Category Archives: journalism

Iran, Oil, & the NY Times

Iranian Warships in Gulf of Hormuz. Ebrahim Norouzi/Jamejamonline, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Norouzi, Getty Images

While Iran is threatening to block the Straits of Hormuz, and various agents are calling for military actions, the crew of an American destroyer patrolling the North Arabian Sea rescued 13 Iranian fishermen captured by Somali pirates in November, 2011. U.S. Navy Rescues Iranians Held by Pirates, 1/6/12, Robert Mackey and J. David Goodman. The article quotes one of the rescued fishermen, Fazel Ur Rehman, 28, “It is like you were sent by God. Every night we prayed for God to rescue us. And now you are here.”

Asian Customers of Iran Look for Other Oil Sources, 1/7/12, Keith Bradsher and Clifford Krauss,

In Bold Step, Europe Nears Embargo on Iran Oil, 1/5/12, Steven Erlander,

Iran Warns the United States Over Aircraft Carrier, 1/4/12, J. David Goodman,

Oil Price Would Skyrocket if Iran Closed the Strait of Hormuz, 1/5/12, Clifford Krauss,

Noise Level Rises Over Iran Threat to Close Strait of Hormuz, 12/29/11, Rick Gladstone,

Oil Prices Predicted to Remain Above $100 a Barrel Next Year, 12/29/11, Diane Cardwell and Rick Gladstone, Lawrence J. Furman, at Popular Logistics, forecast, “The Price of oil will be at $150 to $170 per barrel in Dec., 2012. The price of gasoline will hit $6.00 per gallon in NYC and California.”

Iran Calls Threat of Sacntions from European Union ‘Economic War’, 12/29/11, J. David Goodman,

Iran Threatens to Block Oil in Reply to Sanctions, 12/28/11, David E. Sanger and Anne Lowrey,

Iran Admits Sanctions are Inflicting Damage, 12/20/11, Rick Gladstone,

Given the implications of petroleum shortages and/or price spikes, current tensions with Iran are a serious matter, entirely aside from one’s opinions about Iranian government’s behavior. We note that in preparing a piece about the possibility of Iran attempting to limit world petroleum supplies, a search of the The Times for “+Iran +Oil” yields no less than ten pieces of reporting. We see our role, at Popular Logistics, as framing and interpreting what is going on. We strive to be primary sources of understanding while second-hand sources of news, especially in foreign theaters such as the Middle East, Europe and Asia. We rely on The New York Times, WNYC (our local NPR affiliate), the World Factbook of the CIA, and other agencies of the United States Government, the WorldWatch Institute and other Primary sources of news and information.  And so, we pay our taxes, because, as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Taxes are the price we pay for civilization,” and (to pat ourselves on the back) we subscribe to the New York Times and WNYC.

On The Media: A King's Farewell

Bob Greenfield points out things which were less important than Michael Jackson’s funeral: wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the roughing-up  of ethnic minorities in the People’s Republic of China, and legislative attempts to address health-care and energy policy. Hats off to Greenfield and his colleagues at WNYC’s On the Media

On The Media: Transcript of “A King’s Farewell ” (July 10, 2009).

AlertNet resources for aid workers

AlertNet.org, a project of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, is sufficiently rich in resources that it defies categorization. So we’ll try to highlight them in smaller bunches.

Their Resources for Aid Workers page – taken by itself – is filled with information tools – some for dealing with the press – but others that easily lend themselves to risk assessment and planning, and to public education.

Map via Alertnet

Here’s one example of a data map. While this sort of information is critical for aid workers – it’s also valuable for planners to have this level of detail in order to anticipate and reduce risk.

More to come about AlertNet.

The Evolving Newsroom

The Evolving Newsroom is a site run by Julie Starr, a journalist with outstanding credentials to observe what’s happening to the news business and information flows:: From TEN’s “About” page:

…. she’s been a reporter, sub-editor, page layout sub, chief sub-editor, radio presenter, workflow specialist, change agent and editorial manager.

She was part of the team who designed and launched the Daily Telegraph’s integrated web-and-print newsroom in the UK, having a particular focus on future workflows.

Now back in New Zealand after 10 years overseas, Julie is Editor-in-Residence at Wintec’s School of Media Arts in Hamilton, does some journalism teaching and presentations on changes affecting news companies, and takes on project work.

She has a strong interest in designing newsroom workflows, news delivery and increasingly in using social networks and web applications to gather and distribute news.

Julie has no idea what the news business will look like in 10 years but she’s enjoying the ride in the meantime.

Every post at The Evolving Newsroom seems to be concise, nuanced and timely.

Assuming that one thinks that news and information flows – we do – are essential issues that define us as communities – and affect politics, policy and outcomes.

The Evolving Newsroom. Via one of Ms. Starr’s other projects, an excellent  primer/help site on the use of TiddlyWiki software.

Before the canonization proceedings begin

His charm notwithstanding, let’s remember some of the things William F. Buckley stood for:

“The central question that emerges…is whether the White community in the South is entitled to take such measures as are necessary to prevail, politically and culturally, in areas where it does not predominate numerically? The sobering answer is Yes-the White community is so entitled because, for the time being, it is the advanced race.”
-William F. Buckley, National Review, August 24, 1957

ViaMaking Light

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Here’s the opening graf of the Times obituary :

William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse, died Wednesday at his home in Stamford, Conn. He was 82.

We thought that the notion of “advanced race” put one at the edge, rather than the center, of American politics. Perhaps this is part of an editorial policy of being polite. But it does reek of inaccuracy and timidity.