Edward Schumacher-Matos appears in the following:
Mideast Report: January — March 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
An independent review of NPR's Mideast coverage by former foreign editor John Felton. He found the coverage to be generally accurate and balanced, but chided NPR for relying too much on Washington-based experts to explain events in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Just Tell Me When It's Over: Play-By-Play Coverage In Selecting The New Pope
Friday, March 15, 2013
Many listeners complain that for the last month NPR has been "all Catholic radio, all the time." Our review finds that the story count has indeed been overwhelming. But in a comparison among religions and denominations, Catholicism is unique in size, institutional organization and global influence. Now that we have Pope Francis, however, a news break might be nice.
The Dangers Of Dope-Smoking Ascetics in Kathmandu
Thursday, March 14, 2013
A newscast report designed to give a break to the papal coverage instead offended Hindu listeners. The complaints underscored the danger of being tempted by exoticism. The sirens here were naked Nepalese ascetics smoking weed.
Elderly, Old Or Aine: Three Provocative Takes On A Label
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Of the many responses to my post on what to call people over 60 (or 70, 80 or 90), the three responses repeated here stand out for their expressiveness — or in the case of Morning Edition sports commentator Frank Deford, for just being downright ornery. Or maybe wise. You might be stimulated to add your own.
Let Me Live Long, But Don't You Dare Call Me Old
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
When the headline on the Web version of a recent story called an active, 71-year-old midwife "elderly," she was offended. The reporter, meanwhile, asked for advice on what words to use. A check with experts finds division. Maybe, live forever and avoid labels? Please advise (about the labels).
'5 Broken Cameras' And Blaming The Victim On The West Bank
Friday, March 08, 2013
Psychologists find that in experiencing a news story on a divisive issue, we all hear the arguments supporting the other side more than our own. We thus tend to see bias, often wrongly. Was this the case in a story about a Palestinian documentary filmmaker working near Israeli settlements on the West Bank?
Fear And Trust At 'The Washington Post'
Friday, March 01, 2013
A cost-cutting, face-saving move by the Post to replace its independent ombudsman with what sounds like a customer care representative is sadly shortsighted. It contributes precisely to the decline in public trust that lies behind the travails at the Post and all American news media. NPR in polls confronts the same trust malady. The press grows in power, yet sheds ever more controls. Editors will never investigate themselves. The public rebels.
Partisan Cliffhanging Over A Supposed Fiscal Cliff
Friday, December 07, 2012
Metaphors can be great for framing the urgency of a problem, but what do you do when the image isn't accurate? If you are the president or a Republican Congressional leader, you keep hammering with the metaphor anyway. It's all Ben Bernanke's fault.
Introducing Joe Olivo
Friday, July 13, 2012
In the past few weeks, two NPR reporters have interviewed New Jersey small business owner Joe Olivo. What both reporters neglected to note was Olivo's affiliation with the lobbying organization The National Federation of Independent Business. Bob talks to Olivo, and NPR Ombudsman Edward Schumacher-Matos about whether disclosing Olivo's relationship with the NFIB was necessary context for listeners of those stories.
Smog - Held
