In the latest The Field, an occasional column written by Narco News founder Al Giordano and published on the Narco news site, Giordano tells the story of his friendship with the late investigative journalist Gary Webb. In 1996, Webb wrote an investigative series on CIA cocaine trafficking for the San Jose Mercury News. His Dark Alliance series was a first for the Mercury News, going out of its way to post the series on the Internet, along with his interviews and notes.

From Giordano's perspective, this is the story that made Internet journalism what it is today, and I'd add that along with Giordano's work, can continue to offer a light to show us where this whole new journalism world is going and should go. It's a road map that we know is there, but often we ignore it, thinking the same old thing is going to work.

The old media's reaction to the story is what Giordano handily reexamines in his column—a push was felt by Webb's Mercury-News editors at the time. The stories were taken down and those who sought to discredit the reporter, including The New York Times, won. Webb eventually resigned from the paper and in 2004 committed suicide.

But before that, there was Giordano's own lawsuit. (Hopefully you guys and gals at the journalism department are learning about Giordano's victory in 2001 when the New York State Supreme Court dismissed the National Bank of Mexico's lawsuit against Narco News, establishing that Internet journalists have the same rights as the old boys, like at The New York Times.) Webb was a part of that victory, helping raise funds for Narco News. Then he and Giordano started the School of Authentic Journalism, a project I'm still proud I got to experience, receiving a swift journalism kick in the ass.

But look, while all this is a good history lesson—I urge you to read Giordano's entire column here — Giordano also wants us ready to be on the defensive, and not just every School of Authentic Journalism grad and past visiting professor. If you care about journalism and If Giordano's fight and Webb's fight mean anything to you, then he wants you to be ready to defend the movie "Kill the Messenger," that's coming out soon with Jeremy Renner starring as Webb. Giordano says that the old media guard is already trying to cast doubt and criticism on Webb with the movie bringing this bit of history back to life.

So there. Read the latest The Field at narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/. Yo, j-school professors, MFA teachers and the rest of academia and legal folks who purport to care about the First Amendment and the future of journalism, I hope this year you bring Giordano and Webb into your classrooms.

The future depends on it.

If you haven't had a chance to listen to this StoryCorps clip from an interview Marisa Grijalva did with her father, Congressman Raul Grijalva, about school and mother, take moment.

No embed available from StoryCorps, so go here to listen.

From the Daily Show's first show after Sept. 11, 2001:

" ... our show has changed, I don't doubt that. What it's become I don't know. ... The main reason I wanted to speak tonight is not to show you what the show is going to be ... we've had an unenduring pain here, unendurable pain. I wanted to tell you why I grieve. But I don't despair. Luckily we can edit this," Jon Stewart.

Luckily they didn't edit "this."

The view from his apartment was the World Trade Center, so I can't think of any better way to remember today's 13th anniversary of Sept. 11 or even begin to understand what most New Yorkers were going through at the time.

But I do remember watching this show, and others, and at the time, I remember thinking of them as national collective gifts that seemed to come just in time, a balm on our broken hearts.

The correction issued at the end of Tuesday's New York Times' story on Dick Cheney urging the House GOP to abandon isolationism is making me laugh and laugh this morning.

H/T to Mother Jones, who brought up the fact that many believed the "vice president" held a lot of influence over George W. Bush.

The folks at Brink Media posted this video remembrance this morning of author Charles Bowden:

In Remembrance of Charles Bowden. from Brink on Vimeo.

Much, much more on Bowden and his legacy in next week's issue.

Just before the Labor Day holiday the internets exploded, OK, just a little, after all it was just the Arizona Daily Star's Facebook page. Reaction to a post on the child who was missing after an Aug. 27 carjacking, turned interesting when local restaurant owner John Foster of May's Counter made that mistake many out there have done before—shared their opinion. Gulp.

When we contacted Foster, since folks on the thread were talking a May's boycott, he responded that he learned a lesson on sharing his opinion on social media.

His opinion/reaction to the carjacking:

When we contacted Foster, we explained that Tucson Weekly readers emailed us screen shots of the thread conversation. We wondered if he understood where they were coming from and if he was worried about May's, because many of us love his chicken and waffles and the grits and the po boy and ...

His response:

Got it. I am learning quickly about how important it is to think through a comment in any communication especially on social media. I certainly see how my comments could be taken the wrong way. Any assertion that I am or that my comments were racially motivated is completely false. My comments were based in emotion and were directed at the overwhelming amount of crime that stems from being a border town. I am from Tucson, born and raised here. I am from the west side by way of Tully Elementary, raised in El Rio Park, went to Tucson High and Sunnyside. I have had the benefit of growing up in the Mexican-American community. I was the minority most my life and was shown nothing but love. I am raising my children here with a beautiful Mexican American woman I might add, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am not a racist ma'am. A concerned father and citizen who did not consider the implications of his choice of words spoken in a public forum? Yes for sure. In regards to Mays, I would like to believe Mays is one of the most racially diverse restaurants is Tucson. That was the intention when I crossed stereotypical racial lines to bring chicken and waffles to the city.

So, this has been a teachable moment for me and one that I won’t soon forget. I think the greatest thing I learned from this was to not paint things in such broad strokes and to be more compassionate for others. Lesson learned.

We use tags on the Range for a few reasons. Theoretically, they're part of a SEO strategy, but mostly, we use them to either organize posts over time (all the posts about food trucks are under "food trucks," naturally) and also to make an extra stupid joke (all our posts about ASU are tagged "girls gone wild university and casino," for example).

Here's what I put in the tags for that masterpiece strip club/brewery post from yesterday:

Nothing too complicated. A few things that someone might search for, plus a silly half-joke.

However, while I'm not thinking it was a decision made with sinister motives, but why on earth would someone at the Arizona Daily Star use "suicide methods" as a tag on their grisly double murder/suicide story yesterday?

I've spent a little time thinking about what the tagger must have been thinking, but I'm drawing a blank. Strangely, there is another story on the Star's site with that tag (an opinion piece about gun violence), but it doesn't seem to be an on-going category. Also, I can't imagine anyone wants someone to come to their site to research the topic (if someone you do end up here from even the mention of "suicide methods," please call 1-800-273-8255 for help). So, while it's not the biggest deal (it's just a tag added on to a blog post about a truly unfortunate story), it does fit with the generally odd online strategy over at the Star sometimes.

[Editor's note: We didn't have room in the print edition for Media Watch this week, so here's John's column for your digital enjoyment.]

KWILOSZ WANTS TO IMPROVE LOTUS VISIBILITY

Tucson’s radio clusters are made up of three behemoth media conglomerates. Clear Channel and Cumulus probably get the most press, but comparisons between the rivals go further. They have more in common than just general proximity along the Oracle corridor. Both organizations (Clear Channel operates seven Tucson frequencies, Cumulus five) have managed to do an impressive job creating vacant hallways in buildings once occupied by dozens of employees.

Meanwhile, Scripps is the new player in the market. It recently announced a deal to purchase the Journal Broadcast Group’s electronic media holdings. Unlike Clear Channel and Cumulus, Scripps (still technically Journal until the deal gets finalized next year) has been in the midst of a hiring uptick and continues to add personnel for its television (KGUN TV 9, KWBA TV 58) and radio operations.

But there’s another privately operated outlet that has done pretty well in the market for some time. Three of its radio stations (KFMA 102.1 FM, KLPX 96.1 FM and KCMT 92.1 FM) consistently rank in the top 10 in market share, yet the company, Lotus Communications, has largely maintained a low profile.

That could change.

“I think we need to be in the community more. We need to tell our story more,” said Ken Kwilosz, the new GM of Lotus Tucson. “We’ve always been an under the radar company, kind of quiet. We’re on the west side of the freeway and we let all the guys on the east side of the freeway battle it out. I think we need to let people know we’re there, and get the word out that we have great products, great concerts, great reasons to tune in and listen to us.”

Generally speaking, that awareness was there, even if Lotus kept things in-house. Folks on the radio landscape are aware of KLPX, long the market’s leading (and as a result for many years the market’s only) classic rock station, so-called new rocker KFMA and KCMT, Tucson’s the top-rated Spanish language frequency.

It’s been a relatively stable operation. That was even apparent at the top, where Steve Groesbeck handled GM responsibilities for the better part of the last 13 years. But that changed a couple months ago, and when Groesbeck and Lotus parted ways, the company promoted Kwilosz, who for the last three years was the organization’s sales manager.

From that chair he became well aware of the dramatic advertising downturn in the Tucson market, and hopes he knows what needs to be done to turn a difficult tide amidst a slagging economy.

“It seems to me the market is starting to turn a little bit,” Kwilosz said. “Business seems to pick up in August, and this year there’s also political. What happens in radio is a lot of money is spent on television during the political window and other advertisers are sensitive of that, so instead of being bunched with political ads they might say let’s go with radio because it’s too expensive and there’s nothing left. The politicians have gobbled it all up. So I think that’s one of the reasons the third and fourth quarter will be better.”
Kwilosz has noticed better numbers in the auto industry as well.

“The biggest advertiser is the car business and the car business is through the roof,” Kwilosz said. “Their sales overall nationally and in Tucson is much better than last year, and last year was a huge improvement. That’s always the biggest category of business for broadcasting. If they’re healthy, that’s good for us because they’re spending more money.”

Still, Kwilosz has to achieve the bottom line, and there are a lot of issues that make that difficult in a market like Tucson. The aforementioned economic sluggishness naturally plays a significant role, as does the dwindling impact of terrestrial radio in light of other entertainment options. In that regard, Kwilosz hopes he can improve the perception of Lotus as a beneficial outlet with a small business local appeal that understands and appreciates the struggles of staying afloat when times are tough.

“There are a lot of family owned businesses still in Tucson, which is great because that’s what we are, and our dictate is when we help somebody it has to work, and if it doesn’t work we have to figure out how to make it work, not just have someone try it and say it didn’t work and go away,” Kwilosz said. “Our whole existence is to help a business grow and make more money. That’s why they advertise with us. They don’t advertise with us because they want to advertise on radio. They advertise with us because they want more business to come through the door. If we’re not doing that, we have to figure out how to make it happen.”

AZPM NABS MCNAMARA AS NEW HOST OF ARIZONA ILLUSTRATED

A new version of an established program returns with a familiar name at the helm. KVOA news anchor Tom McNamara has been pegged by Arizona Public Media to handle anchor responsibilities for the revamped Arizona Illustrated, which launches a new look and a variety of time slots September 7.

“I was honored to be asked to host Arizona Illustrated,” said McNamara via Facebook message, “and I'm grateful to KVOA for allowing me to jump on this opportunity. This program returns me to my roots in local television. I started out hosting and reporting in the magazine format with the P.M. Magazine show, which was wildly popular around the country back in the 1980s."

McNamara has spent nearly half of his 36-year broadcast career behind the desk at KVOA. One of the market’s most recognizable news personalities, McNamara started with Tucson’s NBC affiliate in 1997. He has contributed numerous hours over the years to assist with KUAT fundraising endeavors.

The new Arizona Illustrated debuts Sunday, Sept. 7 at 6:30 pm.

Good news for you Trekkies, George Takei is in Arizona. Unfortunately, he's in Scottsdale.

Takei will be a special guest at a dinner to support Democratic Governor candidate Fred DuVal. The legendary Star Trek icon has been very vocal about his dissatisfaction with our elected officials and their decision making this year, and he made that very clear in his letter to the state during the SB 1062 fiasco.

Entry fee is $100, or you can shell out $2,500 for preferred seating with helmsman of the USS Enterprise. The event is taking place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Saguaro Hotel, 4000 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Go here to buy your tickets.

In case Linda Ronstadt didn't upset your regional pride enough yesterday, here's a blog post over at our Portland alt-weekly cousin, the Willamette Week, which starts (sorta) as an attempt to find a distinctive food from Arizona to eat in Oregon and turns into an extending troll of our state. Full disclosure: I'm friends with (and a former co-worker of) the post's author, Martin Cizmar, who has a lot of practice upsetting large groups of people. Also, he has frequently told me that he thinks Tucson sucks, so prepare yourself for this argument that the non-Coconino County portions of Arizona be removed from the United States/given their "freedom":

The state’s return to sovereignty seems like the best solution for everyone involved. The United States should acknowledge the claims of small town Arizona Republicans who say the terms of the state’s admission to the union were improper, and grant the people their freedom. President Brewer could do then whatever she wants with any illegal immigrants found there. Including you or I—if we wanted to travel to Arizona we’d need the proper papers. No visa? Tough luck us.

The rest of the U.S. could then use the money currently earmarked for the state of Arizona—far more money than most states get from the Feds—to help those poor migrant kids.

However, I would also propose the other 49 states extend Coconino County, Arizona’s gorgeous northernmost county—where the Grand Canyon sits and which supported Obama over Romney—the right to re-join the union if it wishes. It would then get the same rights and privileges as old Arizona. Including, of course, water rights not claimed by any part of our country that's downriver. As is the current situation in Sonora, Mexico, the SRP would be welcome to any water from Coconino/New Arizona that flows into its territory. Arizona is free! And, with the consent of residents, the U.S. of A will keep Coconino County as our own. The newly sovereign lands south of the Mogollon Rim get control of all formerly federal land and no longer have to pay federal taxes.

Everyone’s happy, right? Let’s do this.

He does allow for the idea that Tucson might not deserve to cast off with Phoenix, but nope, since "that would just be weird" we're off to join a sovereign super-screwed up new political entity.

Good news for Portland, however, since the impending re-organization of the nation's borders will end up working out ok for northern Oregon's dining needs:

But, if we implement a plan to to grant Arizona the freedom it so richly deserves, that could change. After all, Mexicans would likely flee Phoenix for the United States, leaving people there without the annoyances that come from living near people who are different from themselves, and giving places like Portland the little booster shot of culture we need on this front.

An idea: Let's just let Portland become it's own nation, floating on a cloud of its wild self-importance above the rest of the country. Then all the people who left Arizona (or every other inferior-to-Portland place in the other lower 47) behind to bucket-drum, write their memoirs, start food trucks or breweries, or whatever-the-hell-it-is-that-people-do-there can fully no longer be bothered with our state and its complicated, but hopefully evolving, politics. Seems like a win/win for everyone.