Don Irvine

ABC News Dresses Up Tot In “Pretty Woman” Outfit

ABC News’ reality hidden-camera show What Would You Do? went undercover to see how bystanders would react to a little girl dressed up as a hooker, as originally portrayed by Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman.”

Wisconsin Journalists Chastised for Signing Gov. Walker Recall Petition

Late last week, Kevin Corrado, publisher of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, told readers that 25 Gannett Wisconsin Media journalists, including seven at his own paper, had signed the petition calling for the recall of Gov. Scott Walker:

The Future of News is Mobile

We have seen it coming for the last few years and now the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism’s 2012 State of the Media report confirms that the future of news is mobile.

End of an Era as C-SPAN Founder Steps Down

Brian Lamb, the visionary founder of the nonprofit cable network C-SPAN, announced that he is stepping down as CEO after 33 years and turning the daily operation over to two of his most trusted lieutenants, Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain.

New Report Names Newspapers as the Fastest Shrinking Industry in America

A new report issued this week from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and social media network Linkedin that studied a wide range of industries showed that the newspaper industry suffered the biggest decline of any from 2007-2011.

Can Paywalls Save the Newspaper Industry?

The recession may be officially over, but don’t try telling that to newspaper executives who are still struggling to replace lost ad revenues and subscribers, and find a new path to profitability.

Ed Schultz: Gingrich’s Southern Supporters are “Low Information Voters”

After Newt Gingrich easily won the Georgia Republican presidential primary last night, MSNBC anchor Ed Schultz said that people who believe that Gingrich can bring gas prices down to $2.50 a gallon are “low information voters.”

Newspapers Digital Future is Bleak

A new study by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism reveals that newspapers are struggling to offset print revenue losses with digital revenue.

Newspaper Ad Revenues Are Falling Over a Cliff

While it has been widely reported that ad revenues, which are the lifeblood of every newspaper, have been falling for years, a new chart from the Newspaper Association of America shows just how much those revenues have fallen, portending an even bleaker future for the industry.

In Search of Revenues, More Papers Erect Paywalls

Newspapers, which have seen their print business decimated by the recession and the Internet, are fighting back by enacting paywalls on their websites in an effort to capture some of the revenue lost from reader defections from their print publications.

Fox News Now Worth $12.4 Billion

Last month Fox News celebrated its tenth consecutive year as the number one cable news channel. Now comes a report that shows just how that ratings success has translated into huge financial gains for the channel’s owner, News Corp.

Herman Cain on Gingrich Response to Media: “Love It”

Newt Gingrich, who blasted John King and CNN at the GOP debate on Thursday when he was asked a question about his ex-wife Marianne’s charges that Gingrich wanted an “open marriage,” received some support this weekend from Herman Cain and Fred Thompson.

AP Sets Up a Nerve Center to Help Employees with Twitter Issues

The Associated Press is showing just how tough it is for traditional media organizations to cope with the explosive growth of social media.

MSNBC The Cable Network of the Left

If there was any doubt that MSNBC is more like MSDNC then the hiring of liberal talk show host Rachel Maddow should put that argument to rest.

ABC News Loves Katie Couric, Just Not for “World News”

ABC News president Ben Sherwood, speaking at the Television Critics Association Winter press tour on Monday, addressed a variety of topics including his plans for Katie Couric, who is a contributor to ABC News.

Chris Wallace Exposes DNC Chairwoman Wasserman-Schultz’s Double Standard

DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz struggled yesterday to explain why President Obama shouldn’t be held responsible for people losing their jobs at Solyndra while Mitt Romney should for job losses at companies Bain Capital invested in while he was CEO.

Gingrich Goes After Liberal Media Bias During New Hampshire Debate

GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich turned the tables on the media during Saturday night’s debate in New Hampshire on ABC when he answered a viewer question on gay marriage by taking a shot at the liberal media.

Ed Schultz Tells Liberal Critics to “Shut Up”

MSNBC’s Ed Schultz, whose praise earlier this week of Rick Santorum lit up the liberal blogosphere, fired back with a video telling his critics to “Shut Up.”

Sign of Discontent: NYT’s Largest Union Sends Letter to Sulzberger With Over 500 Signatures

Last week I reported on the open revolt by current and former staffers at The New York Times in response to the paper’s recent moves to freeze pensions of employees while awarding a fat pension to former CEO Janet L. Robinson before she was eligible, according to the company’s own policy.

MSNBC’s Schultz Finally Discloses Three-Year Old NBC-Bain Capital Partnership

Last week, in a curious bit of timing, MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell and Ed Schultz disclosed on the air that their parent company had ties to Mitt Romney’s former private equity firm, Bain Capital.