http://www.ajc.com The latest headlines from AJC en-us Copyright 2009, Cox Newspapers Inc., AJC Wed, 2 Dec 2009 07:36:37 EST Newspapers COXnet RSS Generator v1.0 http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/08/17/52/image_1352178.jpg http://www.ajc.com 5 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/02/15/inside_0216.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/02/15/inside_0216.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 5 Dec 2008 16:11:18 EST They may not be household names to some AJC readers, but Atlantans Akon, T-Pain and DJ Toomp are making their mark on the Billboard music charts and in this year's Grammy nominations. Ask your teenager. Chances are they have an Akon or T-Pain tune on their iPods. Akon was last year's Billboard pop artist of the year. Grammy winner T-Pain's "Low," a collaboration with Flo Rida, is currently No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and rap charts. And producer DJ Toomp won a Grammy on Sunday for "Good Life," a song he produced for Kanye West. Sunday's Living section featured a map showing the towns of 49 of metro Atlanta's artists, including several nominated for Grammys. From Alpharetta to Fayetteville, the list includes jazz, Christian, country and rock artists but is dominated by R&B and hip-hop names. From icons such as Janet Jackson and Usher, to up-and-comers like Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole, Atlanta has earned its "Motown of the South" nickname. Atlantans figure prominently in the multibillion-dollar R&B and hip-hop industries, with their own clothing and fragrance brands, businesses, recording studios and chart-topping music. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/08/16/inside_0816.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/08/16/inside_0816.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:05:22 EDT Since we media types are experts at Monday-morning quarterbacking, it's fair that critics are taking aim at the so-called mainstream press and its failure to report on the John Edwards affair, first written about in the National Enquirer last October. Howard Wolfson, a former top aide to Hillary Clinton, even went so far as to suggest that Clinton would now be the Democratic nominee for president had Edwards' extramarital affair been exposed sooner. Who's to say if that is true, but it does raise serious questions about how aggressively those covering Edwards' campaign chased information revealed in the Enquirer's story. In postmortems of their coverage, several newspapers, including The Charlotte Observer, The News & Observer in Raleigh and The New York Times, said they looked into the rumors but couldn't substantiate them. That, coupled with Edwards' denial of the affair and a campaign aide's admission that he was the father of Rielle Hunter's baby, put reporters chasing the story in a tough spot. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/08/09/inside_0809.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/08/09/inside_0809.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 8 Aug 2008 21:06:09 EDT Last Saturday's front-page story package about a bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate to lift a federal ban on offshore drilling left a few readers questioning the AJC's objectivity on the issue. "Oil exploration may be on horizon for Georgia" read the headline. A photograph with the story showed people frolicking on a beach in California with an offshore oil rig in the background. But the photograph's caption said the scene in Georgia wouldn't be quite the same as the one pictured, which made some readers wonder why we ran such a picture in the first place. "Saturday's front page above the fold constitutes a shining example of either really sloppy work by the editors, or deliberate juxtaposition of a deceptive headline and deceptive photograph," wrote Chet Burgess of Atlanta. "The photograph, shot on the West Coast, shows two oil rigs looming over the people on the beach with a big, bold headline. ... The bipartisan proposal from 10 senators would allow Georgia and other ... southeastern United States to authorize oil exploration 50 miles or more off the coast. At that distance, an oil rig would not be visible to Georgia beachgoers, and certainly would not be on the horizon." http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/08/01/inside_0802.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/08/01/inside_0802.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 1 Aug 2008 20:46:14 EDT Readers like Jerry Robb are in the minority these days. A self-described "newsaholic," Robb reads three papers each morning, The Gwinnett Daily Post, USA Today and the AJC, in that order. Then he scans the Web sites of the BBC, The Jerusalem Post and Al Jazeera. While his interests go far beyond his home in Duluth, he is disappointed that the AJC will discontinue the last of its community sections, which the newspaper has published for more than 20 years. About 50 readers have called or written us to complain about these changes. A few readers have applauded the decision. Newspapers all over the country are reducing the size of print editions while devoting more resources to delivering information on the Web and handheld devices. Declining revenue, combined with the rising costs of fuel and newsprint, have most big newspapers working aggressively to retool their business models. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/07/25/inside_0726.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/07/25/inside_0726.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:43:17 EDT Mike Buffington had heard the rumblings you often hear about someone who has held public office for a long time. Then came a specific tip about former Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tim Madison and his secret bank accounts. Buffington, editor of The Jackson Herald in Jefferson, Ga., went to work on a series of stories that resulted in Madison's conviction and imprisonment on theft charges. "If the top law enforcement official in your community has corruption going on, the newspaper ought to take a look. That's why we exist," said Buffington, who received the Society of Professional Journalists' regional Best of Show award July 19. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/07/03/inside_0705.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/07/03/inside_0705.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 19:35:48 EDT Avid newspaper readers know this industry is in the midst of dramatic change. Our Web sites and technology in general allow us to deliver information in ways we never imagined 10 years ago. The League of Women Voters of Georgia/AJC online voter guide is a great example of how the business of gathering and disseminating information is changing. Rather than wading through a sea of races organized by county, readers can type in their address and get a list of the July 15 primary races specific to their area. With a few more clicks, users can get party information, biographical information and compare where the candidates stand on key issues. Users can build a sample ballot they can e-mail or print out and take with them to the polls. "The tool also allows users to do a side-by-side comparison of candidates so you can see how two different candidates answered the same question," said ajc.com senior editor Jennifer Ryan, who coordinated the project. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/27/inside_0628.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/27/inside_0628.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:11:11 EDT In seven trips to Iraq, reporter Moni Basu has written dozens of war stories. "Chaplain Turner's War," her eight-part series that concludes Sunday, offers some unique insights from a man whose job it is to help soldiers cope with the death and loss that are an inevitable part of war. "Faith plays such a huge role in so many of our readers' lives here," said Basu. "I wanted to see how faith and war go together." Basu initially sought out native Georgians who were on their second or third deployments. Late last year, Army officials sent her a stack of bios, and Darren Turner's was among them. She sent him an introductory e-mail, along with other stories she'd written from Iraq. She found it interesting that Turner had his own online diary and was serving with an infantry battalion that had seen its share of heartache and suffering. She believed Turner's perspectives as a relatively new member of the Army would be insightful. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/20/inside_0621.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/20/inside_0621.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:20:09 EDT About 100,000 newcomers arrive in Atlanta each year, some of them dazed and confused. What's the Downtown Connector? You can get food at the Big Chicken but not at Spaghetti Junction, right? And why is the tea in Atlanta so sweet? AJC lifestyle reporter Jamie Gumbrecht, a Michigan transplant, is in that number. Gumbrecht and editor Mike Benzie, also a newcomer to Atlanta, came up with the idea of a blog that would answer reader questions about life in Atlanta. The Newcomer blog debuted on accessatlanta.com in April and has gotten 68,000 page views. Dozens of AJC writers now blog. Jim Galloway's Political Insider, Rodney Ho's Radio Talk and American Idol, Peach Buzz and those involving college football recruiting are among the AJC's most popular blogs. Jim Wooten's Thinking Right blog is also a major hit. Since small online communities often develop around specific interests, providing a forum for newcomers is a great reader service. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/13/inside_0614.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/13/inside_0614.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:33:08 EDT We mentioned it several times in the newspaper and some of you still didn't believe it. Or better yet, you had to see for yourself that the AJC did in fact run a special section on John McCain in March when he clinched the Republican Party nomination. The AJC received nearly 100 calls and e-mails questioning the fairness of running a special section on Barack Obama last Sunday, despite several mentions in our print edition that copies of a special section on McCain were available by contacting our newsroom customer care team. Wrote one letter writer: "I was astounded over Sunday's paper. Dedicated to Barack H. Obama. I am sure I can assume that next Sunday's paper will be dedicated to John McCain. After all you are a news reporting media — unbiased and true? Your paper's liberal views are so obvious that I am considering cancelling my subscription after all these years." http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/06/inside_0607.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/06/06/inside_0607.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 6 Jun 2008 20:27:18 EDT This year's high school graduates were in middle school when terrorists attacked America on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, they've seen the country go to war in Iraq and witnessed the devastation of tsunamis and hurricanes. Every generation can stake claim to historic events. This week's groundbreaking victory of Barack Obama in the Democratic primary is another one for the history books, marking the progress of African-Americans since slavery. Obama's campaign has made use of the Internet to stir young people of all races to become involved in politics in unprecedented numbers. That's a huge story in this election year that merits further exploration. As the general election campaign kicks off, I'd like to see more space devoted to exploring this phenomenon, paying special attention to how thousands of Atlanta-area college students are getting involved in the campaigns of Obama and McCain. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/30/inside_0531.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/30/inside_0531.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 30 May 2008 20:13:19 EDT An Atlanta police lieutenant called the murder "gruesome." The victim may have been alive when a fire was set in the trunk of a car in the 600 block of Cascade Avenue, said Lt. Keith Meadows. Where was the follow-up story on this murder, a caller demanded to know this week? http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/16/inside_0517.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/16/inside_0517.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 16 May 2008 21:08:58 EDT Reading was my first love. At a young age, I buried myself in the pages of a book for hours on end. If I happened to be at a particularly wonderful part when it was time for bed, I'd position my book in any stream of light I could find from elsewhere in the house, so I could read a while longer. Whenever I have a chance to talk to students, I stress the importance of developing good reading habits. Books, magazines, newspapers and Web sites offer a window to the world and all it offers. Even as newspapers adjust their products to offer news and information online as well as in print, they remain a rich source of information about what's happening now. Where else can you find local news explained in a way that helps you understand why it's important to you? Next week, the newspaper will publish its last News for Kids pages in print. Since the AJC has offered this feature for nearly 18 years, many Atlantans have grown up reading this feature. Later this summer, News for Kids will shift to an online-content model that teachers can continue to use in the classroom. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/10/inside_0510.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/10/inside_0510.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Sat, 10 May 2008 13:53:08 EDT In Atlanta society circles, Jennifer Brett is known simply as "The Butterfly." She's the one at the cocktail party sipping club soda. Some nights, you may even see her with a cup of coffee or an energy drink. After all, a woman about town has to pace herself. Anyone who reads Brett's twice-weekly Social Butterfly column in the AJC's Living section knows she has a grand time covering Atlanta's diverse and dynamic social scene. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/02/inside_0503.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/05/02/inside_0503.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 2 May 2008 20:05:32 EDT If there was ever a time for openness and transparency in government, that time is now for the Clayton County Board of Education. At the same time, the AJC owes readers aggressive and balanced coverage of the school district's accreditation crisis. To the district's credit, the report issued by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is easily accessible on its Web site, along with a response to the report and answers to frequently asked questions. But a strongly worded letter from the state attorney general's office this week warns the school board about "knowingly" and "willfully" violating the Georgia Open Meetings Act. http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/04/25/inside_0426.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/tuck/stories/2008/04/25/inside_0426.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:00:17 EDT If the news out of universities, city halls, school systems and state government gets any stranger, the newspaper may need to develop a special page headlined, "Public officials behaving badly." In the meantime, it may help readers to understand how editors determine which stories get played where in the newspaper. The nature of news involves reporting what is new or unusual. We look for stories that show how government works, or doesn't; what public officials and public servants are doing and what connections they may have.