It’s A Fake, Fake, Fake, Fake News World - January 22, 2018
It’s been an exciting time for fake news. Designated word of the year for 2017, fake news has moved from strength to strength. Not only is everybody talking about it, fake news purveyors are revelling in their dark basements. Being a post-modern cultural icon requires dedication and more, just like bitcoin.

There Are Many Arguments For Erasing An Argument - November 20, 2017
The titans of digital technology believed, a generation ago, that their inventions would power great good and such progress would be universally approved. They talked about creating unlimited access to knowledge and unfettered social interaction. The world beat a path to their door, to paraphrase the old parable about the power of innovation. Algorithms led to new fortunes as well as bots, trolls and other evils. Knowledge unbound beget battles over copyright, privacy and, ultimately, order versus disorder.

Candidates Run Rings Around Censors, Fun To Watch - May 15, 2017
Politicians are quickly catching up. Elections are so much more fun with TV consultants, social media advisors and all the technology needed to motivate those voters. When it works, yippie!!! When it doesn’t: fake news. But then, restrictions apply.

If Satire Fails To Cock The Eye, A Farce Will Soon Arrive - March 21, 2016
Satire, of course, can bite. That makes this comedic form perfect for television; quick, witty and to the point. Farce is theatrical, blending exaggerated characters with seemingly random nutty events. The human mind benefits from humor, noted Sigmund Freud, to “outwit the internal censor.” External censors, having no sense of humor, are relegated to tragedy.

Court Chases Anonymous Trolls Back Under Bridge - June 22, 2015
The internet is a wonderful thing. Online news portals, and others, have discovered a certain bonus from a free and open digital pipeline. Unlike ancient letters to the editor very simple and inexpensive software solutions afford the public at large access points for sharing their views and opinions. Most are thoughtful, some irritating, a few repulsive. Web traffic certainly doesn’t suffer from trolls.

Soul Of A Newer Machine - November 7, 2014
Pressure on media executives is often insurmountable. Even those with impeccable records of service are called to painful duty. Rising to that call can be hugely rewarding. Failing, quite often, is the road to perdition.

No Change In “Hostile” Country - February 17, 2014
The advertising people are fond of repeating that measurement is the currency of media. Indexes do, in fact, help focus attention. Everything is traded on rankings, particularly change. It works for stock traders and anybody else betting on the future.