PBS NewsHour: Media Archive | 2007

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	2007 DECEMBER Dec. 24, 2007 From Darfur to Afghanistan: Insider Forum Highlights For the past four months viewers have been submitting questions to our expert panels on subjects ranging from the Bush Administration's efforts to slows the spread of AIDS in Africa to U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic's view of modern poetry. Now, we take a look back at some of the highlights of Insider Forum.

	Dec. 19, 2007 Time Names Russia's Putin 'Person of the Year' in New Sign of Influence Time magazine named Russian President Vladimir Putin its "Person of the Year" Wednesday -- the latest sign of Putin's rise as a key player on the world stage. A Time editor and a policy expert examine Putin's leadership and how he may further influence Russian politics.

	Dec. 17, 2007 FCC Weighs Changing Media 'Cross-ownership' Rules The FCC will vote Tuesday on whether media companies should be permitted to own both a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market. Jeffrey Brown reports on the pending "cross-ownership" proposal, and then media experts discuss its potential impact.

	Dec. 14, 2007 The NewsHour Switches to High-Definition Broadcasting Format The NewsHour is moving from standard-definition video to the higher-definition HD video format. Jeffrey Brown goes behind the scenes at The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to explain the technology and its impact on viewers.

	Dec. 14, 2007 Extended Interview: NewsHour's Chris Dee and WETA's Christopher Lane In an extended version of the interview aired on Friday, NewsHour Director of Production Operations Chris Dee and WETA's Vice President of Engineering Christopher Lane talk about the NewsHour's transition to high-definition programming.

	Dec. 14, 2007 The NewsHour Goes High Definition Starting Monday December 17, the NewsHour began broadcasting in HDTV-- high-definition television. While this gives viewers a bigger and better picture, it provides an array of challenges for our newsroom. To better explain what you're seeing and why, NewsHour staff answered your questions.

	Dec. 14, 2007 NewsHour High-Definition Broadcast FAQ Editor's note: On Dec. 17, 2007, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will become one of the first television news programs to broadcast in high definition.

	Dec. 10, 2007 Extended Interview: NewsHour Director Steve Howard In an extended version of the interview aired Friday, Director Steve Howard talks to Jeffrey Brown about the NewsHour's transition to a high-definition broadcast.

	Dec. 5, 2007 House Considers Changes to Media-Ownership Rules The House Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee heard testimony on Wednesday from top FCC officials on whether media companies should be permitted to own both a newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market. The NewsHour reports on the proposed rule changes and congressional reaction to the measure.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 21, 2007 Pakistan's Media Struggles to Cope with Emergency Rule Since Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule more than two weeks ago, Pakistan's media has been forced to cope with strict regulations and sporadic news blackouts. Margaret Warner reports from Pakistan on how the country's media is dealing with its new constraints.

	Nov. 20, 2007 Fierce Competition Adds Verve to Growing Smart Phone Market Powerful cell phones with Web and multimedia capabilities - dubbed "smart phones" - are part of a new generation of mobile phones earning a loyal following. Spencer Michels reports on smart phones and how top industry contenders plan to offer the technology.

	Nov. 9, 2007 2008 Campaign Ads Saturate the Air Waves in Iowa As the 2008 presidential primary season draws closer, candidates are pouring money into television ads to court voters in key states. A political advertising analyst and an Iowa broadcaster discuss the ads and how much the campaigns are spending on them.

	Nov. 8, 2007 Iraqi Journalists Encounter Peril to Report for U.S. Media American media organizations have increasingly relied on Iraqi reporters to get in and out of areas where foreign journalists might stand out or be easily targeted for kidnapping. Journalist Sahar Issa discusses her experiences as a reporter for McClatchy in Iraq.

	Nov. 7, 2007 Facebook, MySpace Launch New Targeted Ads MySpace and Facebook have created tools that allow advertisers to target users based on their interests and personal information, a shift that concerns some privacy experts.

	Nov. 6, 2007 New Online Advertising Strategies Spark Privacy Worries Social networking Web sites such as MySpace and Facebook have started to allow advertisers to access users' profiles and target the ads they deliver to that user accordingly. A media and technology writer examines the potential impact this marketing may have on individual user privacy.

	Nov. 5, 2007 Film, Television Screenwriters Go on Strike Thousands of screenwriters in Hollywood and New York went on strike for the first time since 1988 on Monday. A reporter who covers the entertainment business describes the issues that led up to the strike, including how profits are divided from DVD sales and online content.



	OCTOBER Oct. 29, 2007 Web Reporter Details New Methods of Conflict Coverage Yahoo news correspondent Kevin Sites talks about his new book, "In the Hot Zone," and what it's like to report on conflict zones around the world using the latest multimedia and Web tools.

	Oct. 18, 2007 President Bush Faces Waning Political Capital in Final Year As President Bush approaches his final year in office, he faces lame-duck status with a Democrat-controlled Congress poised to block his agenda. Editorial page editors from around the country assess the president's strengths and weaknesses.

	Oct. 15, 2007 Fox Business Network Enters Cable News Race The Fox Business Network launched Monday, a new cable channel that will focus on financial markets and global economy news. A business journalism expert examines the prospects for the new network and how it will stack up to rival CNBC.

	Oct. 9, 2007 Republicans Face Off Over Economy in Thompson's Debate Debut GOP presidential hopefuls gathered in Michigan Tuesday for a debate centering on economic issues, the first such appearance for newcomer former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. Political reporters assess how the candidates fared in the forum.

	Oct. 4, 2007 Congress Debates Shield Legislation Congress debated a shield law Thursday that would regulate journalists' relationships with their sources. The NewsHour talks to a legal expert and a former Justice Department official about the proposed legislation.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 28, 2007 Myanmar Government Attempts Information Control with Internet Block Myanmar's junta government has cut off Internet access throughout the country in effort to prevent the flow of information on its violent reaction to mass protests. Two democracy and media advocates discuss the move.

	Sept. 19, 2007 Polls, Editorials Reflect Public's Differing Views on Iraq A new Pew Research Center poll tracks changes in public opinion on the Iraq war following Gen. David Petraeus' testimony before Congress. Four editorial page editors discuss the public's perception in their regions.

	Sept. 17, 2007 New Book Looks at the Internet's Impact on American Life A recently published book by Andrew Keen, titled "The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing our Culture" takes a look at the impact of the Internet on American life. The NewsHour reports on the book's message.



	AUGUST Aug. 24, 2007 MoveOn.org Defends Anti-Iraq War Ads Liberal and conservative organizations have launched multi-million dollar advertising campaigns to pressure members of Congress to support their positions on the Iraq war. Representatives from both camps present their views.

	Aug. 24, 2007 Advocates Launch Iraq War Ad Campaigns Liberal and conservative organizations have launched multi-million dollar advertising campaigns to pressure members of Congress to support their positions on the Iraq war. Representatives from both camps present their views.

	Aug. 22, 2007 Michigan, Arizona Set to Move Up Primary Dates Arizona announced plans Wednesday to move its presidential primary to Feb. 5, and Michigan's Senate voted to move up its date to Jan. 15. Regional editors discuss the reasons for advancing the dates.

	Aug. 20, 2007 U.S. News College Rankings Debated U.S. News and World Report released its rankings of the country's colleges and universities. The editor of U.S. News and an education advocate who opposes the magazine's collegiate rankings debate their usefulness.

	Aug. 6, 2007 Democrats Woo Bloggers; Republicans Face Off in Iowa Democrats vying for the 2008 presidential nomination spent the weekend courting liberal bloggers at the YearlyKos Convention in Chicago, while the Republican candidates debated in Des Moines, Iowa. A political journalist discusses the presidential race.

	Aug. 6, 2007 Murdoch Bid on Dow Jones Advances Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. got the go-ahead to purchase the Dow Jones & Co., including its crown jewel the Wall Street Journal, for $5 billion. Experts answered your questions about the impact on the media.

	Aug. 1, 2007 Media Experts Weigh Effects of Wall Street Journal Buyout As News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch finalizes a deal to buy Dow Jones & Co., the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, a journalism professor and a Wall Street Journal veteran assess what the move may mean for American journalism.



	JULY July 31, 2007 News Corp. Takeover of Dow Jones Appears More Likely Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is poised to take control of Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, after a key trust decided to accept his offer. A business journalist discusses the deal and its impact on media.

	July 27, 2007 Simpsons Movie Director Talks About New Film The culturally-iconic animated TV show "The Simpsons" finally came out as a full-length feature Friday. Co-creator James L. Brooks talks to the NewsHour about the new film and its reflection of Americans.

	July 24, 2007 Democrats Face Voter Questions in New Format Democratic presidential hopefuls fielded questions directly from the voters Monday in a debate sponsored by CNN and the video sharing Web site YouTube. A reporter and political analyst discuss the candidates' answers and new debate format.

	July 18, 2007 Coverage of Vitter Sex Scandal Raises Questions About Privacy Media coverage surrounding Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has raised questions about how private matters involving public figures become news. A media critic assesses the coverage of the latest Washington sex scandal.

	July 13, 2007 Journalist Covering Iraq Discusses Slain Colleague Journalist Khalid Hassan was recently killed in Iraq, underscoring the dangers of reporting in the war-torn country. His colleague, John Burns of the New York Times, talks about Hassan and the challenges of his work.

	July 10, 2007 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Cartoonist Doug Marlette Dies at 57 Cartoonist Doug Marlette, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his work at the Charlotte Observer and the Atlanta Constitution, died in a car accident on Tuesday at the age of 57. The NewsHour reflects on his contributions.

	July 9, 2007 Series of Explosions Kills More Than 200 in Iraq After a particularly bloody weekend in Iraq in which at least 200 people were killed in suicide bombings and shootings, reporter Michael Gordon updates the situation from Baghdad.

	July 5, 2007 Editorial Cartoonists Strive to Preserve Their Threatened Art The Association of Editorial Cartoonists is holding its annual meeting this week in Washington. A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist discusses his craft, which is often threatened by staff cuts at newspapers.

	July 4, 2007 BBC Reporter Freed as Hamas Consolidates Control in Gaza BBC reporter Alan Johnston was released Wednesday after 16 weeks of imprisonment, an indication of Hamas' control over the restive Gaza Strip. A New York Times reporter speaks about the effects of the group's control.



	JUNE June 27, 2007 U.S. Works to Improve Image in Muslim World A new survey has found that opinions of the U.S. among people in the Muslim world has gotten worse over the past five years. Middle East policy analysts discuss U.S. efforts to bolster Muslim views of America.

	June 27, 2007 Global Discontent with U.S. Increasing; U.S. Works to Bolster Image A survey of people in 47 countries has found that in the past five years, more people have become discontent with the U.S. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched efforts to improve its image in the Muslim world.

	June 18, 2007 Some Media Shifting to Add Point of View Media experts explore the trend of media organizations including opinion when reporting the news.

	June 12, 2007 Early Media Coverage Focuses on Horse Race Despite the fact that the first primary voters will not cast a ballot for another seven months, the bulk of the unparalleled presidential campaign coverage has focused on the so-called "horse race" stories, rather than the issues.

	June 8, 2007 Presidential Candidates Use Web to Boost Campaigns Presidential candidates are strengthening their campaign Web sites to increase outreach to voters. The NewsHour reports on how former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and other presidential hopefuls are using the Internet.

	June 8, 2007 Extended Interview: Expert Analyzes Online Campaign Strategies Political analyst and professor Mike Cornfield discusses the online strategies that campaigns are using for the upcoming presidential election.

	June 6, 2007 Writer Details New Efforts to Fill Army's Ranks Former soldier Brian Mockenhaupt wrote in the Atlantic Monthly about the Army's struggle to fill its ranks with a generation less willing and able to serve than in years past. He speaks about how the Army has adapted with new recruiting and training practices.

	June 5, 2007 Libby Sentenced to More Than Two Years in CIA Leak Case I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence Tuesday for lying in an investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's name. Two journalists offer their perspectives on the case's impact on the media.



	MAY May 31, 2007 Immigration Debate Resonates Throughout U.S. As the Senate takes a break from debating the latest iteration of the immigration bill this week, legislators have been trying to assess public opinion on the issue. The NewsHour explores the attitudes around the country through the lens of regional newspaper editors.

	May 30, 2007 Gore's New Book Criticizes Bush Administration, Election Process Former Vice President Al Gore speaks with Gwen Ifill about his new book, "The Assault on Reason," which criticizes the Bush administration and the diminishing role of logic in America, among other issues.

	May 25, 2007 Web Site Provides Millions of Military Records The family history Web site Ancestry.com contains 90 million military documents dating back to the first English settlement in Jamestown, Va. Company CEO Tim Sullivan and genealogist Craig Scott discuss the possible uses of the records.

	May 18, 2007 Pulitzer-winning Book Examines Media and Civil Rights Movement Authors Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff discuss their Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "The Race Beat," which examines the role of journalists in alerting the country to the problems of segregation and the civil rights movement.

	May 14, 2007 Advocates Discuss Agreement to Add Hispanic Voice to WWII Film After much pressure, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns agreed to add stories about Hispanics' role in World War II to his documentary, "The War." A Latino history professor and a film festival CEO give their views.

	May 2, 2007 Business Experts Analyze Murdoch's Bid for Dow Jones Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp. made a $5 billion offer Tuesday to acquire Dow Jones and its newspaper, the Wall Street Journal. A business analyst and a journalist discuss the offer's impact.



	APRIL April 24, 2007 Journalist Halberstam, Chronicler of Vietnam War, Dies at 73 David Halberstam, the Pulitzer Prize-winner author and reporter who wrote about the Vietnam War, died in a car crash Monday at the age of 73. Writer Gay Talese discusses his impact on journalism.

	April 10, 2007 Rutgers Players Agree to Meet with Imus, Condemn His Remarks Although the Rutgers University women's basketball team has agreed to meet with radio and television talk show host Don Imus, its players and coach expressed anger Tuesday over his racially tinged comments about them.

	April 9, 2007 Columnists React to Don Imus' Remarks About Rutgers Players Radio and television talk show host Don Imus apologized for making disparaging remarks about black players on the Rutgers women's basketball team, but the public outcry has continued. Two columnists offer their views on the issue.

	April 2, 2007 Tribune Accepts $8.2 Billion Bid from Real Estate Mogul The Tribune Co. on Monday accepted an $8.2 billion buyout offer from Chicago real estate investor Sam Zell. The NewsHour takes a look at the potential impact of the sale on the media company and newspaper industry.



	MARCH March 27, 2007 Editors Gauge Impact of Attorney Firings on Gonzales Following the firings of eight U.S. attorneys and the revelations of possible White House ties, four editorial page editors give their opinions on the fallout and impacts on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

	March 21, 2007 Justice Department Reopens Civil Rights Cases The Justice Department has decided to prosecute about a dozen civil rights cases that are decades old. A guest explains why.

	March 20, 2007 Dangerous Conditions Constrain Journalism in Iraq As security conditions have deteriorated in Iraq, the country has become the most dangerous in the world for journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Two veteran reporters discuss the challenges of getting the story amid the violence.

	March 14, 2007 Viacom Sues YouTube for Copyright Infringement Media conglomerate Viacom Inc. sued video-sharing Web site YouTube for more than $1 billion Tuesday for copyright infringement. Google, which now owns YouTube, said it was confident the site respects copyrights. A law professor discusses the case.

	March 13, 2007 Essayist Considers the Power of War Photography NewsHour Essayist Roger Rosenblatt reflects on the power of a single war photo - this one of a Palestinian boy from Monday's New York Times front page.

	March 6, 2007 Libby Convicted of Perjury, Obstruction of Justice Jurors in the trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby delivered guilty verdicts on four of five counts of perjury and obstruction of justice Tuesday, following a four-year investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity.

	March 1, 2007 TVs Prepare for Transition to Digital Signals All new televisions made in America will have to be able to receive digital signals starting Thursday, as part of a campaign to transition the country to digital TV broadcasting by Congress' Feb. 17, 2009, deadline. A technology journalist explains the switch.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 20, 2007 Analyst Weighs Impact of Sirius, XM Satellite Radio Merger As the Federal Communications Commission and anti-trust regulators scrutinize a proposed merger between XM and Sirius satellite radio, Gwen Ifill talks to a media analyst about the timing of the deal and its implications for satellite radio listeners.

	Feb. 20, 2007 Final Arguments Heard in Libby Perjury Trial Prosecution and defense lawyers gave their closing statements on Tuesday in the trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, who is charged with perjury and obstruction. A Washington Post reporter updates the trial.

	Feb. 7, 2007 Libby Trial Brings Journalism Practices Under Scrutiny The perjury trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby this week continued to examine his involvement in the leak of a former CIA operative's name to the press. The case has called into question the use of unnamed sources and other journalistic practices in Washington.

	Feb. 7, 2007 Russert Testifies He Never Gave Libby CIA Agent's Name NBC's Tim Russert testified Wednesday he never discussed Valerie Plame with I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, contradicting Libby's version to a grand jury in the CIA leak investigation. NewsHour reports on the latest in the Libby perjury and obstruction trial.

	Feb. 2, 2007 Essayist Reflects on Racehorse Barbaro's Image Roger Rosenblatt takes a look at last year's Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, who recently died.

	Feb. 1, 2007 Columnist Molly Ivins Dies at the Age of 62 Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins passed away Wednesday at the age of 62 due to complications from breast cancer. Ms. Ivins was widely known as the humorist who first referred to President George W. Bush as "shrub." NewsHour re-airs an essay by Ivins.



	JANUARY Jan. 30, 2007 Judith Miller Testifies Against Former Source in Perjury Trial Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter who spent 85 days in jail protecting her source, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, in the CIA leak case, testified against Libby in his perjury trial on Tuesday. A Washington Post reporter explains the trial's latest developments.

	Jan. 29, 2007 Campaigns Deny Claims of Internet Story A Web site created a stir by publishing a story claiming Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., had plans to use a purported Islamist upbringing of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., against him in her presidential campaign. Experts discuss the struggle to separate fact from fiction in the news.

	Jan. 26, 2007 Voice of America Adjusts to Changing Global Market As the Voice of America celebrates its 65th anniversary in February, the network has markedly different goals and audiences than at its inception. Jeffrey Brown reports on the evolution of the media outlet.

	Jan. 24, 2007 Editorial Page Editors Respond to State of the Union Address President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday was met with varied reaction from around the country. Jeffrey Brown speaks with three regional editorial page editors for a sample of local reaction to the address.

	Jan. 23, 2007 Former Speechwriters Describe State of Union Drafting Process President Bush's team of writers have been working hard to finish the final draft of the State of the Union address. Ray Suarez talks with two former Presidential speechwriters about the process of crafting a State of the Union address.

	Jan. 22, 2007 Presidential Campaigns Explore a New Medium Several presidential hopefuls, including New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, have used the Internet to announce their candidacy. A political media expert analyzes the impact that the Internet will have on campaigns for the 2008 presidency.

	Jan. 18, 2007 Satirist Art Buchwald Passes Away at Age 81 Washington Post columnist Art Buchwald succumbed to kidney failure at home with his family late Wednesday, but was able to spend his last year enjoying life and writing about his experiences. Here are excerpts from a March 2006 NewsHour interview in which Buchwald discusses his philosophy of life.

	Jan. 16, 2007 Libby Trial on Perjury, Obstruction Charges Set to Start Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Libby is accused of perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation into the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

	Jan. 10, 2007 Apple Introduces Highly Anticipated iPhone On Tuesday, Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the company's latest product, the much-anticipated iPhone, at the annual MacWorld conference in San Francisco. A business journalist talks about smartphone technology and Apple's future as a whole.

	Jan. 1, 2007 New Media Develops Rapidly New media products and programming developed rapidly in the past year. Jeffrey Brown takes a look at the largest media stories of 2006, including the rise of YouTube and the ongoing struggles in the newspaper business.