Mike Wendland on the Pod

Mike Wendland, ace Freep techno-geek has joined the ranks of the podcasters.

The Keener Podcast - 4/30/05

Lot's of great music this week including Bob Crew, Miriam Makeba, Edwin Starr, The Grass Roots, Mitch Ryder, Friends of Distinction and Tom Northcott. Plus another Keener Hot Licks Music Quiz. Support the show and the site when you buy your tunes from Amazon at www.keener13.com

Jacobs Media: Radio doesn't suck

According to a survey of Alternative and Classic Rock listeners performed by Jacobs Media, radio doesn't suck.

Mitch goes to the corner

Although they didn't say what it was, the Freep, did say that "Disciplinary action has been taken against five employees," including Mitch Albom for the fabricated column written about MSU's NCAA appearance. In a letter to readers, Editor / Publisher Carol Leigh Hutton said, "We took into account many factors, including the seriousness of the offense, the importance of our credibility, the history of those involved and Albom's 20 stellar years at the Free Press.... We now look forward to that work continuing in the Free Press."

I was at a baseball game with a group of journalists this weekend and when the talk turned to Mitch, some saying that he got off easy because he's a star. Then the publisher, a veteran of more than 30 years in the biz, asked, "How many good journalists have had careers ruined because newspapers over-reacted?"

We contemplated this one, finally admitting that at some point during our work world adventures, each of us had probably stretched the edge of the envelope at least once. A friend at another paper told me recently that a copy editor was summarily fired for an inadvertent infraction far less egregious than Mitch's foray into fiction.

The Regret the Error website tells the tale of an LA Times reporter who was fired this week for mistakes in a piece about a fraternity hazing incident. Reading The Time's more detailed account of what lead to the dismissal, it sounds like the right call. It sounds like we won't be privy to as much information about the Freep's investigation.

We do know that Carol Leigh Hutton is an exceptional leader and role model with a track record of both character and sensitivity, two traits we admire in the competitive world of 21st century journalism.

Should Mitch Albom be fired for his anticipatory story which painted a picture that never happened? Or should the Freep swat his knuckles with a ruler and send him back to his typewriter without supper? The right answer is probably somewhere in between the two.

Blogging from MC2

Check out these weblogs from the Motor City Music Conference.

The Keener Podcast - 4/23/05

Historic moments on this week's Keener13 Podcast. We say goodbye to John Fred, hello to another Keener Music Quiz and take a trip to Rome for a podcast from inside the Vatican.

Alice on the air in Motown

With the Motor City Music Converence in full swing, Alice Cooper is in town promoting his new gig. He's a DJ. The former Vincent Furnier who called Detroit home until hight school will spin the MP3s from 10PM - 1AM weeknights on WCSX. Cooper will produce the show from his home in Arizona.

Kurt ties radio listening declines to more spots, less promotion

Kurt Hanson's Radio And Internet Newsletter analyzed six years of Arbitron radio ratings in the 94 markets and found a 14% decline in at-home radio listening, while in-car listening has increased 3%. 40% of all radio listening is done at home. Kurt says, "it looks as if radio is having real and not insignificant audience declines" begnning before the advent of satellite radio. What's happening? The data seems to show that the sharpest decline began in 1999 just as spotloads were increased and marketing decreased. At-work listening is also down with the biggest drop happening in 2003 in concert with the increased popularity of Internet radio.

The Keener Podcast 4/16/05

San Francisco tunes on this week's Keener13 Podcast. We test your memory with another Keener Music Quiz, bring forth two Mad Magazine rarities and hear a 1966 air check from the Chairman of the Burger Club. Buy the music you hear on the Keener 13 Podcast from our Amazon link and support the show! A few of this week's artists: Mad Grooves, Mark Lindsay, Scott McKinzie

Lawrence Lessig on the Spartan Podcast

While we continue our travels, the Spartans cover the media. Lawrence Lessig on the Grokster Case, the Doug format in Detroit and the impact of podcasting on broadcasting. That's all on this week's Spartan Podcast, hosted by Michigan State's Gary Reid and East Lansing public relations consultant Bill Castanier.