Media 2005 Archive | PBS NewsHour

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	2005 DECEMBER Dec. 29, 2005 TV-On-Demand Technology Recent advancements in television technology that give viewers control over watching television programs on their own schedule and on portable devices are revolutionizing the way networks distribute their programs.

	Dec. 26, 2005 Reporting Sensitive Information Two guests discuss publishing news stories that contain sensitive intelligence information including recent stories by the New York Times and the Washington Post that some say could threaten national security.

	Dec. 23, 2005 PBS Ombudsman PBS hired Michael Getler, a former ombudsman for the Washington Post, to serve as its first ombudsman.

	Dec. 21, 2005 Courageous Journalism A Media Unit report on the dangers journalists around the world face when reporting in their home countries, including threats from their own governments.

	Dec. 2, 2005 Planting News in the Iraq Media Allegations that the U.S. military paid Iraqi newspapers to print stories favorable to the U.S. effort has sparked criticism that the military may have subverted its democratic goal for Iraq. Two media experts with opposing views debate the implications.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2005 The Power of Google A report and discussion on the Internet search engine Google and its growing popularity

	Nov. 23, 2005 Christian News Christian-format radio and television, including news programs, have grown rapidly over the past few years, causing some to worry that listeners are getting news with a viewpoint rather than balanced stories. Terence Smith provides a report.

	Nov. 22, 2005 Philadelphia Plans Citywide Wireless Internet Philadelphia intends to become the first U.S. city of its size to have wireless broadband access available to everyone, regardless of income, at below-market prices.

	Nov. 17, 2005 Covering the Washington Beat Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward revealed Monday that he learned the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame nearly a month before her identity was disclosed in 2003.

	Nov. 16, 2005 The Rise of Citizen Journalism A report on the rise and influence of citizen journalism, including bloggers, in the United States.

	Nov. 15, 2005 The CPB Investigation An internal report on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting released Tuesday found that former chairman Kenneth Tomlinson used "political tests" to recruit a new board president and was inappropriately involved in the creation of a program on PBS. Following a background report, a Washington Post reporter provides an update.

	Nov. 15, 2005 The CPB Investigation An internal report on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting released Tuesday found that former chairman Kenneth Tomlinson used "political tests" to recruit a new board president and was inappropriately involved in the creation of a program on PBS. Following a background report, a Washington Post reporter provides an update.

	Nov. 3, 2005 Politics of the CIA Leak Case The recent indictment of former vice presidential chief of staff Lewis Libby in the CIA leak case and the debate over presidential senior adviser Karl Rove's involvement have posed challenges to the White House's senior officials.

	Nov. 3, 2005 Lewis Libby Pleads Not Guilty A Washington Post reporter recounts the arraignment hearing of former vice presidential chief of staff Lewis Libby who was indicted on five counts of obstruction and perjury in the CIA leak case.

	Nov. 2, 2005 Journalism and the CIA Leak Case Questions have been raised about whether a law should exist to shield journalists from revealing sources. Many are concerned confidential sources will no longer trust journalists who fear jail time. Following a background report, four experts discuss the CIA leak investigation's effects on journalism.



	OCTOBER Oct. 28, 2005 Fitzgerald Explains Indictment Vice presidential adviser I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was indicted Friday in the CIA leak investigation, and he subsequently resigned. Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald outlined the charges at a press briefing. The NewsHour provides extended excerpts from that briefing.

	Oct. 28, 2005 Lewis Libby's Background A reporter for the Washington Post and a staff writer for the New Yorker take a closer look at Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, and his role in the CIA leak case.

	Oct. 28, 2005 CIA Leak: Legal Ramifications A federal grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA operative's name charged vice presidential adviser I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby with obstruction of justice, making a false statement and perjury.

	Oct. 28, 2005 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the Libby indictment and Harriet Miers withdrawal as a candidate for the Supreme Court.

	Oct. 24, 2005 Trouble at the New York Times A media unit update tracks the recent controversy at The New York Times over Judith Miller, a Times reporter involved in the CIA leak case and the author of articles containing erroneous information about weapons of mass destruction.

	Oct. 21, 2005 Brooks and Oliphant New York Times columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant discuss senators' reactions to Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, Tom DeLay's indictment on charges of money laundering, the CIA leak investigation and the war in Iraq.

	Oct. 20, 2005 The NewsHour Turns 30 In a 30th anniversary special, NewsHour host Jim Lehrer interviews his founding partner Robert MacNeil about the history of the program.

	Oct. 17, 2005 Judith Miller and the New York Times The New York Times recently issued a lengthy appraisal of its CIA leak coverage. The Times has stood for months behind reporter Judith Miller, who was jailed after failing to reveal a confidential source. Two experts discuss the situation at the Times.

	Oct. 11, 2005 Video Game Boom A report on recent successes and innovations of the video game industry.

	Oct. 6, 2005 Good Night, and Good Luck Jeffrey Brown talks with actor and director George Clooney about his new movie that focuses on journalist Edward R. Murrow's pursuit of Sen. Joseph McCarthy.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2005 Jailed Journalist Testifies New York Times reporter Judith Miller testified in front of a grand jury on the leak of a CIA operative's name. Miller spent 85 days in jail protecting the name of her source until the source gave her a waiver, clearing her to testify. Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig talks about Miller's testimony.

	Sept. 30, 2005 Anthony Shadid: "Night Draws Near" Anthony Shadid, Middle East correspondent for the Washington Post and Pulitzer Prize winner, talks about his book "Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War" and the challenges of reporting in Iraq.

	Sept. 29, 2005 Katrina Media Coverage The media's coverage of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath has been criticized as some news reports of rapes and murders in parts of New Orleans appear to be unfounded. Following a background report, two media experts and a journalist who covered the storm discuss problems in catastrophe coverage.

	Sept. 1, 2005 FEMA's Mike Brown Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown called the hurricane and its aftermath a disaster of catastrophic proportions and that FEMA will use all necessary resources to aid emergency relief efforts.

	Sept. 1, 2005 Exodus From New Orleans A report from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, where residents of New Orleans continue searching for shelter, emergency supplies and transportation. Then, a report from Houston as the first wave of New Orleans residents arrive seeking shelter in the Astrodome.



	AUGUST Aug. 17, 2005 Victor Navasky Victor Navasky, editor of The Nation, discusses his new book, "A Matter of Opinion" and the role of opinion journals in the media.

	Aug. 9, 2005 Publishing Pioneer A tribute to publishing tycoon John H. Johnson, founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, who died of congestive heart failure in Chicago at 87 years old.

	Aug. 8, 2005 Profile: Patrick Fitzgerald Before he became the U.S. Attorney in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald was involved in cases against John Gambino, the Word Trade Center bombers and Osama bin Laden. Now, Fitzgerald is tackling another high profile case, the federal investigation into the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.

	Aug. 8, 2005 Remembering Peter Jennings ABC anchorman and senior editor Peter Jennings died Sunday of lung cancer at his New York home. He was 67. Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw reflects on his friend and former rival.

	Aug. 5, 2005 The Kremlin and ABC The Russian government has threatened to deny visas and press credentials to any reporter working for the ABC News after the American television network aired an interview with Shamil Basayev, a Chechan militant leader, on its program, Nightline.

	Aug. 2, 2005 Online Terrorism In the wake of the London bombing attacks in July, security experts are examining Internet Web sites that terrorists use to spread propaganda and recruit operatives. Following a background report, security experts discuss the many ways terrorists are using the Internet to circulate their message around the globe.



	JULY July 22, 2005 Shields and Brooks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the nomination of federal appeals court judge John Roberts Jr. to the Supreme Court and Senate Democrats' reaction to the nomination.

	July 19, 2005 Paul Duke Gwen Ifill looks at the life of journalist Paul Duke, former host of "Washington Week in Review," who died Monday at age 76.

	July 13, 2005 Media Relations The possibility of White House senior aide Karl Rove as the anonymous source in the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name highlights the push-and-pull relationship between the White House press secretary and the press corps.

	July 13, 2005 Under Pressure White House senior aide Karl Rove is at the center of a growing controversy over the source who outed CIA agent Valerie Plame to Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper.

	July 11, 2005 Public Broadcasting Hearings A Senate subcommittee held hearings Monday on the future of funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting and alleged biases in PBS programming.

	July 6, 2005 Protecting Anonymous Sources A federal judge sentenced New York Times reporter Judith Miller to jail Wednesday for refusing to divulge her source to a grand jury investigating the administration's leak of a CIA operative's identity. Two media experts analyze the sentencing and what this ruling means for journalists and their anonymous sources.



	JUNE June 29, 2005 Experts Discuss Journalists' Right to Reporter Two journalists are facing jail time and four more could be held in contempt of court for refusing to reveal anonymous sources in grand jury testimony. Experts discuss the cases and the effect it'll have on reporter-source confidentiality.

	June 21, 2005 Congress Proposes Funding Cuts for The Corporation for Public Broadcasting The House of Representatives is expected to vote by the end of the week on an appropriations bill that includes a 45 percent cut in federal funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's. The funding fight is just the latest in a string of debates that have erupted over the tenor and future of public broadcasting.

	June 13, 2005 Utilizing New Wireless Technology to Connect to the Internet Spencer Michels reports on the new wireless technology used to connect computers to the Internet.

	June 8, 2005 Ombudsmen Discuss the State of the Media Terence Smith speaks with Daniel Okrent, the former ombudsman for The New York Times, and Michael Getler, ombudsman for The Washington Post, about the public's view of the press today, the performance of the media and some of the most controversial issues that their papers confronted during their tenure as ombudsmen.

	June 7, 2005 Essayist Clarence Page Considers the Definition of a Journalist Essayist Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune considers who is and who is not a journalist.

	June 6, 2005 Traditional Media Offer New Web Features to Reach a Wider Audience To stem a decline in audiences, news organizations are rolling out new media technologies that allow people to get their news in different ways and decide how, when and where they want to receive it. Terence Smith examines some of these new innovations and their impact on the news consumer and on journalism in general.

	June 6, 2005 Extended Interview: Susan DeFife and Mark Potts Susan DeFife, president and CEO of Backfence, and Mark Potts, chairman and creative officer of Backfence, discuss the emerging trend of citizen, or grassroots, journalism and how it can provide community-oriented news in ways traditional media usually does not.

	June 6, 2005 Extended Interview: Brian Gilmore Brian Gilmore, managing producer of online news for The News Journal of Wilmington, Dela., discusses how the newspaper's Web site and daily Webcasts help meet the changing needs of news consumers and broaden the paper's audience.

	June 6, 2005 Extended Interview: Kinsey Wilson Kinsey Wilson, the vice president and editor-in-chief of USA Today.com, discusses the new technologies USA Today employs to broaden its reach of readers and the impact of these new distribution methods on the news industry and consumer.

	June 6, 2005 Extended Interview: Patti Pettite Patti Pettite of The News Journal discusses the growing popularity of the paper's Web cast technology of news.

	June 2, 2005 Former Washington Post Editor Talks About the Revelation of Deep Throat Ben Bradlee, the former executive editor of The Washington Post, talks about the paper's decision to confirm Deep Throat's identity, the confidentiality agreement with Felt and what might have motivated Felt to speak with Woodward and Bernstein.

	June 1, 2005 Understanding the Impact of the Deep Throat In the wake of W. Mark Felt's admission that he was the source for much of the Watergate information, analysts debate how knowing the source's identity will impact how we remember Watergate.



	MAY May 31, 2005 W. Mark Felt Reveals He Was Watergate Source Deep Throat Former FBI official W. Mark Felt claims to be Deep Throat, the legendary source who leaked secrets about President Nixon's Watergate cover-up to The Washington Post, Vanity Fair magazine said Tuesday. The Washington Post confirmed Felt's story, bringing to a close the long-running mystery about Deep Throat's identity.

	May 16, 2005 Newsweek Retracts Flawed Quran Report Newsweek magazine on Monday retracted its report about an alleged desecration of the Quran by U.S. interrogators at the jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba that sparked deadly riots in Afghanistan and other Muslim nations.

	May 13, 2005 Senate Debates Government Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced legislation to require video news releases, or VNRs, to be be clearly labeled as coming from the government. Jeffrey Brown examines the debate on Capitol Hill and the conflicting opinions over the ethics and legality of government-sponsored prepackaged "news."

	May 4, 2005 World Press Photo's 2004 Exhibition of Best Photojournalism Opens in New York The World Press Photo's exhibition of the best photojournalism of 2004 is now open at the U.N. headquarters in New York and will travel to 85 cities around the world in the coming year. Media correspondent Jeffrey Brown speaks with the organization's managing director about the selection process of the best photographs of 2004.

	May 4, 2005 U.S. Broadcast Industry On Christmas Eve 1906, Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden conducted the first radio broadcast in history, sending a recording of Handel's Largo, Christian hymns and a "Merry Christmas" to United Fruit Co. boats in the Atlantic Ocean.

	May 4, 2005 The Future and Past of Broadcast Radio Spanish talk shows, eclectic music mixes, and entertaining ads were not the common fare on American broadcast radio just a few years ago.

	May 2, 2005 Free Newspapers Change Media Landscape With circulation dwindling for major paid newspapers in the U.S., publications distributed for free, or "freebies," are changing the landscape of the media business in cities across the country.



	APRIL April 15, 2005 The New Presidential Library Showcases Legacy of Abraham Lincoln A tour of the new high-tech Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois dedicated to the life and presidency of the nation's 16th president.

	April 4, 2005 Extended Interview: Express Editor Dan Caccavaro In the following extended interview, Dan Caccavaro, founding editor of Express discusses the business strategies behind distributing The Washington Post's free newspaper to morning commuters in the Washington, D.C. area.

	April 4, 2005 Extended Interview: Washington Post Executive Editor Len Downie In the following extended interview, Len Downie, the executive editor of The Washington Post, discusses the factors contributing to the steady decline in newspaper readership and how the Post intends to counter that industry trend.

	April 1, 2005 Extended Interview: Karen DeWitt In the following extended interview, Karen DeWitt, the Washington editor of The Examiner newspaper, discusses the differences between working for traditional and free newspapers, and why The Examiner reports on the local issues that she finds are not thoroughly covered by other newspapers in the Washington, D.C. area.

	April 1, 2005 Extended Interview: Washington Examiner Editor John Wilpers In the following extended interview, John Wilpers, the editor in chief of the Washington Examiner, discusses the free paper's overall mission, its targeted audience and its strategy to turn a profit.



	MARCH March 30, 2005 Satellite Radio's Two-Way Competition Takes Aim at Broadcast Radio Media Correspondent Terence Smith takes a closer look at the satellite radio industry and how the two-way competition between XM and Sirius is affecting traditional broadcast radio.

	March 30, 2005 NewsHour Remembers Time Magazine Editor Henry Grunwald Essayist Roger Rosenblatt has some words of appreciation for Henry A. Grunwald, a Time magazine editor who changed the magazine world.

	March 30, 2005 Frank Ahrens Discusses Prospects for the Satellite Radio Industry Frank Ahrens, the Washington Post's business reporter for the media and entertainment industry, discusses the appeal of satellite radio, its emerging business model and the challenges facing the broadcast radio industry.

	March 30, 2005 Little Steven Discusses Satellite Radio's Impact on Commercial Radio Little Steven Van Zant, the longtime guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and host of the nationally syndicated "Little Steven's Underground Garage" on both broadcast radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, discusses how satellite will influence broadcast radio and why the new medium means so much to him.

	March 30, 2005 Scott Greenstein of Sirius Discusses the Growing Appeal of Satellite Radio Scott Greenstein, president of Entertainment and Sports at Sirius Satellite Radio, discusses how satellite radio enables consumers to personalize their radio programming and the company's visions for the future.

	March 30, 2005 Bob Edwards of XM Satellite Radio Compares Satellite and Broadcast Radio Bob Edwards, formerly of NPR's Morning Edition and now host of his own show on XM Satellite Radio, discusses what attracted him to work in satellite radio and how he made the transition from broadcast to satellite radio.

	March 30, 2005 President of XM Satellite Radio Discusses Business Strategy Hugh Panero, president and chief executive officer of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., discusses his company's efforts to attract more subscribers and the benefits of satellite radio not being subject to federal regulations, his company's rapid growth and his vision for XM's future.

	March 29, 2005 File Sharing The Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a copyright case brought against file-sharing networks by members of the entertainment industry. Media Correspondent Terence Smith looks at the ongoing debate over file sharing on the Internet. Then, Jan Crawford Greenburg discusses the arguments heard at the High Court.

	March 24, 2005 The Schiavo Case Receives Strong Media Coverage Media correspondent Terence Smith discusses the wall-to-wall media coverage the Terri Schiavo case has received from newspapers, broadcast television, cable news and the Internet.

	March 23, 2005 Editorial Page Editors Share Diverse Perspectives on Social Security Debate As President Bush continues a cross-country campaign to sell his proposals to strengthen the Social Security system, Terence Smith and four editorial page editors around the country discuss their response to the president's reform initiatives.

	March 16, 2005 Karen Hughes' New Mission to Improve America's Image Overseas President Bush Monday nominated Karen Hughes, one of his closest and most trusted advisers, as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy. Terence Smith and guests discuss her nomination and the progress of the U.S. public diplomacy campaign.

	March 11, 2005 Judge Cites Trade Secrets in Ruling Against Bloggers A judge on Friday ordered three bloggers to reveal confidential sources in a lawsuit brought by Apple Computer Inc., ruling that they were not protected by the First Amendment because they published trade secrets.

	March 7, 2005 The Supreme Court to Hear Digital Copyright Case Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear a much anticipated copyright case, MGM vs. Grokster, which pits the entertainment industry against the makers of software that allows people to exchange music and movies. Media correspondent Terence Smith provides a report.

	March 3, 2005 Michael Powell Unplugged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell announced in January that he was stepping down in March. Powell has been the FCC chairman since 2001 and a member of the panel since 1998. Two experts analyze the FCC's future for the new incoming chairman.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 24, 2005 Recent Court Decisions on Reporters' Privilege and News on Former Talon Reporter Terence Smith discusses recent media controversies, including two contrasting court decisions on a reporters' privilege to protect confidential sources, and the latest on James Guckert/Jeff Gannon, the former White House reporter for Talon News and GOPUSA.

	Feb. 18, 2005 PBS Faces Two Controversies as Head Announces Departure Terence Smith examines the two controversies plaguing PBS and PBS Chief Executive Pat Mitchell's decision to leave her post in the spring of 2006.

	Feb. 14, 2005 The Impact of Web Blogs on Mainstream Journalism Late Friday night, conservative Web bloggers helped force the resignation of top CNN news executive Eason Jordan over remarks he made at the World Economic Conference in Davos. This, and other recent developments, have experts questioning the impact of Internet bloggers on mainstream journalism.

	Feb. 9, 2005 Female Photojournalists Discuss Their Work in Iraq Terence Smith speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Stephanie Sinclair of Corbis Images and Washington Post photographer Andrea Bruce Woodall about their war photography and their experiences as female photojournalists in Iraq.

	Feb. 7, 2005 The New England Patriots Win Third Superbowl in Four Years The New England Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years Sunday. Terence Smith speaks with an author and sportswriter to discuss the American tradition that is the Super Bowl.

	Feb. 4, 2005 Watergate Papers Made Public for the First Time Thousands of interview notes, memos and other material compiled by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during their investigation of the Watergate break-in were made public for the first time Thursday.

	Feb. 4, 2005 New Report Lists Most Underreported Stories of 2004 Terence Smith speaks with the executive director of Doctors Without Borders about the most underreported stories of 2004 and why he believes the press did not give substantial attention to these global humanitarian crises.



	JANUARY Jan. 31, 2005 SBC and AT&T to Become Nation's Largest Telecom Firm Telecom giants SBC Communications, Inc. and AT&T announced on Sunday plans for a $16 billion merger. Two telecom analysts explain the merger and the possibility for a "wave" of similar mergers in the near future.

	Jan. 27, 2005 Columnists Debate Ethics of Accepting Federal Funds to Promote Policies Kwame Holman reports on the recent incidents in which writers received federal funding for work related to the promotion of Bush administration proposals. Then, Gwen Ifill leads a discussion with two columnists and a media expert on the journalistic ethics of these cases.

	Jan. 21, 2005 National Archives Exhibit Features Rarely Seen Photographs of U.S. Presidents An exhibition of rarely seen presidential photographs is on view at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Terence Smith speaks with historian Michael Beschloss about the stories behind the photographs and how U.S. presidents have used photography to project their image to the public.

	Jan. 18, 2005 Presidential Inaugurations Have Storied Past On the eve of President Bush's second inauguration, correspondent Terence Smith takes a historical look at presidential inaugurations.

	Jan. 18, 2005 President Bush's Inauguration Speech Will Set Tone of Second Term Margaret Warner talks with former presidential speech writers about the challenges of crafting a second-term inaugural speech

	Jan. 13, 2005 Media Credibility Gap Recent high-profile media failures and blunders have tainted Americans' views of journalism. Terence Smith leads a discussion on how these scandals and lapses in journalistic judgment impact the public's perception of the news media.

	Jan. 10, 2005 CBS News Executives Ousted Over National Guard Scandal CBS ousted four executives Monday for their roles in a 60 Minutes report about President Bush's National Guard service that cited documents that later appeared to be forgeries. Two members of a panel investigating the report discuss their findings. Then, a CBS News executive discusses changes being implemented at the network.

	Jan. 10, 2005 CBS Ousts Four Executives over 60 Minutes Controversy CBS ousted four executives Monday for their roles in a 60 Minutes report about President Bush's National Guard service that relied in part on apparently forged documents.