Bill Handy, visiting professor at Oklahoma State University, discusses how although the future journalist must use new tools and acquire new media skills to survive, many aspects of journalism have remained unchanged. He talks about the new culture of web communications and also comments on the breakdown of the PR – Reporter relationship.

Watch the Bill Handy Interview

Bleacher Report, which calls itself "the Web's largest sports network powered by citizen sportswriters," made a big breakthrough for itself on Feb. 23 ... and the citizen journalism movement generally.

The company announced it was beginning a partnership with Hearst to introduce local online editions in the newspaper publisher's four largest markets ... the San Francisco Chronicle's SFGate, the Houston's Chronicle's Chron.com, the San Antonio Express-News' MySanAntonio.com, and Seattlepi.com.

The quality of the many sports bloggers I've seen ranges from abysmal to mundane, with very few exceptions, but I don't think that will stop this from being a success. Bleacher Report is bringing in the coveted young and middle-aged male demographic that is vocal and passionate about sports, and these guys are also willing buyers of products from the advertisers who'll be lured to the sites.

On the Media Game blog is written by Gerry Storch.

Dr. Margaret Lewin, medical director of Cinergy Health, discusses childhood obesity in America and the health problems associated with the disease. She says that due to the severity of the problem in America, “Michelle Obama, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, and the nations’ mayors and other local leaders are placing a high priority on combating this growing problem.”

Read the Dr. Margaret Lewin Article

Doug Moran talks about the current shortage of primary care physicians in America and how healthcare reform may worsen the shortage. Moran suggests ways of solving these problems in his upcoming book, “If You Will Lead,” and says many of the problems can be solved through character, vision, boldness, integrity, composure and accountability in leadership.

Read the Doug Moran Interview

Dr. Lynette Cardoch, ecologist and Director of the Climate Change Commitment with MWH talks about global warming and how MWH’s wet infrastructure sector, environmental engineering, construction and strategic consulting services have a global impact. She says there is a need for action, not fear and the MWH Climate Change Schools Program works to achieve that goal.

Read the Lynette Cardoch Interview

Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist and professor in the Dept. of Geosciences at Texas Tech University, discusses the differences between weather and climate and why people commonly confuse the two when it comes to global warming. She also talks about the importance of obtaining information about climate change from credible sources.

Read the Katharine Hayhoe Interview

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, and Andrea Weckerle, founder and president of CiviliNation, discuss cyberbullying and cyberharassment and how the cross-jursidictional nature of online communications presents challenges in controlling this online problem. They also provide information about CiviliNation and talk about how they support a safe and democratic online culture.

Read the Jimmy Wales and Andrea Weckerle Interview

Jeff Bercovici, media columnist for Daily Finance, had an interesting article on believability, or lack of same, in the new online journalism.

He took note of a terrible goof by the Business Insider, which "reported" that New York Gov. David Paterson was hours away from resigning. He's still there!

Bercovici thinks such problems will only get worse, as writers in online media are paid peanuts if that, and all the while they are churning out huge amounts of little-researched copy in what amounts to an electronic sweat shop, and to get noticed make it as sensational as possible.

This is precisely why I so adamantly wish for mainstream media to survive. While they've had their share of embarrassing scandals, and slanting is to some extent a problem, at least they have a believability structure in place in the form of editors, a broad rather than narrow audience, and a longstanding tradition of not being beholden to anybody. Despite their flaws, they are far more believable to me than almost everything online.

Alan Blankstein, founder and president of the HOPE Foundation, talks about how the U.S. compares to other countries educationally and discusses his book, “Failure is Not an Option,” and how it relates to the No Child Left Behind act. As a former “at-risk youth” himself, Blankstein responds to questions from a personal and unique point of view.

Read the Alan Blankstein Interview

Debra Slover, founder of the Leadership Garden, talks about education in America. She expresses her feelings and shares resources on standardized testing, reform, leadership development, the No Child Left Behind act, social media, 21st Century Community Learning Centers and School Wide Positive Behavioral Support.

Read the Debra Slover Interview

The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot made as embarrassing a mistake as can be made. It reversed the score of the Super Bowl, making it Colts 31, Saints 17 on the front page and page 9.

I doubt if many other editors around the country were chortling, though, nor were ex-journos like me. Instead we were thinking, there but for the grace of God ... and pondering our own close calls with accuracy disaster.

Newspapers oftentimes are put out in such a rush, with so many things happening at once, that it's a miracle more big boo-boos aren't committed. Maybe it's better to make a huge mistake everyone can see is wrong rather than a smaller one that isn't recognizable, and causes more damage.

Virginian-Pilot editor Denis Finley handled it very well ... just saying we goofed, and sorry. The world didn't come to an end, and there are many more trenchant issues when it comes to the future of journalism.

On the Media Game blog is written by Gerry Storch. 

Chris Brown, the National Press Club's vice chairman on new media and professional development, discusses the skills necessary to keep up as a journalist. With years of experience in print, network TV, interactive development, PR, and public affairs, Brown offers examples and insight from many perspectives.

Watch the Chris Brown Interview