York: “In Conversation Chris Rock: What’s killing comedy. What’s saving America.”
Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post: “Chris Rock is right: White Americans are a lot less racist than they used to be”
Mo Rocca, CBS: “Q & A: Chris Rock” (Video)
Daniel Strauss, Talking Points Memo: "Chris Rock: When we talk about race relations, 'it's all nonsense'"
Christina Montford, Atlanta Blackstar: "Chris Rock explains why 'Black Progress' is a myth; the real change is white people are less 'crazy'"
Gregory Krieg, Policy.Mic: "Chris Rock has a brillant explanation of the state of race in America"
Covering Ferguson: The aftermath
Christine Byers, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Darren Wilson resigns from the Ferguson Police Department”
Andrew Beaujon, Poynter: “New Yorker cover artist says resemblance to August cartoon is unintentional”
NPR Ethics Handbook: “As news from Ferguson continues to come, a couple of reminders on language”
Jihii Jolly, Columbia Journalism Review: “What we can learn from Robert McColloch’s media condemnation”
Tori Hepperman, Columbia Missourian: “Journalists contemplate media influence in perceptions of Ferguson”
Dylan Byers, POLITICO: “Ferguson prosecutor blames the media”
Janay Rice tells her story
Friday, a judge ruled the NFL must lift the indefinite suspension keeping former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice. The league suspended him after video was made public showing him beating his then-fiancee in a New Jersey elevator. As soon as the league lifted the suspension, interviews with Janay Rice ran on ESPN and NBC.
ESPN published interview in the form of an "in her own words" essay. An editor's note indicated that while no questions were off limits, Janay Rice was given control over the content and publication date.
Janay Rice as told to Jemele Hill, ESPN: “JanayRice, in her own words”
Erik Wemple, Washington Post: “ESPN gives Janay Rice control over as-told-to piece”
Statehouse bureaus relocated
Nine of the ten news organizations operating bureaus in the Missouri state capitol building will be forced to move from their first-floor workspace to a room in the basement due to building renovations.
Rudi Keller, Columbia Daily Tribune: “Orders to move capitol media offices draws questions”
Power of the podcast
Podcasts have been available for more than a decade, but they're suddenly becoming mainstream and popular. Why is that? And, how can can we monetize this emerging market?
Jon Kalish, NPR: “Podcasts rise in popularity, funded by advertisers and listeners”
David Pierce, The Verge: “The new radio stars: welcome to the podcast age”
David Carr, New York Times: “’Serial,’ podcasting’s first breakout hit sets the stage for more”
Max Willens, Advertising Age: “Are podcasts poised to break into advertising mainstream?”
How you’re accessing news websites
Catalina Albeanu, Journalism.co.uk: “BuzzFeedmedia trends: “homepage out, social and video in”
Sam Kirkland, Poynter: “At the Guardian, the homepage is far from dead”
Mathew Ingram, Gigaom: “BuzzFeedsays social rules and it is bigger than most TV networks”
Michelle Castillo, Adweek: “News sites top list of slowest-loading web pages”
Sony Pictures hacked, films leaked
An investigation is underway to determine if North Korea -- with help from people operating in China -- is behind the hacking of a Sony Pictures computer system. The cyber attack resulted in the leaking of four yet-to-be released movies, employee data and more.
Todd Cunningham & Sharon Waxman, The Wrap: “Sony struggles to fight #GOP hackers who claim stolen data includes stars’ IDs, budget and contract figures”
Fox News: “Sony Pictures reportedly investigating whether North Korea hacked studio’s network”
Arik Hesseldahl, Re/Code: “Sony Pictures investigates North Korea link in hack attack”
Kevin Rouse, Fusion: “More from the Sony Pictures hack: budgets, layoffs, HR scripts, and 3,800 social security numbers”
Matt Cantor, Newser: “Did North Korea hack Sony over a Seth Rogen film?”
PG-13: Advanced Math
A New York Times review of the new Benedict Cumberbatch film, "The Imitation Game" warns of sex, violence and advanced math. It's funny... but maybe kind of scary, too!
A.O. Scott, New York Times: “’The Imitation Game’ stars Benedict Cumberbatch”
