Risky Words: How Media Obscures Syrian Conflict

For now, let us put to one side who is right and who is wrong and even ignore the question of what actually happened.

John Nordin
By John Nordin

What’s in a name? Our language is flexible, adaptable, a source of delight for many – but it is also the case that the subtlest choice of words can imply ideas in ways we may not notice. Recent press reports about the Israeli intervention into the Syrian conflict provide many examples. For now, let us put to one side who is right and who is

Read Full Article

California Supreme Court Rules Against Medical Marijuana Dispensary

The court ruled that the state’s constitution, which allows cities to declare businesses a “public nuisance,” trumps marijuana legislation.

Katie Rucke
By Katie Rucke

After Washington and Colorado legalized marijuana in November, many marijuana advocates believed the U.S. was on a path to end marijuana prohibition. But on Monday, the California Supreme Court made a ruling that advocates say was a step backward. In the City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patient’s Health and Wellness Center, the court ruled that

Read Full Article

Critics, Intellectuals Praise Assange’s New Book While Mainstream Ignores It

Julian Assange may be a household name, but it hasn’t helped the activist and WikiLeaks founder with sales of his newest book, “Cypherpunks: Freedom and the Future of the Internet” — which was written as an urgent warning to the public about the threat to Internet freedoms. Ahead of the book’s release, “Cypherpunks” received plenty of […]

Katie Rucke
By Katie Rucke

Julian Assange may be a household name, but it hasn’t helped the activist and WikiLeaks founder with sales of his newest book, “Cypherpunks: Freedom and the Future of the Internet” -- which was written as an urgent warning to the public about the threat to Internet freedoms. Ahead of the book’s release, “Cypherpunks” received plenty of

Read Full Article

Billions Proposed for New Border Security: Where Would the Money Go?

Federal spending on border security is at an all-time high—and it would get even higher under the Gang of Eight’s new plan. The Senate immigration proposal, released last week, would allocate $4.5 billion in the next five years to tighten control of U.S. borders. The U.S. spent nearly $18 billion dollars on immigration enforcement agencies last fiscal […]

Christie Thompson
By Christie Thompson

Federal spending on border security is at an all-time high—and it would get even higher under the Gang of Eight’s new plan. The Senate immigration proposal, released last week, would allocate $4.5 billion in the next five years to tighten control of U.S. borders. The U.S. spent nearly $18 billion dollars on immigration enforcement agencies last

Read Full Article

Los Angeles Agrees To $4.2M Settlement, Hopes To End Dorner Saga

Katie Rucke Earlier this week, officials in Los Angeles announced the city would pay $4.2 million to a mother and daughter whose car was mistaken by police for the one driven by ex-policeman Christopher Dorner. While looking for Dorner, police fired 102 shots at the car in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, Calif., on Feb. 7. […]

Katie Rucke
By Katie Rucke

Katie RuckeEarlier this week, officials in Los Angeles announced the city would pay $4.2 million to a mother and daughter whose car was mistaken by police for the one driven by ex-policeman Christopher Dorner. While looking for Dorner, police fired 102 shots at the car in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, Calif., on Feb. 7. The women, who were

Read Full Article

Journalism Could Be Vehicle For Peace and Justice — Boston Bombing Coverage Proves Otherwise

Carissa Wyant If it’s not confirmed, don’t report it. It’s one of the very first rules that aspiring journalists learn to live by. So if this is one of the cardinal rules of journalism, why in recent tragedies such as the Boston Marathon bombing, has the media gotten so many details wrong in reporting on […]

Carissa Wyant
By Carissa Wyant

Carissa WyantIf it’s not confirmed, don’t report it. It’s one of the very first rules that aspiring journalists learn to live by. So if this is one of the cardinal rules of journalism, why in recent tragedies such as the Boston Marathon bombing, has the media gotten so many details wrong in reporting on the event? Have journalistic principles and

Read Full Article