4 chapters across the catalog
Sinclair alleges that David Axelrod threatened to cut off media access for any reporter who investigated Sinclair's claims during the 2008 campaign. The hosts discuss this as a "message from headquarters" to Obama to stop interfering with the current Biden administration.
Death of Traditional Media, Craigslist and Classifieds
Traditional newspapers failed to anticipate the disruptive impact of the internet, specifically the loss of classified ad revenue to platforms like Craigslist. An anecdote involving Craig Newmark and the San Francisco Chronicle illustrates the arrogance of legacy media executives who dismissed digital threats. The decline of newspapers is attributed to the loss of this "back door" revenue rather than a lack of interest in reporting.
Female Editors in Journalism and the "Slave Mentality"
Following the dismissal of Jill Abramson from the New York Times, a former Chicago Tribune editor laments the lack of women leading top newspapers. The hosts argue that journalists of both genders should stop seeking affirmation from billionaire-owned "slave" institutions and instead build independent media entities. They claim traditional newspapers are failing because they focus on issues the public does not care about.
Dvorak analyzes why General Electric and its subsidiary MSNBC have aligned so strongly with the Obama campaign. He suggests that corporate media entities view John McCain's history of campaign finance reform as a threat to their bottom line. The discussion covers the wave of newspaper endorsements for Obama, including the Chicago Tribune, which the hosts attribute to the media's desire for a president who will continue high-volume advertising spending.
