Commentary
ISO Wisconsin’s next governor
Kind is out. The contender list is slim. Only a few appear to have the drive to remain.
Sep 25th, 2009 by Ted Bobrow
What Snarlin’ Marlin doesn’t want you to know
Representative looks to limit the public's access to government records.
Sep 18th, 2009 by Patti Wenzel
Democracy in action?
Even on this day that once evoked pain (and still evokes controversy), there is beauty.
Sep 11th, 2009 by Judith Ann Moriarty
Much ado about nothing
Despite the hand-wringing about President Obama's speech to schoolchildren, his message mirrored what parents tell their children all the time: work hard.
Sep 8th, 2009 by Patti Wenzel
That’s how the interchange crumbles
The crumbling Zoo Interchange forces truckers to take detours that disrupt commerce and commutes in western Milwaukee County.
Sep 8th, 2009 by Patti Wenzel
The Popps vs. The Peters
Two brothers face the consequences of their actions head-on; two look for someone else to blame.
Aug 27th, 2009 by Patti Wenzel
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
Too Many MPS Cooks
You might say the Milwaukee Journal helped invent the position of Milwaukee County executive. The paper's longtime county reporter, Avery Wittenberger, used to chat with then-County Supervisor William F. O'Donnell about courthouse issues, and in the ...
Jul 20th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
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
