Gray Matter
The Property Tax Revolt of 2010
If you think the health care reform debate is devolving into an out-of-control shouting match, just wait.
Aug 10th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
True community will always trump PR
Hundreds of neighbors mingled on a gorgeous summer evening in Riverwest's Kadish Park. But on the way home, a reminder of why nights like these are so important.
Aug 5th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Health Care Reform Full Court Press
Barack Obama may not be much of a bowler and he didn't bring much heat at the All Star Game. But when it comes to basketball and policy, he got game. Think health care reform is in danger? I'd think again.
Jul 24th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
The Future of News
Once people get used to not paying for something, it’s hard to pry the cost of a subscription out of their penny-pinching paws.
Jul 16th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Move On, Folks, Ain’t Nothin’ to See Here
When I found myself writing about Le Affaire Flynn/McBride last week, I promised myself that I’d return with a thoughtful reflection on why these stories are so irresistible. Then the Mark Sanford story broke and last week seems so, so long ago.
Jun 25th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Caesar’s Wife and Jessica McBride
It didn’t take Milwaukee Magazine editor Bruce Murphy long to respond to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Dan Bice’s story about Jessica McBride’s affair with Police Chief Edward Flynn. Murphy does a fine job of detailing why the quality of the story should not be questioned. Not a single fact has been challenged and, by all accounts, the physical relationship between Flynn and McBride didn’t begin until after the story went to press. My response to Murphy’s comments pretty much says all I want to say on the topic. Calling the overblown coverage of this incident and its effect on McBride’s reputation a “tragedy for journalism” certainly overstates the matter. Ms. McBride and Chief Flynn deserve most of the responsibility for the disrepute this brings to them both. Then again, Bice’s comment that “Reporters are forbidden from writing about individuals to whom they have strong personal ties” struck me as simplistic and wrong. All journalists develop relationships with the people they cover. The vague term “strong personal ties” calls to mind a debate over definitions made famous by Bill Clinton. The “New Journalism” of the last 40 years recognizes the fact that writers become emotionally involved with their subjects and suggests that the idea of objectivity is a lie or, at least, unrealistic. Of course, writers are expected to disclose the nature of their relationships with their subjects. Obviously, the chronology of this incident made disclosure, the ultimate defense for the interested writer, a mere afterthought. Murphy’s defense of McBride, while understandable, doesn’t take into consideration the importance of reputation for public officials, journalists and the organizations that employ them. Murphy invites readers to comment on whether or not he should consider McBride as a future contributor. Murphy clearly believes McBride is a talented writer and does not seem to feel her subsequent behavior calls her work or her ethics into question. He says he would expect her to disclose a relationship if she was asked to write about Flynn in the future. But would he assign her a piece on crime or law enforcement? Would it be sufficient to disclose her relationship or does the disclosure rule out certain topics? He’ll need to work out a policy that not only applies to McBride but staff writers and other freelancers. Most things in life aren’t black and white which is one of the reasons I named this column Gray Matter.
Jun 22nd, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Won’t Someone Please Think of the Children?
Any self-respecting editor knows that a personal relationship between a writer and a subject calls the legitimacy of the story into question. And suggesting that Bruce Murphy disputed that rang untrue. I took the liberty of contacting Murphy for clarification. I sent him an email saying that I don’t much care what two consenting adults do but it seemed to me that a reporter ought to maintain a certain distance from his or her subjects or disclose the nature of any personal relationship. So what gives?
Jun 19th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
By The People, For The People?
The eyes of the world are focused on Iran where the will of the people is struggling to be heard. Here in Milwaukee the people spoke in favor of a paid sick leave mandate. So what's the difference?
Jun 17th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Ubiquitous Obama Adjusts to Evolving Media Universe
While media mavens struggle to figure out how to earn a buck selling the news, the tsunami of changes they face also presents enormous challenges for the folks who make the news. Way back in the last century, when a president wanted to make news he simply walked into the White House Rose Garden and whatever he said was quickly fed to the nation and world via the Associated Press, The New York Times, the major broadcast and cable television networks and a handful of other major media organizations. Occasionally, if the president wanted to speak directly to the public, he would deliver an address to the nation that the networks felt obligated to broadcast live during the post-dinner hours that were quaintly referred to as primetime. But that was then. These days, fewer and fewer people are getting their news from traditional sources. The preponderance of cable news networks, internet news options and the rapid growth of news on demand offered by cellphones and PDAs make it increasingly difficult for our political leaders, not to mention all the others who are competing for our attention, to get their messages out to their desired audiences. What this means is, well, actually we really don’t know yet what this all means. But it certainly means things are changing at an incredibly rapid pace and whatever worked yesterday is out of date before the ink dries on today’s newspapers. There’s a metaphor that has probably outlived its usefulness. Clearly, President Obama has his hands full trying to control the news cycle and get his message out while dealing with a recession, fighting two wars and otherwise running the country. You have to give the guy credit; just this last week or so he managed to announce the nomination of a new Supreme Court Justice, oversee the conditions for GM to declare bankruptcy, ensure that no less than five Congressional committees are moving forward with proposals to reform the nation’s health care system, all before heading off to the Middle East to deliver a speech intended to restart America’s relationship with the world’s Islamic population. Everyone seemed to agree that candidate Obama made remarkable use of the internet during the campaign. But doesn’t that seem a long, long time ago? During his first few months in office, President Obama experimented with a few innovations such as an internet public hearing and distributing his weekly address in video on YouTube. The White House’s efforts to get its message out can sometimes take your breath away. One minute you’ve got NBC News anchor Brian Williams following Obama around for a day winning the president a delicious, fat wet kiss for two nights on the network. Then The New York Times runs a story that gushes about how effectively All The President’s Men (let’s face it, they are mostly men) are working with Congress, especially on health care reform. And you couldn’t turn on a computer the last 24 hours or so without getting invited to […]
Jun 4th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Bronx Girl Makes Good
It’s going to be hard to demonize the girl from the Bronx projects. She went to Princeton and Yale Law, served as a prosecutor and corporate attorney, was appointed to the federal bench by the first President Bush and was elevated to the appeals court by President Clinton. Sonia Sotomayor has the kind of back story that lends itself to a delightful “Movie of the Week” portrayal.
May 26th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
Smoke Free Compromise Expected to Pass
The good news is that the Wisconsin legislature is likely to pass a comprehensive bill to prohibit smoking in all workplaces in the state as soon as Wednesday. Yes, that includes all bars and restaurants. The bad news is that the law won’t take effect until July 5, 2010.
May 11th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
The Sweet Spot of Political Speech
As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama was eloquent. He was inspirational, charismatic, a veritable rock star. Tens of thousands of people turned out to hear him speak at rallies here in the United States as well as abroad. Now he’s been reduced to reminding us to wash our hands and cover our mouths when we cough. Mario Cuomo famously said politicians campaign in poetry and govern in prose. But, truth be told, both are incredibly challenging and Obama has demonstrated, once again, that he gets it and is a master at political speech, both soaring and mundane. Then there’s Vice President Joe Biden. Joe the VP has a lot going for him but he has his Achilles heel. His tendency to speak off the cuff and stick his foot in his mouth is still getting him in trouble. Many of his diversions from approved language are humorous, trivial and occasionally truthful. While poking fun at Chief Justice Roberts’s flub following the inauguration was harmless, his claim that Obama would likely be tested during the first 100 days and the admission that the recovery plan had a less than 100 percent chance of succeeding were refreshingly honest. Yet when Biden went renegade on the Today show yesterday and claimed that he’d recommend his family stay away from confined spaces such as airplanes and subway cars, it was widely agreed that he had muddied the message of the day. White House officials were quick to clarify about what the vice president had “meant.” There is no reason for healthy people to restrict their normal activities, they said. Yet many local governments, including Milwaukee, are exercising caution by closing schools believed to be at risk of exposure. Biden deviated from the official talking points when he switched to the often tried and true perspective of parent. This can be an effective strategy to express empathy for the choices facing average voters and citizens. But Biden would have been wiser to use this strategy to bolster the party line rather than contradict it. For example, he could have said “As a father, I understand why many parents may be concerned about sending their kids to school or being anywhere in a crowd. But the risk of infection in most communities is incredibly small and we don’t see a need for changes in most normal behavior. “The take home message remains sensible steps such as routine hand washing are our best defense from infection though people with flu symptoms should stay home and not go to school or work.” So far, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Health Commissioner Bevan Baker are effectively walking this fine line. Mayor Barrett even employed the “father” card to explain why he was taking the step to close the schools. We look to our leaders for clear explanations for their actions as well as cool under pressure. During health emergencies, economic crises and other high-profile challenges, we want to know the essential facts that informed our government’s decisions as well […]
May 1st, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
