Free The Files: Find The Dark Money Flowing Into Your Local TV Stations

By Amanda Zamora/ProPublica

Outside groups are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to influence the coming elections – money that has long been hard to track.
This summer, the Federal Communications Commission ordered TV stations to pull back the curtain a bit, requiring them to publish online detailed records of political ad buys.
Before, these records were only available by visiting stations in person, an issue ProPublica spotlighted in our Free The Files coverage.
So far the new rule only covers the top 50 markets, and it’s impossible to search these files by candidate or political group – meaning it’s impossible to get a full picture of the spending.
We want to change that.

Posted on September 28, 2012

Meet Tribune Broadcasting’s Bill Cunningham Show

Major Contribution To Humanity

Spot the fake.
1. Freaky Fetishes.

Posted on September 27, 2012

Sandi Jackson Grants Exclusive Interview To Former Chicago Honey Bear

By Steve Rhodes

“Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) referred to the media as ‘jackals’ at a fund-raising event Tuesday night and said her husband was at home and doing well,” the Sun-Times reports.
“The jackals are outside. Let them stay outside,” she shouted into a microphone, referring to the press staked outside a birthday fund-raising bash. “We are family in here . . . it’s because of you all that I keep it going on.”

But at least one would-be jackal was considered family enough to be allowed in for an exclusive “interview.”
It’s not hard to see why that “reporter” was chosen.

Posted on September 26, 2012

Into The Valley Of The Space Invaders

By FuzzyMemoriesTV

“Here’s a promo for Into the Valley of the Space Invaders on WFLD Channel 32, about the video gaming phenomenon, which aired Monday, April 26th 1982. I believe this special was produced at KBHK-TV – a Field Communications station in San Francisco – and featured Bob Wilkins as host. Voiceover by Jim Barton. This promo aired on Sunday, April 25th, 1982.”

Posted on September 24, 2012

Walter’s Weird Perspective Now A Book!

Highly Readable!

Oh Lord!
We’ve had our fun with ol’ Walter around here. To wit:
* The Weirdness of Walter Jacobson
* Walter’s Weird Whitney Wailing
But if his book really does reveal “meddling by corporate and network executives” as promised in the press release below, it will be worth a read.
Unfortunately, the publishers warn that “it is ultimately Jacobson’s story, a memoir of a long and distinguished (and sometimes highly controversial) career.”
Ugh.

Posted on September 20, 2012

Chicago’s Secret Millionaire

By Steve Rhodes

As long as we’re talking about rich folk and poor kids, this aired over the summer and I never got a post up about it. Now is as good a time as any.

Posted on September 18, 2012

Tavi Gevinson On Jimmy Fallon

‘Solid Dude’

Oak Park fashion blogger, style icon and media maven Tavi Gevinson, now 16, appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week. He seemed genuinely charmed.
She, too.