World descends upon Nashville for Belmont debate

All eyes are on Nashville as the city prepares for the McCain-Obama presidential debate tonight at Belmont. Moderator Bob Schieffer rocked out with Brad Paisley this weekend at the Opry, the Red State Update boys got their credentials revoked by the Secret Service, and as recently as Saturday, TDOT was using a flashing warning sign on I-65 to direct "DEBAFFE" traffic, whatever that is, off to the Wedgewood Avenue exit. Will the Music City survive the show? We'll see.

(Note: I'm still on the job as your chapter Webmaster, Middle Tennessee Pro SPJ members. Yes, I've relocated to Houston, but we have the Interwebs here, too, so keep those links and news items about Nashville media coming my way: jpintn@gmail.com or jennifer@texaswatchdog.org. Curious souls who want to know what I'm doing in Texas can check us out at www.texaswatchdog.org.) 

SPJ's national convention just 4 hours' drive from us ...

The 2008 SPJ national convention is in Atlanta. It's coming up Sept. 4-7 at the Hyatt Regency on Peachtree Street. Sign up now!

Leaf-Chronicle, Tennessean, Southern Standard take top newspaper awards from TPA

From the TPA press release:

The Leaf-Chronicle also earned the most first-place honors with eight. It won for make-up and appearance, local features, best personal humor column, best spot news story, best education reporting, investigative reporting, public service and best sports photograph.

Channel 5 sold to New York media company

Landmark is selling the station to Bonten Media Group. No price disclosed.

Governor signs into law changes in public records statutes

They include a seven-day deadline for records custodians to respond to records requests.

Cleveland alt-weekly chief to lead 'Scene'

Pete Kotz will take the helm on July 1, outgoing Scene editor Liz Garrigan writes:

I know Pete from editors' meetings and conventions and can say unequivocally that he's a wonderful guy, a talented journalist and a good soul, if not the "dangerously handsome man" he claims to be. He has five kids, loves to "bust a phrase," holds dear the value of a great story, and prefers to chase his whiskey with beer. He's a rabble-rouser of the best sort whose wardrobe is even worse than Jeff Woods'.

Painting pictures and asking their questions

Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle publisher Gene Washer recalls a blind friend who gave him some good advice as a young reporter: "You’ve got a paint a picture of what the game was like for them and answer all the questions they may have asked.”

Scene's Pulle to swim Cumberland on Thursday

He's taking part in the en masse river crossing being organized by Metro Councilwoman Emily Evans. "Good luck, Matt," Scene editor Liz Garrigan writes. "We'll be at Brandon's."

It's getting ugly in upper East Tennessee

The Bristol Herald-Courier is ripping the Kingsport Times-News, and it's getting downright personal. Seems the Bristol paper has been sharply critical of U.S. Rep. David Davis, and the Kingsport paper has echoed the Congressman's criticism of the Bristol paper. Now, Bristol Editor J. Todd Foster has called out the Kingsport paper, saying its reporter "has a bright future flacking for politicians. Lord knows, he’s better at it than at journalism." Spotted via Michael Silence.

So, you think this might be crossing the line a little bit?

Let's see, now ... Al Gore was a journalist and then went into politics. J. Percy Priest, for whom the dam and lake are named, was a journalist and then went into politics. Hey, if they can do it, so can I!