Behind the News
The end of Modern Farmer?
An award-winning magazine struggles to connect with readers
By Anna Clark Jan 23, 2015 at 05:26 PM
Modern Farmer, the stylish quarterly that tried to mix cosmopolitan glamour with a back-to-the-land ethos, is ceasing publication one month... More
The Kicker
Must-reads of the week
Pro-regime propaganda in Egypt, conflicts of interest among TV doctors, and Fox News’ Megyn Kelly moment
By The Editors Jan 23, 2015 at 03:36 PM
Culled from CJR’s own stories, plus the frequently updated “Must-reads from around the Web,” our staff recommendations for the best... More
United States Project
New law threatens reporter-source relationship
Pennsylvania’s “Silencing Act,” passed in latest Mumia backlash, faces court challenge from journalists
By Anna Clark Jan 23, 2015 at 12:25 PM
DETROIT, MI — Why should journalists care about a new Pennsylvania law that limits the speech of people convicted of... More
The Second Opinion
Database may uncover conflicts of interest for TV doctors
Free lunches, paid speaking gigs & free drug samples are often not disclosed by media physicians
By Paul D. Thacker Jan 23, 2015 at 06:50 AM
Last September, the federal government rolled out a website that offered a searchable database of the $3.5 billion in payments... More
United States Project
Paper files public records request—and city’s response is a lawsuit
Local officials argue Montana courts should strike balance between privacy and disclosure
By Corey Hutchins Jan 22, 2015 at 03:20 PM
When a newspaper requests information, there are plenty of ways government bodies can try to avoid releasing it. But the... More
Behind the News
Pro-regime journalists are shaping public opinion in Egypt
The Egyptian press is made up in large part by those who are under the control of the authorities
By Jared Malsin Jan 22, 2015 at 11:15 AM
One of Egypt's most visible journalists at the moment is Mona Iraqi, a television personality who claimed to have tipped... More
Behind the News
BBC Pop-Up reports from small town America
A small team is traveling across the United States for six months in hopes of finding underreported local stories
By Gabriel Rosenberg Jan 22, 2015 at 06:50 AM
When BBC Pop-Up journalists Matt Danzico and Benjamin Zand drove into Sioux Falls, S.D., they started hunting for stories... More
Behind the News
What game design can do for journalism
Three newly selected fellows at American University talk about the medium’s future
By Lene Bech Sillesen Jan 21, 2015 at 04:25 PM
From left to right: Cherisse Datu, Kelli Dunlap, and Joyce Rice. As journalism is increasingly experimenting with innovative... More
Language Corner
Is it now-defunct or now defunct?
Examining whether or not you should use a hyphen for this journalism mannerism
By Merrill Perlman Jan 21, 2015 at 11:00 AM
The new general manager of the New York Jets "was a league scout in the American offices of the now-defunct... More
The Second Opinion
The human costs of not expanding Medicaid
A New York Times column and a Guardian essay offer neglected perspective on dollar-sign objections to expansion
By Trudy Lieberman Jan 21, 2015 at 06:50 AM
Eduardo Porter's New York Times column last Wednesday, "The Costs of Stinginess In Medicaid," is a provocative reminder there are... More
Behind the News
Should journalists care about the State of the Union address?
The annual speech no longer packs a punch, and the media is starting to notice
By David Uberti Jan 20, 2015 at 02:47 PM
The State of the Union is antique. That’s not what President Barack Obama will tell a joint session of... More
Behind the News
Timeline, an app based on ‘the history of…’
But chronology doesn’t reveal everything
By Chris Ip Jan 20, 2015 at 10:45 AM
On Timeline, a new made-for-mobile app, the news is told chronologically. An orangutan gaining legal rights in Argentina, for... More
United States Project
Come write for us: CJR seeks Chicago correspondent for United States Project
Help critique and support local accountability journalism
By The Editors Jan 19, 2015 at 11:00 AM
The Columbia Journalism Review is seeking a Chicago-based correspondent to join its United States Project, which aims to support accountability... More
United States Project
Why did CoOportunity fail?
The insurance co-op’s struggles raise questions about the efforts to foster competition
By Trudy Lieberman Jan 19, 2015 at 09:25 AM
Just before Christmas, Iowa’s top insurance regulator announced he was taking control of CoOportunity Health, one of the 23 non-profit... More
United States Project
Chicago Reader staff votes to unionize, seeking ‘stronger voice’ in outlet’s future
Alt-weekly is the third Windy City newsroom to join a union in the last 13 months
By Rui Kaneya Jan 17, 2015 at 06:50 AM
CHICAGO — Employees of the Chicago Reader, the city’s premier alt-weekly, voted unanimously Friday to join the Chicago Newspaper Guild,... More
The Kicker
Must-reads of the week
Iran’s subtle censorship, what Genius means for music criticism, and the ritual anticipation of Fidel Castro death rumors.
By The Editors Jan 16, 2015 at 02:45 PM
Culled from CJR’s own stories, plus the frequently updated “Must-reads from around the Web,” our staff recommendations for the best... More
United States Project
Preparing for Fidel Castro’s death
How Florida news organizations plan to cover the Cuban dictator’s passing
By Susannah Nesmith Jan 15, 2015 at 11:21 AM
MIAMI -- Last week, the usual crew of friends from the Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald, and various national and... More
Behind the News
Why we’ll have to wait for CNN’s news drones
The news organization faces several hurdles before it can use the machines for broadcast
By David Uberti Jan 15, 2015 at 06:50 AM
CNN’s research program for drone journalism has been cleared for takeoff, but don’t expect Anderson Cooper-narrated live aerial shots... More
United States Project
Virginian-Pilot journalists: Corporate management pressure is stifling coverage
In the wake of an investigation, “we’re walking around with duct tape over our keyboards”
By Corey Hutchins Jan 14, 2015 at 04:15 PM
Things are not as they should be these days at The Virginian-Pilot, the largest newspaper in Virginia. In the fall,... More
Behind the News
Genius and the splintering of arts journalism
For the future of music criticism, Sasha Frere-Jones’ new company cannot replace his old one
By Chris Ip Jan 14, 2015 at 02:35 PM
The announcement that Genius, the website best known for crowdsourced explanations of rap lyrics, bagged an A-list music critic was... More
United States Project
How to fight restrictions on access to court cases
Judge’s order in Don Blankenship trial highlights a perennial press concern
By Jonathan Peters Jan 14, 2015 at 11:15 AM
Don Blankenship, the former CEO and chairman of Massey Energy, is accused of conspiring to violate various federal laws and... More
Behind the News
Waiting for Iran
Censorship is not always visible
By Joel Simon Jan 14, 2015 at 06:50 AM
In the aftermath of the horrific murders of Charlie Hebdo staff in Paris, one might think attacks on journalists... More
Virginian-Pilot journalists: Corporate management pressure is stifling coverage - “Lovers of journalism in this newsroom are pissed. It’s bad.”
The worst journalism of 2014 - A recap of the year’s most cringeworthy news blunders
Why the media don’t get Detroit—and why it matters - Coverage of declining cities is too often simplistic and lacking historical context
21st-century censorship - Governments around the world are using stealthy strategies to manipulate the media
Jesse Brown punctures Canada’s media bubble - The independent journalist uses his website and podcast to break stories that might otherwise go unpublished
Email blasts from CJR writers and editors
We should all step back from security journalism (Medium)
“It should be made clear, in law, that the tasks security reseachers do to make the net more secure and journalists do to understand and contextualize the truth for the public are not crimes”
Trust In Business And Media Is Declining, But People Have Faith In Search Engines (Buzzfeed)
People have become less trusting of major institutions, according to the annual Edelman Trust Barometer. And large majorities doubt that businesses want to make the world a better place.
With New Charlie Hebdo Cover, News Value Should Have Prevailed (NYT)
Public editor Margaret Sullivan on why the paper should have published the images.
An Old Fogey’s Analysis of a Teenager’s View on Social Media (Medium)
“I feel the need to offer my perspective as someone who is not a teenager but who has thought about these issues extensively for years.”
Greg Marx discusses democracy and news with Tom Rosenstiel of the American Press Institute
CJR's Guide to Online News Startups
ACEsTooHigh.com – Reporting on the science, education, and policy surrounding childhood trauma
Who Owns What
The Business of Digital Journalism
A report from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Questions and exercises for journalism students.
