ZOOM has become all the rage for virtual meetings, due in large part to COVID-19 and how business was forced to make social distancing changes. Certainly, ZOOM and the other meeting platforms serve a purpose, but as we learned from the recent gaffe pulled by members of the Oakley (CA) School Board, use of these services and software can be disastrous.

I have always had a great deal of respect for Presidential historian Jon Meacham. Frankly, one of the finest and more erudite commentators on Presidential politics. However, in light of this subterfuge, I will never quite believe all he tells me is true ever again. Neither should you or anyone else.   MSNBC did [...]

What Ocasio-Cortez said in those few minutes will indeed resonate for years. How others use the media will often disappear and dissipate into the mists of history. A history that neither needs nor demands such useless conversation. Ted Yoho has earned all scorn that comes his way from such an incident. Ocasio-Cortez has earned a "bravo" for incorporating patience, wisdom, and a quite yet powerful voice.

We are well past time to boycott anything and everything connected with the despicable sexist, insulting and lowbrow idiocy that is "Barstool Sports". We are also well past time for any reputable organization, in this case SiriusXM, to cut all ties with an organization that has women fearful of being sexually assaulted.   Dave [...]

With the world watching, centuries of history was disappearing in smoke and flame. The news that Notre Dame cathedral was on fire stabbed at the heart of people around the world, those of every age, every generation, ever gender, every religion, and especially, every race. Notre Dame was not merely the epicenter of Paris and [...]

"Barstool Sports" started out in Boston as a free newspaper founded by guys seeking to be sports commentator disruptors. Smart marketing to the lowest common denominator paid off, and today they are a brand worth a small fortune. However, being worth a lot of money thanks to being sexist, insulting  jackasses is not something [...]

There it was. Right in front of me. All it would take is one click. One tap. One flick of the finger and off it would go, sailing into the great electronic beyond and do exactly what it was intended to do. Smack someone right in the intellectual face with a response guaranteed to [...]

There has not been a major sports league around the world that has used social media to it's advantage better than the NBA. Star players and those who want to become stars use the medium, especially Twitter and Instagram, to it's full advantage. Perhaps TOO full. Veteran JJ Reddick has stepped away completely from social [...]

Six years. Hard to believe it's been six years since babies were murdered at a school at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. And here we are those six years later ,watching as a measure of justice is being exacted on someone who authored another despicable chapter in the deaths of 26 people, 20 [...]

Why am I doing this? Why has it become so important? To what end does it take me? Why am I wasting my time? Finally, these are the questions I faced off with on this morning in regard to social media. Specifically, Facebook. It has become something of an autonomous knee jerk by billions of [...]

The decision by "60 Minutes" to air controversial photos of public lynchings in Alabama was indeed a bold one. However, it's backed by simple tenets of responsible journalism and the necessity of facts. At the core of every story is simple truth. The facts. Unabashed, without favor and without reserve. The truth will indeed set [...]

In the wake of revelations on how Facebook used and readily sold the data gathered from every single user since the moment it went on-line, it has now become all the rage for people to download their Facebook file and examine exactly what pieces of their life have been basically sold to the highest bidder. [...]

Far too many people see the broadcast media, and here I mean television news, as being untrustworthy and dealing fake news hyperbole in order to do nothing more than to get ratings.  I've been a broadcast journalist my entire career, and in a number of cases, I cannot disagree. Where once there was real reporting, [...]

For years, at the very least the last 2-3 here in America, I and many of my journalism colleagues, friends, compatriots and those I've never met, have been fighting what, at times, seems like a losing battle against what is the real "fake news" confronting this Nation. My snap answer to those who allow [...]

Sadly, another lesson to be learned from the slaughter at an American school. This time the one in Parkland, Florida.

The mass murder at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida has touched a raw nerve unlike anything we have ever seen in America.

- Positive stories will promote your personal & corporate brand. You have stories to tell that will promote your brand, convince consumers and potential customers you are the right company to do business with, and will increase your revenue base. Every media platform is out there looking for stories that will deliver ratings, clicks, brand [...]

The mistake made by Brian Ross and ABC News in their recent reporting on the Michael Flynn case is, in a journalistic sense, unforgivable. It was avoidable, rushed, and casts a long shadow on the entire ABC News effort that will take time and effort to escape.   Mistakes are, of course, a human frailty. [...]

Here's a prime example of what I teach and talk about in every "Media Intel" program, whether it's media training or giving people insider's knowledge on what the media has become in America. There is little more important and worth defending in American than freedom of the press. It remains one of the hallmark reasons [...]

As I have stated many times, when you re-post something untrue, post something that is based on unproven facts and innuendo, re-tweet something that has no shred of truth to it and has been denied by those who know the facts, in this case the FBI, you then own it. It becomes your comment. Your Statement.

"EVERYTHING WE SEE, HEAR AND WATCH ON THE INTERNET IS TRUE!" "Hey, did you read those two posts about the NFL and how they plan on punishing those players who didn't stand for the National Anthem???" I'll wager you did. I'll also wager some of you reading this reposted one or both, "LIKED" them and [...]

"FAKE NEWS" IS NEITHER NEW OR AN ORIGINAL CONCEPT As I was about to write yet another treatise on the foolishness of "fake news", I want back thru the archives and found this comment from 25 October 2013. I present it now in it's entirety and without editing, as it was more than a little [...]

Granny Knew Best about Facebook before there was a Facebook. My sainted Granny was a wonderful lady. A feisty Irishwoman who had a beautiful head of red hair until the day she passed. She left us far too early to even conjure the concept of the Internet and what would come to be known as [...]

Colleen Campbell always wanted to be famous. Infamous? That's a different story. Hands up from anyone in the audience who imbibes from time to time and hasn't said or done something incredibly stupid while holding hands with Jack, Jose or Johnny.

It has come to the point where I personally have no sympathy for people that can't seem to grasp the sheer idiocy of misusing social media, especially Twitter. Pitbull's embarrassing attempt on Memorial Day was the worst example. Until now. Obviously, it didn't take long at all for another record to be broken by someone [...]

Speaking as one who appears before numerous aspiring media professionals, the coverage today of Donald Trump's incomplete tweet is embarrassing and ridiculous. Every morning show spending an inordinate and unnecessary amount of time on what is an absolutely inane "non-story", mostly because they are kissing up to a segment of the audience that wants nothing more than gossip in their news beverage.

It's a snap judgement we have all seen in every business, every industry, and almost every Mom and Pop shop. The employee fails. Brings disrepute to the company. Management can't suspend or fire that person fast enough to save face and stop the profit margin bleeding. Blame the individual for failing to "follow procedure", "going [...]

Let us now delve deep into a question that has vexed mankind since the very first naked baby picture was uploaded to Facebook. While it might not seem to be about an individual's image, that's where this debate eventually lands when it comes to how we use the various services to market ourselves, our business, [...]

This is the story of Breana Harmon Talbott, an 18 year old young woman from Texas. Once upon a time, incidents such as this were only known to a few, buried deep by some people to avoid the shame. Now, in our social media world, there is no hiding for her. Talbott will forever be known as a stunningly cruel and evil minded individual who simply can not be trusted.