A tropical storm, a college basketball program and some angry Chinese farmers are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Baseball, cardboard tubes and the anniversary of a journalist's death are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
The latest reports on the California wildfires -- including an AP story on the impact of red tape on response times -- are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
NowPublic contributors are also debating the new route for the next Tour de France, and some are salivating over a new Honda motorcycle.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Arson in California, Turks and Armenians fighting in Belgium and the first passenger flight of the superjumbo A380 are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
More fires in California, and a citizen journalism experiment in Canada.
That's what's dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
The California wildfires are still dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to hear the latest from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy -- and to learn about a punk rock street fair in Mexico.
-- Eric Carvin
Wildfires in California, zombies in Seattle and safety in the air are all getting a lot of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Tornadoes in the Midwest, You Tube blocked in China and a transit strike in France are the top items at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
Volcanoes and distant cousin politicians. Those are the top items today on NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
Despite China's objections, President Bush met with the Dalai Lama Tuesday.
The White House defended the meeting in the president's residence and dismissed Beijing's warning that the talks and the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to him on Wednesday would damage relations between the United States and China.
Associated Press writer Foster Klug, who's covering the Dalai Lama's visit, told asap the White House is trying to keep the event low-key by not releasing a photograph of the president's meeting with the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists. The White also declined to make any public statements afterward, although the Dalai Lama did speak to reporters.
In this audio clip , Klug discusses some of China's objections to the meeting and offers perspective on the U.S. celebrations this week in the Dalai Lama's honor.
Read Klug's story here.
-- Jaime Holguin
A fire that looks like the pope coming back from the grave? The Vatican is calling it a "miracle," and there are apparently photos to prove it. That story and more are today's top noted items at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
A possible armed uprising in New Zealand, porn scammers in Arizona, and the cat show in Madison Square Garden are the hot topics of the day over at NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- especially photos and video -- into its news report. Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
Al's Nobel, the commute in Delhi and the sad end of a red cedar tree are all getting a lot of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
A Facebook dispute over Palestinians? A man saved by his dog? A -- citizen journalism seminar?
There's quite a variety of content getting attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Some of today's top AP photos, as selected by asap's photo editor:
(AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
(AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
From top to bottom:
-- Bernadette Tuazon
It's a quiet news day, at least from the perspective of the contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to find out, from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy, what one story is getting the most attention on the site right now.
-- Eric Carvin
A video game developer called Bungie and some prizes called the Ig Nobels are getting lots of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
The Sputnik anniversary and a menacing typhoon are getting lots of attention among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
What do Zapatista leader Subcommandante Marcos and Radiohead have in common?
Probably not much. But today, both are getting a lot of attention from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
A fire in Vancouver, a volcano off Yemen and an investigative reporter in Mexico are getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Protests in Myanmar, a swastika-shaped military base and a police code wiki are getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Protests, from New York to Myanmar, are all the rage among contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told The Associated Press in an interview today that his country would not launch an attack on Israel or any other country. He also said he does not believe the United States is preparing for war against Iran.
AP Deputy International Editor Nicolas B. Tatro was present during the 30-minute interview at Ahmadinejad's hotel near the United Nations for this AP story.
In this photo slideshow, Tatro tells asap about the AP's interview with the controversial leader.
--Jaime Holguin
Tempests, natural and otherwise, are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to find out from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy what's making waves on the site.
-- Eric Carvin
Shootings at Delaware State, a tornado in Florida and a woman caught on video encouraging her daughter to beat someone up.
That's what's getting the lion's share of attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
The protests in Jena, La., the "Leave Britney alone" guy and his possible TV deal, and some new al-Qaida videos are getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
The Tasered student and a typhoon that hit China are still getting attention. But so is some back-and-forth nationalism on YouTube, between people from Turkey and people from Greece.
That's just some of what's showing up today on NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site
The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen
journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
In China, a typhoon. In Florida, a Tasered student. And everywhere, the dangerous mix of Crocs and elevators.
These are some of the stories getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
From storms and fires to O.J. and Blackwater, a wide variety of news stories are getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
The shaking earth in Indonesia and a government shakeup in Russia are getting a lot of attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
get more details from NowPublic's
Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
Not surprisingly, the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is getting the lion's share of attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
get more details from Far and Wide's conversation with NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
An impressive range of subjects is getting attention today from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Some obvious stories are all over the site, like Britney Spears' performance at the Video Music Awards and early coverage of 9/11 anniversary events. But you might not know about pipeline explosions in Mexico, or a high-tech method being used in the search for missing adventurer Steve Fossett.
Listen to this audio clip
to learn more from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
... to go back to "Monday Night Football."
NFL brainiac Ron "Jaws" Jaworski (pictured, center) is the latest tweak in the MNF announcing booth, replacing Joe Theismann, the former Washington quarterback whose earnest and sometimes emotional delivery never quite clicked with straightforward play-by-play man Mike Tirico (left) and goofball columnist Tony Kornheiser (right).
Jaworski, a former Eagles QB and longtime studio analyst, brings a more cerebral, professional and insider-ey feel to the broadcast, and is more likely to enlighten with X's-and-O's details of a coverage breakdown than to ... well, break down.
See the writeup by AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen below.
--Josh L. Dickey
Yesterday, it was a subway strike in London. Today, a taxi strike in New York.
And once again, hurricanes in Mexico and Central America.
These are some of the stories getting attention from contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to get an explanation from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy -- and to find out why condoms are in the news in Washington, D.C.
-- Eric Carvin
A subway strike in London and a hurricane striking the Central American coast are dominating the attention of contributors to NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" site The Associated Press is working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -– especially photos and video -– into its news report.
Listen to this audio clip
to get an explanation from NowPublic's Brian Kennedy.
-- Eric Carvin
(AP Photo/ITAR-TASS)
Ten people have been arrested and soon will be charged in the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya -- an outspoken critic of the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin who was gunned down last year in a contract-style slaying, officials announced today.
Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika told Putin of the arrest in televised remarks, but he refused to tell reporters who was suspected of ordering the killing.
Politkovskaya, shown above in a 2001 file photo, often criticized Putin and tirelessly chronicled the killings, kidnappings and torture of civilians in war-scarred Chechnya. She was shot dead in her Moscow apartment building on Oct. 7, 2006, which is also Putin's birthday.
FOREIGN KILLER?: Chaika concluded that someone outside Russia carried out Politkovskaya's assassination in order to discredit Putin and throw the country into disarray.
NOT SO FAST: "Contrary to what the prosecutor general says, there were people inside the country interested in silencing her, and the investigation should be looking into this," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
For more details, read this report from Moscow by Bagila Bukharbayeva.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Media focused more on politics than the Iraq War in recent news coverage, according to a study released Monday.
Researchers examined more than 18,000 stories from 13 newspapers, eight radio outlets, five online sites, three cable-news channels and both morning and evening network newscasts.
AND THE SURVEY SAID
Reporting on events in Iraq made up 6.7 percent of the total so-called
newshole, compared to 9 percent devoted to the 2008 campaign. Additional media attention was paid to the Iraq policy debate (6.6 percent) and the war's homefront effect (1.5 percent).
OTHER TOP STORIES
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage
made immigration the biggest topic on conservative talk radio in the
second quarter with their opposition to a reform bill. Immigration came
in as the fourth-biggest story for media in general, with 6 percent of
coverage. Other top-10 stories included the
Virginia Tech shootings at 5 percent of coverage and, at 2 percent
each, the Don Imus controversy, Iran and the fired U.S. attorneys. The
Palestinian conflict received 1 percent.
-- Megan K. Scott
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Just moving this evening on the AP wire: this story from AP business writer Seth Sutel reporting that Rupert Murdoch is closer to his goal of owning Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co. after the board of his News Corp. media conglomerate signed off on the $5 billion deal today.
-- Caryn Rousseau
(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
"I'm clean. If I weren't, I wouldn't be here."
That's from the new leader in the Tour de France, Spain's Alberto Contador. Of course, plenty of cyclists apparently showed up dirty. But the AP's John Leicester in Paris thinks we're partially to blame:
Fans have a right to be disappointed. But they also need to ask themselves if they have been part of the problem. Many have long suspected that their heroes were or had doped _ but still turned out en masse to cheer them on.
Some reporters have been complicit, too, asking riders softball questions like "why are you wearing black socks?" and not, "how can you honestly expect us to believe that your superhuman performances are accomplished without drugs?"
One solution? A South African-style truth and reconciliation hearing. More after the jump.
--Lisa Tolin
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
AP's Nedra Pickler reports that Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is reaching out to fellow blacks on radio airwaves in South Carolina.
Obama is trying to shore up support in the state, where a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted last week found him trailing rival Sen. Hillary Clinton 39 percent to 25 percent.
According to Obama's advisers, overcoming the lasting and intense popularity of former President Bill Clinton in the black community -- and simply telling or reminding people that the Illinois senator is himself black -- are among the hurdles they face to the White House.
During last night's CNN/You Tube Democratic debate, held at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., Obama was even asked if he was black enough. Go here to see how he answered.
-- Errin Haines
Tonight's Democratic debate promises to be a little more ... democratic. More than 2,000 people submitted questions for the candidates via YouTube, with CNN choosing about 50 to use at the debate.
The AP's Nedra Pickler is in South Carolina for tonight's debate. In the meantime, here are some of the hopefuls, compiled by YouTube. Let's hope that kid with the elephants gets an answer.
--Lisa Tolin
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
The wait is over for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" -- in Singapore, in Sydney and in London.
Unfortunately, there are still a few more hours to go in the United States before "Harry Potter" fans get the answers to those long awaited questions: Will Harry kill evil Lord Voldemort, or die in the attempt? Who will be slain in the battle between the good guys and the wicked Death Eaters? And what are deathly hallows, anyway?
Read the story by AP's Jill Lawless to find out what author J.K. Rowling had to say at an appearance at a London bookstore.
--Chelsea J. Carter
As in the mainstream media, the massive steam-pipe explosion in the heart of New York is the getting a lot of attention on NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" operation that The Associated Press recently started working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- particularly photos and video footage -- into the AP news report.
Listen to this audio clip
from a phone conversation with NowPublic's Brian Kennedy to hear what sorts of material related to the explosion are showing up on the site.
What else is coming up on NowPublic? Kennedy mentioned a couple of developing stories.
-- Eric Carvin
The Associated Press' overnight Washington editors scour the
political blogs for interesting opinions,
analysis and information. Their morning reports consist
of the original headlines and text from the blogs. Click below for today's
edition, compiled by Jerry
Estill.
Continue reading "INSIDER INSIGHT: Best of political blogs" »
We just got off the phone from another chat with Brian Kennedy of NowPublic, the "crowd-powered media" operation that The Associated Press recently started working with to selectively incorporate citizen journalism -- particularly photos and video footage -- into the AP news report.
What's getting the most attention among NowPublic contributors? An earthquake, a subway shindig and a celebrity mystery.
Listen to this audio clip to hear Kennedy's explanation of these stories, and to learn more about what sort of related material is popping up on NowPublic.
-- Eric Carvin
"From time to time he should talk to her and smile at her."
That's advice for Richard Nixon from TV adviser Roger Ailes, who was concerned about Nixon ignoring his wife Pat in public. It was among 78,000 papers and 11½ hours of tape released Wednesday as the Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace switched from private to federal control.
Other early revelations:
The switch also means visitors will get a more realistic history of Watergate. Previously the library referred to the scandal as a "coup" by reporters and Nixon's rivals. See the rest of the story here from Gillian Flaccus in Yorba Linda, Calif.
--Lisa Tolin
(AP Photo/ESPN, Rich Arden)
Silky smooth broadcaster Dan Patrick -- who brought the phrase "en fuego" to the sports world -- is leaving ESPN after 18 years.
Patrick announced his departure today on his radio show and said his final radio show will be Aug. 17. Patrick was a SportsScenter anchor from 1989-06 and more recently worked on NBA broadcasts.
SportsCenter was known as the "the big show" for several years when Patrick teamed up with Keith Olbermann on the broadcast. Patrick was known for giving a curt "good" sometimes during highlight segments when a player made a key shot.
Patrick said there was no acrimony over his departure and that ESPN executives tried to talk him out of his decision.
For more on Patrick leaving ESPN, read this report from New York by AP sports writer Rachel Cohen.
--Paul Chavez
Freed BBC reporter Alan Johnston went home to his family after spending four months as a hostage in the Gaza Strip.
He told reporters that one of the hardest part of his ordeal was imagining his parents' anguish.
"I felt that I had brought the very worst of the world's troubles into their normally peaceful lives," Johnston said outside his parents' home in Scotland.
For more on Johnston's return, watch this AP video report.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric says there's some days she second-guesses her move from NBC's "Today" show to the anchor chair.
Her move to CBS has been a bust so far with the evening newscast's ratings deep in third place. Format changes that Couric brought to the newscast have been scrapped and she tells New York magazine that the job had more appeal when there were prospects for change.
"People are very unforgiving and very resistant to change," Couric said in the magazine. "The biggest mistake we made is we tried new things."
For more on Couric, read this report from New York.
--Paul Chavez
(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Four months after being kidnapped by masked gunmen on a Gaza street, BBC reporter Alan Johnston was released Wednesday morning after his captors brokered a deal with Gaza's Hamas rulers.
Is this sort of kidnapping common? Just what sorts of dangers do reporters in Gaza deal with on a day-to-day basis?
We directed that question to AP Jerusalem News Editor Josef Federman, who supervises reporters throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories -- including Gaza. Click on the jump to see his e-mailed response.
-- Eric Carvin
Continue reading "INSIDER INSIGHT: Reporting challenges in Gaza" »
(AP Photo/Rachael Strecher)
"The last 16 weeks, of course, were just the very worst you can imagine of my life, like being buried alive, really, removed from the world."
Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter kidnapped by al-Qaida-inspired militants in Gaza, was released today after 16 weeks of confinement in a dark room. He spoke at a news conference with Hamas officials, who had demanded Johnston's freedom, apparently hoping to curry favor with Western countries.
Hear from Johnston in these audio clips:
Johnston says his captivity was frustrating as a journalist.
Johnston on hearing about his case in the media.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown reacts.
--Ryan Pearson
A Chinese mine boss has been convicted of organizing the beating death of a reporter in a high-profile case that prompted an unusual intervention by President Hu Jintao.
Hou Zhenrun was convicted and sentenced yesterday to life in prison, a court official said today. He was accused
