Opinion
Thoughtful columns and commentary pieces from The Desk contributors.
Viewpoint: How will the media handle a Joe Biden presidency?
A new era in Washington politics brings a new set of challenges for the American news media.
By:
Robert E Gutsche Jr
Philo’s donation of $1 million in ad inventory is a big deal
The move shows financial strength in a company that's barely three years old — and helps teach the old media guard some new tricks about long-term goodwill.
Viewpoint: Will movie theaters survive the coronavirus pandemic?
Movie theaters are on life support. How will the film industry adapt?
By:
Matthew Jordan
Viewpoint: Social media companies are too big to police themselves
Financial loss was the goal of last week's attack — but bad actors could have more-nefarious intentions when conducting social media hacks in the future.
By:
Kobi Leins
Twitter Bitcoin scam reveals broader threat to security, democracy
Twitter mediates so much in the public sphere that weak points — like last week's compromise of several dozen verified accounts — expose weaker points in society.
By:
Dr. Laura DeNardis
Viewpoint: Sitcom dads are goofy — and out of touch with parents of today
Today’s dads are putting more time into caring for their children, so why are sitcom dads still portrayed as silly and foolish?
By:
Erica Sharrer
Viewpoint: Twitter and the way of the hashtag
From its beginnings as a geeky tool designed to help individual users deal with an increasingly fragmented information stream, Twitter made the hashtag a new and powerful part of the world’s cultural, social and political vocabulary.
By:
Jean Burgess
Is media criticism a malicious attack or legitimate critique?
Threats against the freedom of the press may be serious. But they are not the same thing as genuine and constructive criticism.
By:
Julie Reid
Viewpoint: TikTok teens punked Donald Trump — and may have threatened democracy, too
Social media has enabled protests and meaningful political action by capturing public attention, but it can also make the electoral process vulnerable to misinformation and manipulation.
By:
Anjana Susarla
Viewpoint: Can artificial intelligence save journalism?
Following the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, newsrooms could increasingly turn to artificial intelligence in order to save the journalism industry.
By:
Patrick White
With protests, media’s role as law enforcement partner comes into focus
Law enforcement agencies have worked closely with media producers in order to rehabilitate their image. But with recent protests, that's starting to change.
By:
Carol A. Stabile
Viewpoint: For political discourse, polls could do more harm than good
"Polls have become an essential part of the news, particularly in the run-up to an election. But it can have a negative effect on how democracy works."
By:
Michael Traugott