Studying the intersection of journalism, interactive communications and public discourse
Growing up in a blue-collar, mixed-race family in Connecticut, I was exposed to two distinct styles of argument. My fiery paternal grandmother (a descendant of those witch-burning Salem, Massachusetts Puritans) was the type to declare her opinion on any and all topics, whether you asked for it or not. Shanahan family debates involved loud voices …
Is freedom of expression a universal and inalienable right? What about free expression posted on the Internet? On April 6, 2015, the UConn Global House Learning Community invited me to participate in a timely panel discussion on how ideas of free speech and freedom of expression vary across the world and how the 21st century …
My international TV debut! Thirty second quote on the Al Jazeera English program “Listening Post” about managing online comments. Al Jazeera producers asked me to contribute to the program after reading my March 4, 2014 Poynter story about commenting and talk radio. Post by UCONN Journalism.
As a follow up to my Poynter piece about online audience participation and some lessons news websites can learn from talk radio, The Salt Lake Tribune invited me to participate in a Google chat about online comments. Streamed live on Mar 10, 2014. “Like newspapers across the country, The Salt Lake Tribune has grappled with …
With a 45-minute commute back and forth to UConn’s Storrs campus, I listen to a lot of NPR. One of my favorite radio shows is “On Point with Tom Ashbrook.” The show is smart, timely, features interesting guests, and includes perspectives from callers around the country. Discussions on the show are civilized and insightful, unlike …
A glimpse at the online comment management systems being used by various news organizations, as of July 2013:
ESPN this week becomes the latest major news organization to rely upon social media to help civilize its online comments. Starting Wednesday, ESPN.com’s 25 million active users will have to log in through a Facebook account if they want to participate in online conversations on ESPN.com stories. Patrick Stiegman, editor-in-chief of ESPN.com, said by phone that three …
This is the keynote speech I delivered to the Travelers Information Technology Leadership Development Program Annual Session in Hartford, Connecticut on October 13, 2009. Thank you, Tony for your introduction, and thank you members of the Information Technology Leadership Development Program for inviting me to speak today about networking and the value of conversation. I’d …