News Media

An old politician pardons his son with a magic wand

Politics This Week: Whom Do They Think They’re Kidding?

By Justin Katz | December 3, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review political news from the state and nation.

A Republican cruise ship leaves a Democrat lifeboat behind

Politics This Week: RI Left Behind

By Justin Katz | November 12, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the prospects for the Ocean State after a full Republican sweep in D.C.

A post-Revolution journalist takes notes on an iPad in Boston

American political media has never been self-funding.

By Justin Katz | November 7, 2024 |

While developing plans for the future, I’ve been reading about the history of American journalism, and an observation from the post-Revolution period has been worth more than a few underlines.  Political parties always want dedicated media outlets, but media outlets dedicated to partisan politics never pay for themselves.  Jefferson had to give a no-show State Department job…

A heavy man races casually without competition

Politics This Week: Corruption Without Competition

By Justin Katz | October 15, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss ways in which corruption thrives without competitive elections.

A bored RI governor waits for the work day to end

Politics This Week: When “Public Service” Is the Day Job

By Justin Katz | October 7, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz wonder where the will for public service has gone.

No, Gene, Do Not Redirect Professor Schiller’s Excellent Questions About the Bridge Fiasco

By Monique Chartier | September 4, 2024 |

Gene Valicenti’s weekly Tuesday conversation on WPRO with Brown University Professor Wendy Schiller took a slightly unexpected turn yesterday when Gene honored her request to comment on the handling of the Washington Bridge closure. (Starts at Minute 06:45.) Schiller: This is a significant, major problem that if something goes wrong with the eastbound side, for…

Men shake hands in a dark alley

Freedom has no noncompete with propaganda.

By Justin Katz | May 23, 2024 |

Many people would likely see it as an obscure topic reported in a minor venue, but Christian Winthrop’s recent article in The Newport Buzz about the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) move against noncompete agreements hits three distinct notes that fire me up. The first is that it is unambiguous propaganda: In a landmark decision aimed…

A Democrat self-interviews

Politics This Week: RI’s Eternal Return

By Justin Katz | May 13, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz explore recent examples of Democrats setting the stage for themselves.

A water drop and ripples

You can tell how journalists see their role by the stories they cover.

By Justin Katz | May 1, 2024 |

This has become a focus of the Providence Journal’s city reporter: What stories is Russo not covering because she’s spending so much time on this one?  Why is a personnel matter at a private organization newsworthy? As for the content, it finally provides some explanation for a mythical cliché.  I’ve never understood the rule that you…

A weatherman reports a sunny day while it storms outside

Politics This Week: The Era of Messaging

By Justin Katz | April 29, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz highlight some of the ways the local media and political establishment distort the public message.