Category: Media

By Grace Chaves / The Point / Oct 23, 2024

Tucked away on the corner of Rosecrans Street is La Playa Books, a locally owned independent bookstore that sells new and used books, located only a mile and a half away from Point Loma Nazarene University. It’s not as big as Warwicks in La Jolla or as flashy as Bookstar in Loma Portal, but it’s a haven for writers, bibliophiles and college students.

After undergoing a major renovation in the spring, La Playa Books is back with a modern look. Before the renovation, the bookstore had hardly seen any updates since its opening in 1990.

By Geoff Page

A week ago editor dude asked Rag writers to write something about “…the things and aspects of American democracy that you will miss once…” Meaning if the man with the orange hair wins. While no one who knows me would describe me as a wild-eyed optimist, I am definitely not a complete pessimist. To put such thoughts to paper just feels like admitting defeat. That I cannot do.

This is not a comment on editor dude’s request. Several people have risen to that in a number of ways. At a time like this, with something so historical taking place, I don’t feel like my opinion matters much to anyone, or will have any effect on anyone. This is also a function of age after a lifetime of not even being able to get family to see how brilliant I am, how perfectly correct my opinions are. Go figure.

But, in this case, since my opinion is not completely negative, I thought I’d write something a little bit positive.

The problem is modern media, the media that most of the country sees and reads. In an effort to outdo the other guy, the media looks for and creates sensational stories. The most obvious example of this is in weather reporting.

Just look at the names they have cooked up to make weather sensational. A big rainstorm is now an “atmospheric river.”

By Tony Barboza / Editorial Writer – LA Times / Oct. 29, 2024 

Donald Trump’s closing campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday was a stunningly racist display where speakers mocked Latinos, Jews and Palestinians, likened the event to a “Nazi rally” and called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” It was capped by a 78-minute speech in which the former president repeatedly attacked the intellect of the first woman of color to lead a major party presidential ticket, calling Vice President Kamala Harris “a vessel” who “can’t put two sentences together.”

[Please see original for all links]

In the final weeks of the presidential campaign, Trump is treading dangerously familiar ground, spewing a torrent of racist and xenophobic insults, threats and lies as he escalates his attacks on immigrants and non-white Americans.

The news that neither the Washington Post nor the Los Angeles Times will endorse Kamala Harris for president has shaken the media world and shows clearly the risks of billionaires owning major newspapers — especially during this crucial, nation-defining moment.

According to KQED

Both newspapers’ editorial boards, which operate independently of the newsrooms, had reportedly drafted endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris. But the decisions to not endorse ahead of a neck-and-neck race between Harris and former President Donald Trump were influenced by the outlets’ billionaire owners, whose other businesses have lucrative contracts with the government.

By Michael Smolens / San Diego Union-Tribune / October 25, 2024

A new television spot suggests Mayor Todd Gloria has homelessness on the run.

Running in place might be a more apt description, and a charitable one at that.

There’s plenty of evidence that San Diego is actually backsliding in its efforts to reduce homelessness, which continues to grow.

But you wouldn’t know that from the advertisement produced by an independent committee supporting Gloria’s re-election on Nov. 5 against challenger Larry Turner, a San Diego police officer.

The piece relies on selective and dubious statistics to make the case for progress under Gloria, along with pointing to some legitimate, if general, policy advancements.

One candidate can rant about gibberish while the other has to be perfect.

By Eugene Robinson / Washington Post / October 24, 2024

Something is wrong with this split-screen picture. On one side, former president Donald Trump rants about mass deportations and claims to have stopped “wars with France,” after being described by his longest-serving White House chief of staff as a literal fascist. On the other side, commentators debate whether Vice President Kamala Harris performed well enough at a CNN town hall to “close the deal.”

Seriously? Much of a double standard here?

Somehow, it is apparently baked into this campaign that Trump is allowed to talk and act like a complete lunatic while Harris has to be perfect in every way. I don’t know the answer to the chicken-or-egg question — whether media coverage is leading public perception or vice versa — but the disparate treatment is glaring.

This week, it became simply ridiculous.

To Rag readers

I wanted to share with our many Rag readers the latest writing assignment I’ve given our writers and reporters.

This may be the most unusual writing assignment you’ve ever been given, but here it is —

It’s 2 weeks before election day. It appears that due to slow counts and other election day headaches, it’s likely we won’t know officially who won the Presidential election on the 5th of November.

But we do know that Trump will declare himself the victor and set in motion collaboration from state election boards, state reps and other highly-placed acolytes that will sow disinformation, confusion and outright sabotage to our election machinery.

By Kate Callen

Last month, KPBS launched a “Public Matters” initiative “to expand the culture of community involvement.” The station wants San Diegans to share their thoughts, especially those “left on the fringes of political power.”

The OB Rag is happy to oblige. We live on the fringes of political power, and we have some thoughts.

If KPBS wants to expand community involvement, it should curb YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) bias in its news coverage and report diverse views on issues like bike lanes and housing density.

It’s bad enough when far-right media like Fox News distort reality to pursue political agendas. When left of center media follow suit, we’re trapped in a journalistic race to the bottom.

Which brings us to Andrew Bowen.

KPBS News Presents San Diego Mayoral Debate 2024 LIVE

The candidates running for San Diego mayor will join KPBS in a live debate on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8PM. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and challenger Larry Turner will debate the most pressing issues facing San Diegans including housing and homelessness; public safety; and money matters.

This live debate will be moderated by KPBS Public Matters investigative reporter Amita Sharma along with panelists Voice of San Diego CEO and editor-in-chief Scott Lewis, inewsource managing editor Jamie Self and KPBS metro reporter Andrew Bowen.

The rights of a news reporter just became a little stronger here in San Diego.

Dorian Hargrove is now an investigative and long-form news producer at CBS 8, a job he took after being forced out of NBC 7 in retaliation for his criticism of NBC 7’s failure to stand behind his reporting on the Ash Street debacle.

The news is that Hargrove just settled his lawsuit against NBC7 for an undisclosed amount of settlement. Dorian and his attorney, Marlea Dell’Anno were prepared to go to trial, and confident they would prevail in front of a jury.

ENDORSEMENT: It’s Time to Fire Todd Gloria!

La Prensa / September 22, 2024

San Diego is at a crossroads, and those roads are littered with potholes, homeless encampments, and a string of broken promises made by a career politician who already has his sights set on another job while still asking to be re-elected to his current one.

After nearly 18 years of failed policies, it’s time to fire Todd Gloria and replace him with competent real-world leadership: We endorse Larry Turner for San Diego Mayor.

Voters have given Todd Gloria several chances to lead but he has failed to deliver on his promises and, worse, has abused his power to benefit campaign donors and special interests.