Catalyst Radio: Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association

We welcome two guests, Rob Conrad and rap artist Daryl Holt from the Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association who tell us what to look forward to at tonight's Heartside talent show. This is the seventh year of the talent show, and there are 20 performers who will take the stage in this fundraiser for HDNA. 

Today's song, "Deer Trails," is from local artist Ned Rouse's newest disc, Flight of the Burnt Out Deer.

ANALYSIS

CJR reports two recent incidents of errata
Columbia Journalism Review recently shined more light on journalists' missteps. In a blog post summarizing opinions among members within the Society of Professional Journalists, the president of SPJ author mistated that Wikileaks had released 250,000 documents. The correct number was 2,000. This was pointed out by several different sources, and the mistake was eventually corrected but not acknowledged.
Meanwhile, The New York Times ran two different versions of the same sports column, the Web version written prior to a game where the team that won was severely criticized. The next day's print version acknowledged the team's win but did not alter the opinion.
[More: CJR - SPJ, CJR - NYTimes]

Tunisian government Websites attacked by Operation Payback
Last week, we discussed distributed denial of service, which refers to crippled sites whose services cannot be accessed by their intended consumers. Earlier this week, a group of hackers known as Operation Payback targeted several Tunisian government sites, explaining in a press release that they were opposed to the severe censorship of the government.
[More: Open Net]

College paper decides to put up paywall
Earlier this week, Oklahoma State University's student paper announced it would erect a paywall for content. This is the first college to set up a paywall, and it restricts content consumption by anyone who is not affiliated with the university. The paper's editor-in-chief stated that student journalists' content has application beyond the student population, and it made sense to charge a modest fee for their content.
[More: Wired, Cleveland Leader]

Political climate in light of recent shooting leads to many news editorials
There have been many mentions on the web linking Gabrielle Gifford's shooter to the Sarah Palin graphic of crosshairs next to congressional politicians in support of the healthcare bill. Although the alleged shooter, Jared Loughner, is still under investigation and motives have not yet come to light, many news organizations are speculating what it means about our political climate.
[More: Utne Reader, NYTimes, YouTube - The View]

For minorities, a new spin on the digital divide
The Pew Center for Internet and American Life found in a survey that although access to technology is increasing, there is still a digital divide, but in a different sense. Smartphone adoption among minorities is high, and instead of having too little technology tools and limited access to the Internet, the problem is now that these devices do not increase the diversity of activities on the Web. Things like filling out a job app online is still near impossible on a mobile device, and research suggests that mobile devices are more for entertainment than empowerment.
[More: Associated Press]
 

CALENDAR

Heartside's seventh annual talent show
8 p.m. tonight at Ladies' Literary Club (61 Sheldon SE)
The Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association is putting on its annual talent show featuring 20 local artists and performers. The event is at the Ladies' Literary Club and also acts as a fundraiser for the neighborhood association. 
[More]

West Grand Neighborhood Organization organizes a senior expo
11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20 at Brann's Steakhouse
West Grand Neighborhood Organization has put together a senior expo at Brann's Steakhouse. The event will feature speakers from different agencies that serve seniors, and  soup and salad will be provided for senior citizens who have signed up ahead of time. There will be Giveaways, handouts, door prizes. To RSVP, call (616) 451-0150.

Blandford Nature Center looks back at local heritage
2-3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22
Blandford Nature Center has invited the public to visit their Anishinabe Program, where they have built a wigwam. Visitors will hear stories over a fire and learn how the earliest inhabitants of Michigan survived its winters. 
[More]

January Series at Calvin College
12:30 p.m. every weekday through January at the Prince Conference Center
Through the end of January, Calvin College will be hosting internationally reknown guest speakers from a diversity of backgrounds. The January Series is now in its 24th year, and lectures are free and open to the public.
[More]

Healthy Homes offers radon testing kits
Radon is a cause of lung cancer and is present in many homes. January is Radon Action Month, and Healthy Homes Coalition is giving away free radon tests all month. For more information, call (616) 241-3300, or stop-in at 742 Franklin SE.
[More]