Tag Archives: editor

Al Gore story goes mainstream – Redux

Seeing as how the original post got lost in a “memory hole” I'll put it back up here. The story of Al Gore’s alleged unwanted sexual advances toward a Portland, Ore., masseuse, which had been simmering since the National Enquirer first published the allegations last week, broke into the mainstream news cycle Friday after the Portland police announced they would reopen their investigation. Anderson Cooper did a segment on the story on CNN Thursday night. By Friday, it was all over network television newscasts, while the Oregonian had a front-page mea culpa by the Portland police chief saying his department had mishandled the investigation when it first surfaced in 2006. The story’s jump from the fringe to the mainstream compounds the problems for Gore, whose family spokesman, Kalee Kreider, has said that Gore “unequivocally and emphatically” denied making unwanted sexual advances. “Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore.” It also brought up by-now-familiar accusations of the media’s complicity in covering up the scandal when it first surfaced. The Portland Tribune, which was looking into the story in 2007 and 2008, has taken some heat for its decision not to go forward with the story. In a piece titled “Al Gore and the Media Protection Racket,” The American Spectator’s Jeffrey Lord argued that the existence of a police report involving the former vice president was news in itself, and the Tribune should have reported it as such. For the Spectator, it was d

Gore story goes mainstream

The story of Al Gore’s alleged unwanted sexual advances toward a Portland, Ore., masseuse, which had been simmering since the National Enquirer first published the allegations last week, broke into the mainstream news cycle Friday after the Portland police announced they would reopen their investigation. Anderson Cooper did a segment on the story on CNN Thursday night. By Friday, it was all over network television newscasts, while the Oregonian had a front-page mea culpa by the Portland police chief saying his department had mishandled the investigation when it first surfaced in 2006. The story’s jump from the fringe to the mainstream compounds the problems for Gore, whose family spokesman, Kalee Kreider, has said that Gore “unequivocally and emphatically” denied making unwanted sexual advances. “Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore.” It also brought up by-now-familiar accusations of the media’s complicity in covering up the scandal when it first surfaced. The Portland Tribune, which was looking into the story in 2007 and 2008, has taken some heat for its decision not to go forward with the story. In a piece titled “Al Gore and the Media Protection Racket,” The American Spectator’s Jeffrey Lord argued that the existence of a police report involving the former vice president was news in itself, and the Tribune should have reported it as such. For the Spectator, it was d

Lil Wayne Personally Thanks Nearly 100 Fans On Blog

Incarcerated Young Money boss expresses gratitude to followers for their thoughts, gifts, prayers on WeezyThanxYou.com. By Jayson Rodriguez Lil Wayne Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage Lil Wayne posted the third letter to his fans on his website, WeezyThanxYou.com on Monday (June 28). The post follows Weezy’s Mother’s Day letter written last month and and initial note in April written when he first launched the site from prison to communicate with fans. In the new message, Wayne writes that he hopes his fans are enjoying their summer and profusely thanked everyone for their support, from the pictures he’s received to all the letters sent to him at the Eric M. Taylor detention center at New York’s Rikers Island. The rapper only gave a short update about his life behind bars, saying he was doing well. “On my end, I’m alive, breathing and blessed,” Wayne wrote. “You already know how I’m passing time — reading and working out.” The Young Money boss also gave a shout-out to his artists and said the collective had made him proud the night before, as both Drake and Nicki Minaj scored hardware Sunday night at the 2010 BET Awards . Wayne then went on to personally thank nearly 100 supporters who’ve written him letters of encouragement, responding to individuals, including Karla Moy, who runs Drake’s official fan website and Vanessa Satten, the editor of XXL magazine. “First, I thank you for your thoughts and prayers,” he wrote to followers Ashley and Lil Mackenzie. “I would also like you to know that your letter touched my heart. I wasn’t able to keep the wristbands but thank you anyway. Gudda and I send our deepest love to you and Lil Mack.” “Cool middle name,” Wayne told Kyle Rockin McLaughlin. “And I’ll be in W. Palm one day. Hope you’re there.” The rapper is almost halfway through his prison term and appears to be ready to get back to his career, as he told Satten he hopes to grace the cover of the magazine again soon; earlier this month the Cash Money Records superstar recorded a verse from prison for a remix of Drake’s “Light Up.” “Thank you for the love and I can’t wait to be on the cover again,” Wayne wrote. What do you think about Lil Wayne’s latest post? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists Lil Wayne

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Lil Wayne Personally Thanks Nearly 100 Fans On Blog

Drake Shows ‘Vulnerable’ Side In Documentary, Hip-Hop Experts Say

‘Drake: Better Than Good Enough’ airs Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. on MTV. By Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: MTV News An early cut of the documentary “Drake: Better Than Good Enough,” airing Wednesday at 10 p.m. on MTV, was screened for hip-hop journalists Thursday (June 17) at the MTV offices. The doc — which is still being shot — follows Drake on his Away From Home Tour, but also shows intimate moments with his family, vocal coach and inner circle and the recording of his just-released debut, Thank Me Later. In the footage, we see Drizzy recording the song “Show Me a Good Time” and learn why Drake only writes his rhymes on a BlackBerry, among other intimate moments. “What was interesting is that I didn’t know Drake’s mom was sick,” The Source Executive Editor Amy Andrieux said shortly after the screening. “To see him going into his grind — knowing that now — is incredible. I know family is important to a lot of artists, but a lot of people don’t realize how much effort you have to put in these days. I think that was the most prominent thing about the entire documentary from what we saw. As a rapper, yeah, there’s a certain amount of grind you have to do. There’s constant effort. But it doesn’t mean you’re nice [on the mic], you’re dope. But Drake is doing whatever it takes to be that and to maintain his grind. That was really interesting to see it in film, ’cause you don’t see that.” “The most revealing parts of the clips that we saw from the Drake special are the ones he didn’t necessarily mean to be revealing,” multimedia personality Miss Info said. “Personally, I think he’s a professional, and I think there are no real candid moments with him. I think he’s aware of what’s going on and what he’s going to keep to himself. The revealing parts to me were the little observations that this guy, rather than having a million weed carriers, a bunch of groupies alongside while he performs, he had his vocal coach there. He’s taking vocal lessons in his tour bus. He’s wearing Debussy T-shirts, a classical composer. Those are the things to me that stood out. Rather than the ‘I’m truly happy to be here, and I hope this moment lasts forever.’ ” ThisIs50.com’s Jeremy Bettis said he was also surprised to see Drake and his coach. “The part that I liked the most [in the documentary] was the part seeing him training with his vocal coach,” Bettis said. “That’s the vulnerable part a lot of artists don’t want to show. But to see that he actually puts work in and he knows that he can better himself, that was the dopest part I’ve seen. His work ethic is crazy. It shows with the records he puts out, the videos he puts out, the performances. He was at Summer Jam one day, flew out the same to go to London to do a show. It shows the work. “I think it’s Drake’s consistency,” Bettis added about what makes the 23-year-old such a bankable superstar already. “He makes good records. He’s got a great team around him, obviously, great influences: the Jay-Zs, Kanyes, the Waynes. He knows what he’s doing. He’s not the average dumb artist just throwing out records. He has a plan, and he’s following that plan.” What behind-the-scenes footage are you looking forward to in the upcoming documentary? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss the “Drake: Better Than Good Enough” documentary , airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Drake Related Artists Drake

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Drake Shows ‘Vulnerable’ Side In Documentary, Hip-Hop Experts Say

Time for the US Open and the Emergence of the Englishman: Lee Westwood

          The 2010 US Open begins tomorrow, which is always an exciting and eventful major. This years tournament is back in Pebble Beach, for the first time since 2000. That is the year where Tiger Woods truly proved to the world how dominant he would be for the next decade. This year’s tournament will garner a much different result, as there is no way Woods can deliver that stellar type of …

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Time for the US Open and the Emergence of the Englishman: Lee Westwood

Sports coverage online at vancouversun.com June 16, 2010

We provide coverage of the US Open, Vancouver Canadians, Empire Field and the World Cup online today. Managing Editor Kirk LaPointe discusses this and other stories that reporters and editors are posting online at vancouversun.com today.

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Sports coverage online at vancouversun.com June 16, 2010

Brent Bozell Reacts to Americans’ Heightened Anger with the Media

Managing Editor’s Note: The following is a statement that NewsBusters publisher Brent Bozell released earlier today. Americans have spoken and they are livid with the media. A new Rasmussen poll found an astonishing two thirds of American voters are at least somewhat angry at the media, including an entire one third who said they are ‘very angry.’ That’s disturbing but unfortunately, not surprising. The liberal media lost touch with the public and fair reporting long ago, and Americans are sick of their lavish praise for a President that is leading our country and economy into a disastrous state. The American people are abandoning the old media by the millions because they are simply fed up.” Now is the time for the national, so-called “news” media to Tell The Truth! and report the facts. The American people are furious and are demanding answers.

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Brent Bozell Reacts to Americans’ Heightened Anger with the Media

Gary Coleman 911 Call From Ex-Wife Gives Glimpse Of Actor’s End

Coleman and Shannon Price divorced in 2008, though she was with him when he fell. By Gil Kaufman Gary Coleman Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images It’s still unknown what happened in the moments before former child actor Gary Coleman suffered a fatal head injury , but the details of the frantic 911 call from his ex-wife Shannon Price are providing a brief glimpse into the chaotic final days of the “Diff’rent Strokes” star. Coleman, 42, died on Friday of a brain hemorrhage after being rushed to a Utah hospital two days earlier following a fall at home. According to People magazine, Price, 24, who, it has since been revealed, divorced Coleman in 2008, initially resisting helping her estranged spouse. In the call, Price tells a 911 operator that Coleman fell while preparing her dinner on the evening of May 26 in their Santaquin, Utah, home. “He just got home, I heard this big bang, I went downstairs. Blood everywhere,” she said in the call. “I don’t know if he’s OK. I’m not down there right now because I have seizures, if I get stressed out I’m going to seize.” Price then described the scene, saying Coleman’s head was bloody and that there was blood all over the floor. “I don’t know what happened,” she said, prompting the operator to ask if Price could go down and check on Coleman. “I’ll try, I don’t know, I mean.” The operator asked if someone else could go check on Coleman and Price said there wasn’t. “I’ve just been kind of sick,” she said. “I don’t want to be traumatized right now.” She then yelled down to Coleman, asking if he was OK and telling him not to move. When the operator asked Price to tell Coleman to put pressure on his wound, Price reported back that the actor was lethargic. “I can’t really help him,” she said. “I just need help quick. … I just can’t be here with the blood. … I’m sorry, I can’t do it. I can’t. … There’s blood all over and I can’t do anything.” Later in the call, Price added that she wasn’t able to drive Coleman to the hospital because she’d been sick and feared having a seizure. As her panicked state increased, Price followed the operator’s advice and handed Coleman a towel to put pressure on the wound, telling the 911 staffer that the situation was stressing her out. “Yeah, I’m just panicked,” she said. “I don’t know what to do … I just don’t want him to die. I’m freaking out.” A short time later, she shouted for Coleman to sit down while applying the pressure to his head. An official cause of death has not yet been determined, but Coleman was taken off life support two days later after doctors determined that he’d suffered a critical brain hemorrhage. A funeral is expected to take place this weekend in Utah , though details about the service have not yet been released. In the meantime, a controversy has arisen over the actor’s final hours, after Coleman’s lawyer, Randy Kester, told UsMagazine.com that he questioned whether Price had the authority to make the decision to remove Coleman from life support since the couple were not longer married. “We had no indication that the information Shannon gave us was false,” a rep for Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where Coleman was treated, told “Entertainment Tonight.” “She portrayed herself as his wife.” Kester said he was the attorney for the August 12, 2008, divorce proceedings, which were kept secret until the papers were dug up this week by “ET.” If they were remarried — which would entitle Price to make such medical decisions — Kester said he was not aware of it. According to TMZ , Coleman had signed an “Advanced Health Care Directive” that authorized Price to make medical decisions on his behalf. The couple met on the 2006 set of the movie “Church Ball” and married in 2007. Kester described their recent relationship as “on-again, off-again.” At press time, there didn’t appear to be a valid will for Coleman, setting up a potentially ugly battle between Price and Coleman’s estranged adoptive parents, Sue and Willie Coleman. Related Videos Remembering Gary Coleman Related Photos Gary Coleman: A Life In Photos Related Artists Gary Coleman

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Gary Coleman 911 Call From Ex-Wife Gives Glimpse Of Actor’s End

M.I.A. Quotes Were Out Of Context, NY Times Editor’s Note Says

Paper’s website now concedes that two quotes in controversial feature were rearranged. By James Montgomery M.I.A. Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ FilmMagic First, there was the Twitter attack . Then, the dis track. And now, it appears that M.I.A. has finally gotten the New York Times to crack. On Thursday (June 3), the Times added an editor’s note to the end of author Lynn Hirschberg’s controversial M.I.A. magazine feature that backed up the singer’s assertions that several of her quotes had been taken out of context in the piece. The note singles out one instance, in which M.I.A. is quoted as saying, “I wasn’t trying to be like Bono. He’s not from Africa — I’m from there. I’m tired of pop stars who say, ‘Give peace a chance.’ I’d rather say, ‘Give war a chance.’ The whole point of going to the Grammys was to say, ‘Hey, 50,000 people are gonna die next month, and here’s your opportunity to help.’ And no one did.” The addendum says the quote was contextually incorrect, as it actually contains two separate statements M.I.A. made during her interview with Hirschberg. “While M.I.A. did make those remarks, she did not make the entire statement at the same point in the interview, nor in the order in which it was presented,” the note reads. “The part that begins, ‘The whole point of going to the Grammys,’ up to the end of the quotation, actually came first. The part that begins, ‘I wasn’t trying to be like Bono,’ and ends, ‘Give war a chance,’ came later in the same interview. The article should have made clear that the two quotations came from different parts of the interview.” Late last week, after tweeting Hirschberg’s phone number, M.I.A. promised to post an “unedited version” of the Times interview on the website of her label, Neet. “News is an opinion!” she wrote. She eventually posted just a pair of audio clips from her conversation with Hirschberg, one of which contained her quote about going to the Grammys. She also included a dis track (presumably aimed at Hirschberg) called “I’m A Singer,” which features the lines, “And the story’s always f—ed by the time it hits/ Why the hell would journalists be thick as sh–.” It’s not clear if M.I.A.’s protests were what caused the Times to attach the editor’s note to Hirschberg’s piece. M.I.A. has remained silent on the matter, and the Times and Interscope Records have not returned requests for comment at press time. Related Artists M.I.A.

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M.I.A. Quotes Were Out Of Context, NY Times Editor’s Note Says

Would You Drive 5.4 Miles Less A Day to End Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?

Members of a Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Team removes oil from a beach in Port Fourchon, La.–part of ongoing response efforts to minimize shoreline impacts from the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill, May 23, 2010. Photo: US Coast Guard via flickr. With fingers and toes crossed, for the moment at least, it appears that BP’s ‘top kill’ is working and the month-long gusher of oil may be coming to an end . So, how do get to a place as a nation where we don… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Would You Drive 5.4 Miles Less A Day to End Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?