Washington News Council | John Hamer | Activity

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Journalism Students take the TAO pledge!

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:10:26 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Journalism Students take the TAO pledge! “Do you like tattoos?” was my standard pickup line. OK, pretty cheesy, but hey, it worked most of the time. I was sitting at a table at the Washington State Convention Center for two days last week surrounded by about 4,000 high-school journalists from all over the country. It was the national Journalism Education Association /National [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Mike Wallace asked: Who will watch the watchdogs?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:25:04 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Mike Wallace asked: Who will watch the watchdogs? Mike Wallace changed my life. I never actually met him, but he had a huge influence on my career. Here’s how: Back in the 1990s, I co-edited a media-critique newsletter called CounterPoint (motto: “Who Will Watch the Watchdogs?”) and co-wrote a column that ran in Seattle Weekly and Eastsideweek called “Watchdogs” (motto: “Woof!”). Barking at journalists, [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Are newspapers sexy?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:16:09 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Are newspapers sexy? The Newspaper Association of America recently unveiled a new advertising campaign: “ Smart is the New Sexy. ” I wrote a snarky blog about it, asking “Whose idea was this?” But I’m having second thoughts. I just read the Valentine’s Day issue of my daily newspaper, The Seattle Times. Yikes! This paper is smokin’. Take Page One: There’s a [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Sam Reed Stood Up to KIRO7â²s Media Malpractice

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:15:08 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Sam Reed Stood Up to KIRO7′s Media Malpractice Secretary of State Sam Reed, who announced his retirement recently, is being hailed for standing up for transparency, accessibility and openness in government -- and justifiably so. Reed received the Washington Coalition for Open Government’s coveted James Madison Award last week in recognition of his work. The awards breakfast just happened to fall on International Media [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Critics are wrong about Dale Chihuly's fabulous glass art

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:52:58 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Critics are wrong about Dale Chihuly's fabulous glass art David Brewster’s recent little blog on Crosscut.com, “Chihuly Conquers Boston” (Aug. 8) caught my eye because I saw the Chihuly exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in May. My wife and I spent several hours there. We both thought it was fabulous. Brewster said the exhibit “drew large numbers…and mixed critical reviews.” He cited two [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: National Newspaper Ads: Neither âSmartâ nor âSexyâ

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:27:02 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: National Newspaper Ads: Neither ‘Smart’ nor ‘Sexy’ The Newspaper Association of America ( NAA) has just unveiled a new national advertising campaign whose slogan is “Smart Is the New Sexy.” Huh? Whose idea was this? And what was the “Old Sexy” anyway? Dumb? If they’re hoping to attract more newspaper readers and advertisers with this marketing come-on, it’s pretty lame. The NAA developed a [...]

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johnhamer posted a new activity comment

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:36:58 +0000

johnhamer posted a new activity comment: Hey, Steve, thanks for joining. Did we meet at the TDA dinner last week? Let\'s chat sometime soon.
In reply to - steveloeb became a registered member

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Journalism Needs More Ombudsmen AND News Councils

Tue, 24 May 2011 22:57:31 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Journalism Needs More Ombudsmen AND News Councils

Craig Silverman gives keynote speech to #ONO2011 meeting in Montreal. John Hamer of WNC (bald spot on left) listens along with Michael Getler, ombudsman of PBS (bald head on right).

“It’s really important that we have accountability mechanisms in journalism. When it comes to our own accountability, most news organizations are doing a pretty poor job, to [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Who Do You Trust? Not the media, despite all our efforts....

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:25:41 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Who Do You Trust? Not the media, despite all our efforts.... SHEESH! Maybe we should throw in the towel…. The Washington News Council’s mission since 1998 has been to help maintain public trust and confidence in the news media. But today trust in the media is at record low levels. We’ve failed! We were just named “Organization of the Year” by the Municipal League . But perhaps we should [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: APRIL FOOL! We're not really closing our doors after all....

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:06:20 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: APRIL FOOL! We're not really closing our doors after all....

APRIL FOOL! The press release I sent out last Friday certainly got a big reaction: Lots of people thought it was true! (Or maybe a few hoped it was true….but no such luck.) It was just my idea of having fun — and some people (like my wife) think I have a strange sense of humor. [...]

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johnhamer posted an update: APRIL FOOL! The press release I sent out last Friday certainly got a big reaction: [...]

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:14:57 +0000

johnhamer posted an update: APRIL FOOL! The press release I sent out last Friday certainly got a big reaction: Lots of people thought it was true! (Or maybe a few hoped it was true....but no such luck.) It was just my idea of having fun -- and some people (like my wife) think I have a strange sense of humor. But to all those who \"bit\" and called or emailed with condolences, congrats on a job well done, and inquiries about my next step, I would like to say....SOORRRRRYYYY! But also THANK YOU for the kind words and best wishes. And hey, since you think so highly of everything the News Council has accomplished, please remember that donations are welcome! Really! In fact, we need to raise more funds this year to fully accomplish all of the great projects we have started in the past year. So please visit the \"Donate\" page on our website, send us a check or call me with a CC# (Visa/MC). That\'d be MUCH appreciated! And this goes for all those who \"got\" my little April Fool\'s prank and called or emailed to share a laugh, too! Wasn\'t brightening your April 1 well worth a donation to the WNC? Thanks in advance for all of your great friendship and generous support. It means a lot to me. No fooling.

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Washington News Council Honored; Will Close Doors on April 1

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:21:56 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Washington News Council Honored; Will Close Doors on April 1 BREAKING NEWS: The WNC issued the following Press Release on April 1, 2011 The day after being named “Organization of the Year” at the Municipal League’s annual Civic Awards banquet, the Washington News Council announced today that it would close its doors. “Mission Accomplished,” said John Hamer, President and Executive Director of the News Council. “We’re [...]

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johnhamer posted a new activity comment

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:10:58 +0000

johnhamer posted a new activity comment: Claire -- Thanks for joining our community. I\'ve long admired the Australian Press Council and would love to come visit you there sometime. Some of my friends and colleagues from Pacific Lutheran University have visited. Let\'s stay in touch and hope to meet you in person one day. Cheers! -- John
In reply to - claireduffy became a registered member

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: American Journalism Review reviews WNC, so WNC reviews AJR

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:05:18 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: American Journalism Review reviews WNC, so WNC reviews AJR When I got a phone call from a reporter for American Journalism Review (AJR) saying he was doing a story about news councils, I was both happy and wary. Happy because we don't get much national coverage, especially from a prestigious publication like AJR. Wary because the reporter said he was a young editorial assistant at [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Students nationwide take "TAO of Journalism" Pledge

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:00:14 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Students nationwide take "TAO of Journalism" Pledge "We want to show our readers and the larger journalism community that we stand by the ideals of being Transparent, Accountable and Open in our reporting and all of our practices as student journalists." -- The Roar, Whitney High School, CA "Journalistic ethics are becoming even more critical to the practice of journalism as the field evolves.... like [...]

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Tom Stites' Banyan Project: Will Co-op Journalism Work?

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:22:16 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Tom Stites' Banyan Project: Will Co-op Journalism Work? Journalism, says Tom Stites, should be: 1) relevant to people’s lives, 2) respectful of everyone, and 3) worthy of their trust. Relevant. Respectful. Trustworthy. What’s so hard about that? Nothing, really, but too much journalism today falls short of those goals, according to Stites, founder of The Banyan Project , a nascent national pilot effort still in [...]

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johnhamer posted an update: Welcome, Bryan. Thanks for joining our community. Feedback welcome! What are your concerns about the [...]

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:52:42 +0000

johnhamer posted an update: Welcome, Bryan. Thanks for joining our community. Feedback welcome! What are your concerns about the news media? What should the News Council be doing more of? Less of? What ideas and suggestions do you have? The news and information ecosystem is in a chaotic but exciting regenerative transition period of \"creative destruction,\" and we\'re trying to find the best and most effective role for the WNC. @bryanmyrick

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WNC Named âOrganization of the Yearâ by Municipal League

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:22:52 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WNC Named “Organization of the Year” by Municipal League The Washington News Council has just been named "Organization of the Year" by the Municipal League of King County. Here is their press release , sent out today to news media statewide. This is a great honor for our little non-profit organization. We would like to thank all of our friends, supporters and donors who helped make our [...]

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johnhamer posted an update: Hey, Angela, thanks for joining but we'd like to know more about you. Last name? [...]

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:20:51 +0000

johnhamer posted an update: Hey, Angela, thanks for joining but we\'d like to know more about you. Last name? Email address? We endorse Transparency, Accountability & Openness (TAO) here at the WNC, and that goes for our online community members as well. No anonymity, OK? @angear77

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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WOO-HOO! We met the Gates Foundation Challenge!

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:03:47 +0000

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WOO-HOO! We met the Gates Foundation Challenge! The Washington News Council met the Gates Foundation's Challenge Grant target by raising $100,000 in total donations by the deadline of Jan. 15, 2011. We received the Foundation's matching check for $100,000 in the mail this week. We are extremely grateful to the Foundation for its continued generous support of the WNC and our important [...]

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Washington News Council | John Hamer | Activity

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Journalism Students take the TAO pledge!

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Mike Wallace asked: Who will watch the watchdogs?

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Are newspapers sexy?

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Sam Reed Stood Up to KIRO7â²s Media Malpractice

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Critics are wrong about Dale Chihuly's fabulous glass art

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: National Newspaper Ads: Neither âSmartâ nor âSexyâ

johnhamer posted a new activity comment

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Journalism Needs More Ombudsmen AND News Councils

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Who Do You Trust? Not the media, despite all our efforts....

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: APRIL FOOL! We're not really closing our doors after all....

johnhamer posted an update: APRIL FOOL! The press release I sent out last Friday certainly got a big reaction: [...]

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Washington News Council Honored; Will Close Doors on April 1

johnhamer posted a new activity comment

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: American Journalism Review reviews WNC, so WNC reviews AJR

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Students nationwide take "TAO of Journalism" Pledge

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Tom Stites' Banyan Project: Will Co-op Journalism Work?

johnhamer posted an update: Welcome, Bryan. Thanks for joining our community. Feedback welcome! What are your concerns about the [...]

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WNC Named âOrganization of the Yearâ by Municipal League

johnhamer posted an update: Hey, Angela, thanks for joining but we'd like to know more about you. Last name? [...]

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WOO-HOO! We met the Gates Foundation Challenge!

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Sam Reed Stood Up to KIRO7â²s Media Malpractice

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: National Newspaper Ads: Neither âSmartâ nor âSexyâ

johnhamer wrote a new blog post: WNC Named âOrganization of the Yearâ by Municipal League