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18 September 2006
Editorial LiveJournal: Oriana Fallaci
James Howard Gibbons, editor of the Chronicle's opinion pages, today offers up another personal reflection that the newspaper calls an Editorial Journal (we prefer the term Editorial LiveJournal).
The title of this one is kind of fun:
So it is, Mr. Gibbons, so it is!
The Editorial LiveJournal reflects on the late Oriana Fallaci, for whom a young Mr. Gibbons worked when he was 18. Fallaci passed away last week.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ Editorial LiveJournal: Oriana Fallaci"> 09/18/06 11:36 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (4)
11 April 2005
James Howard Gibbons' editorial LiveJournal
We've gotten used to Lucas Wall using his transportation column for petulant outbursts when he is inconvenienced by the city's public transportation.
His LiveJournal-like "editorial journal" makes it clear that he's not happy that somehow, his license plates flagged him as someone with a phantom arrest warrant. It's Kafkaesque, he (almost) says!
While blogHOUSTON would certainly never wish misfortune upon anyone (as Ayn Rand might say, we believe in a beneficent universe), we can't help but be slightly amused when certain Chronicle journalists discover the problems that normal Houstonians run into every day. The difference, of course, is that most normal Houstonians don't get to use the city's only major daily to express their displeasure.
We're also amused that Mr. Gibbons is discovering the ineptitude that has resulted from six years of mismanagement by the mayoral candidate his editorial board endorsed repeatedly.
Perhaps the Editorial Idealist should (con)descend to the cave with the rest of us commoners more frequently. He might just discover that the city isn't exactly in an ideal state.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ Gibbons' editorial LiveJournal"> 04/11/05 10:29 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (5)
25 June 2006
Mr. Gibbons visits the sea, via Courbet and MFAH
The Editorial LiveJournal makes a return to the Chronicle editorial pages today.
We frequently refer to the Chronicle editorialists as the Editorial LiveJournalists. That's because opinion page editor James Howard Gibbons decided some time ago that his opinion pages occasionally need to run personal diaries instead of the usual staff editorials. And so we have been treated to stories of Gibbons riding his bike (no joke!) and another editorialist offering her leftovers to her neighbors (no kidding!). It's fare more appropriate to a LiveJournal than a serious newspaper. Hence the term, Editorial LiveJournalists.
Here is a snippet from today's Editorial (Live)Journal:
A civil rights lawyer in Austin wears what surely must be the world's most desirable wristwatch. Instead of numerals or marks indicating the hours, the watch's face bears the words, "It's time to go to the beach."
This is the season for that pleasure, but the frequent thunderstorms and heavy rains might deter some beachgoers. No matter. An exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston holds the remedy.Entitled Courbet and the Modern Landscape, the exhibit offers three rooms of paintings by Gustav Courbet, selected to show this master's role as a transitional figure from the idealized painting of the Salon and state patronage to realism and Impressionism. While most of Courbet's painting were completed in the studio, he made many drawings in the field so as to be able to paint things as they are and as he saw them.
Particularly sublime is the selection of Courbet's seascapes.
And less sublime is the typo in the Editorial LiveJournal.
As Matt Bramanti asked in reference to an earlier Editorial LiveJournal, why do these diaries keep appearing on the editorial page of a major metropolitan newspaper?
Posted by Kevin Whited @ Gibbons visits the sea, via Courbet and MFAH"> 06/25/06 11:57 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (2)
04 July 2005
Chron celebrates Independence Day with George the ape
The Chronicle begins an Independence Day editorial as follows:
July Fourth, with its parties and parades, concerts and fireworks, finds Americans of different minds concerning public policy, but citizens of a nation that cannot correctly be called divided.
The same editorial page today runs a political cartoon by Mike Luckovich that first ran in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 30 June 2005.
George W the Ape desperately clinging to 9-11?
What a rude, clumsy, and offensive statement for James Howards Gibbons and crew to make on Independence Day.
One supposes that in the mind of Mr. Gibbons (the tough, smart LiveJournalist!), this is yet another example of the "elegance, wit and insight one looks for in ... editorial pages in their ideal state."
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/04/05 09:57 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (5)
11 May 2005
Chron editorials: Just read and gasp (updated)
That disturbing Chronicle editorial from yesterday -- saying Florida's sex offender law is too harsh -- received some attention yesterday from none other than Fox News' Bill O'Reilly:
[...]why is "The Houston Chronicle" criticizing Florida's tough new crackdown on child molesters?
We can help with that question: in the Chronicle's world leftovers and criminals are more important than unborn babies and crime victims.
In fact, Sedosi Alhambra sums it up perfectly:
A new standard of Editorial ineptitude.
This is so bad I can't even comment.
Just read and gasp.
Perhaps that could become the new editorial page banner -- "Just read and gasp."
He complains about O'Reilly getting his facts wrong (which just never happens in Chron editorials, nosirree), and says this:
O'Reilly claims his show is free of spin. Spin is when someone casts the facts in such a light as to reinforce his argument and weaken his opponent's. What O'Reilly did was to disregard the facts altogether, even going so far as to attribute to the Chronicle words and views it did not print and does not espouse.
Before Chronicle readers complain about an editorial, I hope they take the time to read the editorial carefully, rather than relying on someone else's careless characterization of its contents.
Oh Mr. Gibbons, we did read the editorial. And we still think Sedosi Alhambra's reaction is perfect -- just read and gasp.
Maybe Gibbons could ask for a correction from O'Reilly?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ editorials: Just read and gasp (updated)"> 05/11/05 10:32 AM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (8)
24 April 2005
Chron announces Gibbons promotion
The Chronicle finally got around today to announcing what blogHOUSTON readers learned on Tuesday -- the "interim" tag has been removed from James Howard Gibbons' job title, as he has been named the editorial page editor:
"Editorial pages are designed to help you pause and think about the current and critical issues of the day," said Chronicle Publisher Jack Sweeney. "James Gibbons has demonstrated his ability to do just that in leading our daily discussion with Chronicle readers."[snip]
Chronicle Editor Jeff Cohen said he has asked Gibbons to "discern the community's daily concerns and to lead the discussion with the editorial board as we offer guidance about what is good for the people of Houston."
"We will persuade with reason and without antagonism," Cohen said. "We will be mindful of Texas' diversity. And our focus will not be on who or what is conservative or liberal; our focus will be on what is interesting, important or provocative."
Offer guidance about what is good for the people of Houston?
Spoken like a true liberal mainstream media dinosaur. Seriously, could that be any more condescending?
As for Jack Sweeney's reference to Gibbons' demonstrated ability to lead the daily discussion -- well, we'll just say it's been some discussion! The editorial page under Gibbons has been extremely slow to offer opinions on hot local topics. He's put state Rep. Rick Noriega (D) in Iraq instead of Afghanistan. He's cited a nonexistent treaty. He's gotten so excited about Walter Matthau that he completely blew the numbers on a budget editorial of all things. He's gotten attention from the Wall Street Journal for referring to Afghanistan's president as "Hamid Crazy." He's let way too many serious substantive and copy errors get through. And, of course, there's the now famous editorial from Mr. Gibbons on the ideal state.
Those are just some of our favorites. As they might say in the journalism business, space considerations prevent us from really reflecting on these Chronicle editorial pages in their ideal state! But, we're sure we'll continue to have plenty of opportunities now that Mr. Gibbons' "interim" tag has been removed.
ANNE ADDS: My favorite Chronicle editorial is Hamid Crazy. All those layers of professionally-trained journalists and that whopper makes it into print!
The most stunning example of the Chronicle's mindset is the contrasting editorials on the topic of death: one editorial wondering why an innocent person in an incapacitated state, like Terri Schiavo, would be allowed to live, and another celebrating the end of death sentences for convicted murderers.
Ugh.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ Gibbons promotion"> 04/24/05 08:02 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (2)
03 October 2008
It's buyout time at the Chronicle!
A friend recently alerted us that buyouts were being finalized this week at the Chronicle
Apparently, today is the day for some of the announcements. We presume this blog post from Julie Mason is related (and the Chron's D.C. bureau just got a little more serious).
John Wilburn, most recently the Chron's managing editor, takes over as Opinion Director. Steve Jetton takes over as Outlook editor. David Langworthy slides into an editorial writing position. Jim Newkirk takes over as reader rep (and will apparently retain his gigs as budget czar and high school liaison).
That's what we are hearing so far. If you have any other interesting Chron buyout tidbits, feel free to pass them along in the comments (or anonymously here if you prefer).
Here's hoping these moves improve what had become simply a dreadful editorial page -- one that recently confused the date of 9/11 and the name of the Harris County Sheriff (calling him Tommy Thompson, and refusing to correct the mistake). We can't say we'll miss the Editorial Journals of one James Howard Gibbons -- or his editorials in an erroneous state. But if he decides he misses the opinion game, we still have his diary space at the ready!
UPDATE: We hear that Rad Sallee has taken the buyout. Will METRO have a position for him?
UPDATE (10/09/08): Per Media Bistro, Mason didn't get the buyout and Bennett Roth of the D.C. bureau was also laid off.
UPDATE (10/12/08): Another source says Mason and Roth were offered the buyout. Maybe at some point the newspaper will issue a press release and clear it all up.
BLOGVERSATION: Lone Star Times (and here), Unca Darrell.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/03/08 06:27 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (2)
20 February 2005
Chron editorial page editor invents new "ideal" practice!
We've noted that the Chronicle occasionally has problems with its letter page.
However, one problem we've never noted before is the newspaper's editorial page editor taking space on the editorial page to contest a letter written by a political partisan and published in the same day's letters section.
That's just what happened on Saturday, when the newspaper published a letter from Texas Republican Party Chair Tina Benkiser, "Dean's a gift to Republicans," a response to an op-ed by an Austin political partisan that ran over a week ago (an op-ed that was not matched by any critical comment from the Chron editorial board the day it ran). Benkiser's letter, however, was countered by an "editorial journal" from James Howard Gibbons that attempted to counter Benkiser.
Gibbons is interim editorial page editor, and if he wants to take up space by personally countering a political party chair who took the time to write his newspaper instead of soliciting a response from the other party's state chair, that's certainly his prerogative. It strikes me as poor editorial judgment, however.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ editorial page editor invents new "ideal" practice!"> 02/20/05 07:38 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (4)
23 November 2008
Andrea Georgsson has left the Chronicle
Andrea Georgsson, the Houston Chronicle editorial board member who apparently violated newspaper policy by donating to political candidates, has left the newspaper.
Georgsson left the newspaper just after the election, according to this column from Richard Prince:
Andrea Georgsson, the only African American editorial writer at the Houston Chronicle, left the paper Wednesday after being at the paper since 1987 and a member of the editorial board since 1995. "It was my own decision," Georgsson told Journal-isms. "I'm going to just follow my bliss," Georgsson, 44, said. She said she has three little boys to take care of and may do volunteer work.
Media monitor Cision (as well as Georgsson's own Facebook page) confirms the departure:
Longtime Houston Chronicle staffer leaves
Posted on: 11/10/2008Andrea Georgsson recently left her post as an editorial page writer for the Houston Chronicle. She previously served as an education reporter. Prior to that, she covered Harris County and state news. She joined the paper as an intern in 1987. To learn more, call 713-362-7171.
If anyone calls the number, please let us know if you "learn more." We would be surprised.
Recall that we found Georgsson had donated to the Harris County Judge campaign of David Mincberg (not to mention the presidential campaign of Barack Obama). Such donations apparently violate newspaper policy, and for good reason -- it is hard for an editorial board to preach transparency for others when it doesn't practice what it preaches. Even worse than the lack of transparency, it is thought that Georgsson penned at least one editorial about Harris County ethics (which referenced Ed Emmett, the incumbent opponent of Mincberg) -- an editorial that was quickly posted to Mincberg's campaign site.
The Houston Chronicle refused to answer substantive email queries about Georgsson in the leadup to the election, and has not addressed the scandal publicly. On the surface, it appears that Georgsson left the newspaper of her own accord. It seems likely, however, that both she and the newspaper concluded that it would be best for all if she moved on. We would email the reader representative and ask, but we have yet to see evidence that he actually uses email.
It's too bad that the Chronicle didn't take the opportunity to practice what it preaches about transparency and to inform readers about the scandal. Chronicle execs like to describe the editorial board as leading a community discussion, but more often it seems like the insular editorialists are simply lecturing to the community, without much interest in an actual conversation.
And it's not even a very good lecture these days. In recent weeks, the editorial board -- sans Georgsson and James Howard Gibbons -- has turned out some truly clunky prose. We certainly didn't agree wth Georgsson or Gibbons on most issues, but who knew their departures would give readers even less cause to visit a so-so, left-leaning editorial page?
Perhaps it's another reason for the Editorial Board to start a blog (as we've suggested before). Even poor writers can get better if they really work at the craft (practice, practice, practice!). Frequent blog posts on local affairs could be just the sort of practice that is needed. And who knows -- a little interaction with readers might actually improve a product that could use it.
BLOGVERSATION: Lone Star Times, Hair Balls.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/23/08 08:11 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (3)
23 January 2005
A "forum for new ideas" or a platform for strawman attacks?
Last Wednesday, the Chronicle's cultural blogger Kyrie O'Connor responded to recent comments by Harvard president Larry Summers:
It's just not possible to have to go through this again. It's not possible that the president of Harvard would say this, is it? Oh, sure it is. The oldest trick in the book: Criticize a man for what he does, but criticize a woman for who she is. Anatomy is destiny? Apparently it still is.
The blogosphere had already been discussing the story, which appeared in Monday editions of the Boston Globe, for several days at that point. We speculated among ourselves that O'Connor's (liberal) conventional wisdom would probably find its way into a staff editorial, since the story had finally registered with the New York Times and had thus made its way onto one Chron editor's radar.
We were not disappointed by the Chronicle editorial page, which weighed in on the matter yesterday in just the manner we expected:
The offense comes this time from the man at Harvard's helm, University President Lawrence H. Summers, who served as Treasury secretary during Bill Clinton's administration. At an academic conference titled "Diversifying the Science and Engineering Workforce: Women, Underrepresented Minorities, and their S&E Careers," Summers suggested that there are fewer women than men on the engineering, math and science faculties at top research universities because of biological differences that give men enhanced math and science capabilities.
[snip]
Summers said his remarks were an exploration of theories besides discrimination to explain why there were fewer women in the physical sciences departments at the best schools. But there is a large irony in offering innate biological inferiority in lieu of discrimination as an explanation for the underrepresentation of women.
Studies do not bear out Summers' biological explanation, and his proposing it suggests he believes the very biased thinking he claims to reject.
Here, the Chronicle editorialists deploy a favorite tactic of twisting facts into a convenient straw man, and then knocking down that straw man.
The first bolded portion is where the Chronicle's misleading attack on Summers falls apart. Although no transcript has been released (since the seminar was supposed to be "off the record"), various reports seem to concur that Summers pointed to research on biological differences in men and women that might well be one factor in some discrepancies. He did not say it was the only possible factor, and he most certainly did not offer it "in lieu" of discrimination as a possible explanatory variable, as the Chronicle editorial asserts. As an economist, Summers is familiar enough with econometrics NOT to suggest a bivariate model to explain such a complicated social phenomenon (if only the Chron's editors were so familiar with quantitative methods of social science!). The Chronicle's attack on Summers is, therefore, rendered inaccurate and impotent. As for the last bolded portion in the editorial -- Summers reportedly did refer to specific studies. Can the Chronicle editorial board provide citations to back up their assertion that "studies" don't support Summers?
As we frequently concede, the Chronicle is welcome to adopt whatever position it would like for its editorial pages. However, we do not consider inaccurate, strawman attacks to be indicative of editorials "in their ideal state" (a standard that interim editorial page editor James Howard Gibbons has established).
Further, we would note that the Chronicle is running quite a few radio ads proclaiming that the newspaper "provides a forum for new ideas and debate." Since even the online version of the newspaper isn't particularly interactive, we don't see how it's much of a forum. And this editorial is hardly an example of new ideas.
For those who are interested in something besides the liberal conventional wisdom on the Summers affair (as told by the Chron editorial board and cultural blogger), here is additional reading from around the web: Sex ed at Harvard (Charles Murray, New York Times), Summers is right (Claudia Goldin & Lawrence F. Katz, Boston Globe), Gender Fender-Bender (Ruth R. Wisse, Wall Street Journal), Summers storm (Ruth Marcus, Washington Post), The truth about men and women is too hot to handle (Andrew Sullivan, Times of London), Don't worry your pretty little head (William Saletan, Slate), Mathematical virtues (Linda Chavez, Washington Times), Socializing Summers (George Neumayr, American Spectator), The First Amendment fights for its life (R. Emmett Tyrrell, Town Hall)
Further discussion is encouraged in OUR forum for ideas and debate. Just click on the handy "discuss" link below.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 01/23/05 02:26 PM | Houston Chronicle | Technorati | Comments (8)
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