Web Reviews

Houston Chronicles
www.chron.com


Out of all the newspaper Web sites I’ve visited, Chron.com is the first to have a section for blogs in the main navigation bar.

There are a number of interesting blogging happening here. There is one on the latest medical developments. Another blog helps readers with their computer problems. Perhaps as a gesture to the large Mexican population in the Houston area, there is a space titled “Soccer Y Futból.” It bills itself as a bilingual soccer blog. There is even a blog on the Enron trial, which by judging from the coverage on the site is a huge story that has engulfed the Houston area.

Chron.com showcases blogs from its readers in what it calls “Chron.Commons.” It’s their version of citizen journalism that allow readers an outlet for their newsgathering. You will however have to submit a proposal to the newspaper and wait for their approval in order to start a blog on the site. This makes Chron.com look a bit picky and exclusive.

The blogs page has photos of the authors and a bit of information on what each blog is about. But once you click on the link, it goes all text from beginning to end. I think it’s important to have photos or links to photos or audio/visuals. This appears to be common weak link among blogs on newspaper Web sites—not many visuals.

I think Houston Chronicles believes blogging is important for its readers since a blog link is in the main navigation. But I think there is room for further refinement in terms of more pictures, graphics and by building on making citizen journalism more accessible to the general public.

If the blog offering isn’t going to be any better than the other newspaper sites are doing, then Chron.com should bury the link to its blogs like other sites have done.


Atlanta Journal Constitution
www.ajc.com

It seems like Atlanta Journal Constitution reporters and columnists really like to share. Share their thoughts on the local schools. Share their thoughts about crime and of course share thoughts about their favorite sports teams. There is a lot of hot air coming from this site.

I would say AJC.com has more blog activity than other newspaper Web site I’ve visited so far because there is such a wide array of topics to that might be of interest to readers.

There isn’t a link in the navigation bar to the blogs but “AJC blogs” appears under “Editor’s pick" which is pretty high up on the page. One click takes you to an endless canvas of opinions on just about any issue you could think of, including women issues, podcasting and shopping.

I first came across the blogging nature of AJC when I stopped by to get superb coverage of the death of Coretta Scott King. I found a page called “Breaking News.” It was dedicated to live coverage of the funeral.

There were reporters stationed at the church, a local parking lot, along the highways and at the King Center. And the format had a blog feel to it. The reporters’ entries were conversational, relayed what they saw and heard at the scene and even gave advice for people who were trying to get to the funeral.

The blogs are very text heavy. I think it could use a bit more pictures or graphics. Even a photo of the person blogging would help break the monotony that easily sets in. Another helpful tip would be to have a link in the opinion section to the blogs since blogging is mainly known for opinion.



NBC4 (WRC-TV Channel 4)
www.nbc4.com



After reviewing blogging on two newspaper Web sites, I thought I’d check out a local television station’s effort at blogging.

I visit NBC4.com often enough to know the site just started blogging a month ago, just around the same time it reengineered its homepage. There were instances when a reporter would put up their personal thoughts on a story on the site, but it didn’t remotely resemble anything considered blogging.

But there is still much to be desired if one expects to come to this site and get compelling blogs from the NBC affiliate. Although it appears to be the only TV station in the D.C. area that is attempting to blog, there really isn’t much to brag about.
Unlike most newspapers that showcase blogging on their sites, it appears that NBC4.com wants visitors to search for it. There is no link in the main navigation bar or one a bit lower on the page. Unless you know what you are looking for, you will not find it here.

One glimmer of hope came under a bar that read “NBC4 Specialists.” There I found the blog of their sports reporter/anchor who is blogging from the Olympics in Torino Italy. In her most recent entry, she reveals she might have a thing for their Italian driver who wore a sweatshirt with the words Fairfax on it. “I don't know what Italy's Fairfax is like, but if Nick Bello lives there, it might be a good place to visit. : ),” she wrote. Her blog is full of pictures with text, something the newspaper bloggers can learn to do.

Since NBC4 just starting blogging on its new website, perhaps it will get better. As with most TV news Web sites, video/images continues to be the focus. But it would be great to see reporters like D.C. political reporter Tom Sherwood and crime reporter Pat Collins blog about what the viewers don’t get to see in 1:20.



MSNBC
www.msnbc.com

Where the local NBC station is lacking in blogging, it’s much larger big sister Web site MSNBC.com more than makes up the for the shortfall.

The site is the main domain for everything NBC news, including “Dateline,” “Nightly News,” “The Today Show” and the cable news outlet by the same name. Blogging is big on this site. It’s no wonder since blogging, especially political blogging out in the blogosphere, has help fuel the rise of opinion shows on cable news networks like this one.

Again since video is a big part of TV news sites, it’s no surprise that there is a video blog from the Olympics that is prominently placed near the top of the site.

MSNBC.com has a section called Blog, Etc. It is listed in the navigation bar as well as at the bottom of the page with sub-headlines from featured bloggers. Most of the blogging on MSNBC is done by various hosts of shows on the network like Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Dan Abrams. They have cute blog names like “Bloggerman,” “Hardblogger” and “Sidebar.” Their blogs give them an outlet to respond to bloggers in the blogosphere who have written something about them or their shows as well as vent on show guests or news events.

But not all the blogging here is an outlet for their talent, there is a really cool citizen journalism component of the blog section that allows anyone to write and post pictures about events happening in their lives.

Highlighted in the CJ section is Hurricane Katrina evacuee Mindy Nunez. She recently went back to see her devastated home in Aribi Louisiana. “I am a 25-year old single female and I am now staying with my parents, whose home was also destroyed, in a trailer on the Westbank of New Orleans,” she writes.

What gets a lot of attention here is the blog of NBC News anchor Brian Williams. It’s linked on the Web site as well as in the “Nightly News” section. It’s often promoted on the news program and even the anchor tells viewers to take a look.
I would say that the family Web sites of MSNBC has definitely embraced blogging as another way to communicate with viewers. Hopefully some of that tenacity will rub off on its smaller affiliates.

CPAC Conference Complete

Today our team of reporters--Susan Beach, Glenn Luther and producer Troy Donte' Prestwood blogged the CPAC conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Please take a look at our work and feel free to comment on anything you've read.

Newt Gingrich Closes Conference With Stirring Address

By: Susan Beach


Young Republicans crowd around former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich, snapping photos and posing for pictures with him long after finishing his address to the attendees at CPAC.

A fast moving snowstorm and a late 5 p.m. start for Gingrich didn't appear to deter his well-dressed fans. They cheered and gave him standing ovations many times when he discussed saving for retirement rather than depending on social security and parents being able to chose the schools their children attend.

On terrorism, Gingrich said every decision made by President George Bush has been "profoundly correct." The two security problems facing the country are the dictatorship in Iran and the militant group Hamas, he said.

Gingrich said too much power is concentrated in Washington and not enough is given to citizens. Congress should replace the failed government with an efficient, intelligent system, which he explains in his new book "Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America."

Earlier in the afternoon Gingrich autographed copies of his book for hundreds of twenty-somethings who waited in a line that stretched down a long hallway in the hotel.




Photos: Glenn Luther

Photo 1 Caption: Newt Gingrich speaks to a huge crowd of mostly young conservatives at the CPAC conference. Gingrich said every decision made by President George Bush has been "profoundly correct."

Photo 2 Caption: A photo composite of the young well-dressed crowd as they listen attentively to Gingrich discuss the conservative agenda at CPAC.


Photo 3 Caption: Matthew FarrFloridalordia State University, smiles as Newt Gingrich signs his book, titled "Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America."

Go From Gay to Straight at CPAC

By: Glenn Luther

For 14 years Gregory Quinian of the Pro-Family Network said he has lived a straight life. He has a message for gay Americans--quit! "I am ex-gay," said the married father." There is no future in homosexuality. The lifestyle as a whole is shallow, lust-filled and emotionally immature," he said.

Quinian is part of a growing number of people and organizations that say gays can change their orientation.

Pamphlets decorate a table at the conference. One reads "Ex-gays prove that homosexuals CAN and DO change to a heterosexual orientation." The display is part of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, a non-profit organization that claims to support the rights of homosexuals who choose to change.

"This organization is like a support group for people who have struggling family members," said Jackie Rice, a volunteer with the group, who says she has a brother who is gay.

Rice said the key to helping them is to get gays to understand her point of view. "We let them know they are really not born that way...they can change. It's been very successful. I've been at a few weddings," Rice said smiling as she recalled her dealings with homosexuals. "They say to me, 'you mean to tell me I can do this, I can have kids?'" she said.


Photos: Glenn Luther

Photo 1 Caption: "We let them know they are really not born that way," said Jackie Rice, exhibitor for Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays. "We've seen people come back out," she said.

Photo 2 Caption: "There is no future in homosexuality," said Gregory Quinian, who claims to be "ex-gay." The lifestyle as a whole is shallow, lust-filled and emotionally immature," he said.

Photo 3 Caption: T-shirts hang nearby at the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays booth. Store owner Stacie Stire said he is able to communicate hard messages effectively through humor. "We get lots of hate mail from tolerant liberals," she said.

Very Few Black Conservatives Attend Conference

By: Glenn Luther

A magazine highlighting famous African American conservatives were handed out to the overwhelmingly white attendees at CPAC.

Mark Zak, executive director of the Freedom Foundation along with volunteers from the National Black Republican Association hand out copies of the Black Republican magazine with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice starring from the cover.

Inside the magazine the key story is Rice for president in 2008. "Republicans would benefit tremendously if they knew more about the history of their party," Zak said. "The Republican Party has always been the party of civil rights and individual freedom," he said.

The magazine, they said was picked up mostly by black college students. Yet it appears that few, if any actually showed up to the conference. When asked why no black Republicans were handing it out they said, "they all left 10 minutes ago."



Photos: Glenn Luther

Photo 1 Caption: A volunteer talks with a passerby about the "real" history of the civil rights movement that involved more Republican support than history books report.

Photo 2 Caption: A free issue of the Black Republican lays next to political buttons on a display table that highlights contributions of the Republican party to the civil rights movement. Condolezza Rice's photo appears to have been altered to the point she appears white.

Young Conservatives Urged to Stop Liberal Judges

By: Susan Beach

A southern judge and an Arizona Congressman tell young conservatives to protect the Constitution and stop liberal judges from changing it.

“The American people don’t want judges making law. They want to reserve that right for themselves,” said Judge Charles Pickering, a U.S. district judge from Mississippi. Any changes should be made through the amendment process, he said.

The young audience hollered and applauded when Pickering closed his short talk urging them to “restore the rule of law” and preserve the Constitution.

Pickering joined his fellow panelists Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz.; Sandy Froman, president of the National Rifle Association; and Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch; in condemning judicial activism. Don’t let liberal judges change or add to the Constitution, they said.

“Judicial activism is akin to thievery,” said Fitton, who monitors the judiciary. It robs citizens of their liberty and takes away the respect of the courts system, he said. Froman agreed saying “it shakes the very foundation of our Federal liberty.”

Photo 1: Glenn Luther

Photo Caption: Judge Charles Pickering wags his finger at the audience while talking about the bad decisions being made in America by polititions.

Photo 2: Susan Beach

Photo Caption: Tom Fitton condemns judicial activism by judges saying conservatives must be vigilant.

Conservatives Call for Killing Murderers on Death Row Quicker

By: Glenn Luther

More than 200 CPAC attendees clapped in step with passionate rhetoric in support of the death penalty late this morning in the Regency Ballroom at the Omni Hotel.

"This to me is not a tough call, If you kill in this country, we want you to die before you die of natural causes," said Ben Ferguson, one of the conservatives chosen to debate the conservative view of the death penalty.

The debate between conservative speakers focused on the need to change current laws, as a way to invest in curbing crime. It is a good investment to "kill" murderers quickly rather than letting them live for years going through the legal red tape, Ferguson said. A streamlined system would help to reduce crime.

"It takes 30 years to kill them," he said as he spoke of those imprisoned for murder. "We give them cable, feed them, and extend their lives." He paused for a moment letting his speech build momentum.

Photo: Glenn Luther

Photo Caption: Hundreds of people gathered at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. to see key political and social figures define the agenda and talking points for upcoming elections.

Conservatives Say There is Not an Oil Shortage

By: Susan Beach

The oil supply isn’t going to run out for decades, energy experts told conservatives gathered at CPAC.

There’s a lot of exaggerated talk about energy shortages, said Rob Bradley from the Institute for Energy Research. He said there is no need for energy taxes and that consumers have to come first. Bradley wants to promote capitalism in countries with oil so that private businesses can start producing it to make sure the supply is plentiful.

Max Schulz of the Manhattan Institute said the U.S. has to open up areas in the country that are currently off limits to oil mining. The country also should seek oil from Mexico and Russia. “Conservatives tend to shudder at the word diversity” but they need to diversify when it comes to oil supply, Schulz said

Another possible oil source could come from developing countries, said Roy Spencer, a research scientist at the University of Alabama and a leader at the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance. He said be believes poor countries need to build wealth by jumping into oil production.

On the topic of global warming Spencer questioned the cause. He said he doubted that global warning can be blamed entirely on CO2 emissions. How much of it is natural, he said.

Photos: Susan Beach

Photo 1: Rob Bradley

Photo 1 Caption: Rob Bradley is president of the Institute for Energy Research, a non-profit organization that evaluates energy policies. He told the crowd at CPAC that energy taxes are unnecessary.

Photo 2: Max Schulz

Photo 2 Caption: Max Schulz, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, talked about drilling for oil in areas of the country that are currently off limits.

Photo 3: Roy Spencer

Photo 3 Caption: Roy Spencer, a research scientist at the University of Alabama and a leader in the Interfaith Stewardship Alliance, said climate systems are complex and questioned whether global warming is man made or a natural occurrence.

Bloggers At CPAC Make The News In Japan

By: Susan Beach

As I type my first story into my laptop to report on the morning speeches Saturday at CPAC, a Japanese television photographer zooms in on me. He is kneeling on the carpet two feet from me in the bustling exhibit room of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.


In broken English he says I will be on NHK, a Japanese television network two days from now on Monday. The three-member news crew from Japan then moved down the long table turning the big camera light on other journalists.

Five writers tap away on laptops on the Bloggers’ Corner table sponsored by TCSDaily.com. The row of four long tables in front of red, white and blue curtains is in the heart of the many booths in the exhibit hall.

The booth facing bloggers’ row has a huge jar of chocolate kisses on the table and rubber pigs with the slogan “Stop the Pork.” Reporters occasionally grab a handful of chocolates.

Photo: Susan Beach

Photo Caption: A Japanese camera crew records bloggers at the CPAC conference. A crew member said the footage will air in Japan on Monday.

Indiana Congressman tells Republicans to quit acting like Democrats at CPAC

By: Susan Beach

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., called on Republicans in Congress to stop acting like Democrats and get back to conservative ideals in time for the congressional elections in November.

“Many of the things we have done look more like the work of a Democrat majority,” he said this morning to a room full of conservatives at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

Pence described himself as a Christian, conservative and a Republican “in that order.” He urged for fiscal and ethical reform in his party and said Republican leaders have to get back on course in order to be re-elected.

Scandals have eroded public confidence in politicians and have hurt the nation, he said from a podium backed by 18 American flags. “The real scandal in Washington, D.C. is runaway Federal spending, he said.

Photo: Susan Beach

Photo Caption: Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana speaks to a packed ballroom of conservative activists. He said its time for Congress to return to conservative ideals in order to be victorious in the November elections

Welcome To Our CPAC Blog

Welcome to GST Online. GST stands for Glenn, Susan and Troy. We are blogging live from the CPAC Conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. CPAC is part of American Conservative Union, a political organization dedicated to advancing the conservative agenda for the country.