“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY, Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly add or subtract words at a moment’s notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-18 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see and hear? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Programs from the week of March 17, 2019
This Week’s Podcast
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
The Whole Story
I
spent a lot of air time last year talking about journalism. By now,
I’m pretty sure you know that my attitudes on the subject are
pretty “old school.” Journalism at its best is almost a “higher
calling” in my pantheon. But along with that great reverence, I
keep a skeptical eye peeled on the subject too. History teaches me
that there has always been a dark underbelly to journalism too. That
can range from lazy reporting to outright yellow journalism. One
that takes a position and makes the facts fit that position.
spent a lot of air time last year talking about journalism. By now,
I’m pretty sure you know that my attitudes on the subject are
pretty “old school.” Journalism at its best is almost a “higher
calling” in my pantheon. But along with that great reverence, I
keep a skeptical eye peeled on the subject too. History teaches me
that there has always been a dark underbelly to journalism too. That
can range from lazy reporting to outright yellow journalism. One
that takes a position and makes the facts fit that position.
A
recent story in the news brought all of this to the fore. It’s the
college admissions scandal story. Wealthy families are alleged to
have entered into fraudulent deals with colleges, coaches and an
outside company to fake credentials to get their kids into high
profile schools. Over 30 people were named in the first indictments.
So here’s my question to you: how many of those names have you
heard? Not how many can you remember, but how many have you even
heard? Unless you have gone digging on this story, my bet is the
answer is two. Two out of 30+. Those two would Felicity Huffman and
Lori Loughlin, both actresses.
recent story in the news brought all of this to the fore. It’s the
college admissions scandal story. Wealthy families are alleged to
have entered into fraudulent deals with colleges, coaches and an
outside company to fake credentials to get their kids into high
profile schools. Over 30 people were named in the first indictments.
So here’s my question to you: how many of those names have you
heard? Not how many can you remember, but how many have you even
heard? Unless you have gone digging on this story, my bet is the
answer is two. Two out of 30+. Those two would Felicity Huffman and
Lori Loughlin, both actresses.
Let
me make clear right now, I have no sympathy for any of the people
facing charges. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach. And
before anyone points out that rich families have been donating
buildings to colleges to insure young Harwell the third got accepted,
this is a very different thing. This is fraud. And it stinks.
me make clear right now, I have no sympathy for any of the people
facing charges. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach. And
before anyone points out that rich families have been donating
buildings to colleges to insure young Harwell the third got accepted,
this is a very different thing. This is fraud. And it stinks.
But
you know what else stinks? That these two women are treated like
they are the worst of the worst. The “reporting” focuses on them
because it’s easy and brings some sizzle. It’s cheap, lazy
reporting. And if we want to see journalism respected again, we need
to call this kind of garbage out. Among those charged were CEOs of
large corporations, college coaches, and folks who organized the
frauds. Somehow, their names are either barely mentioned or not
reported at all.
you know what else stinks? That these two women are treated like
they are the worst of the worst. The “reporting” focuses on them
because it’s easy and brings some sizzle. It’s cheap, lazy
reporting. And if we want to see journalism respected again, we need
to call this kind of garbage out. Among those charged were CEOs of
large corporations, college coaches, and folks who organized the
frauds. Somehow, their names are either barely mentioned or not
reported at all.
So
let me offer up and example. One of the names listed in that
original set of charges was on William E. McGlashen, Jr. You’ve
probably never heard of him. Like the others, it’s alleged he used
his wealth to help his kids cheat their way into college. And here’s
the kicker. Mr. McGlashen founded a big time investment fund. Funds
like this usually have a central concept on how they invest your
money. Mr. McGlashen’s fund? It was dedicated to ethical
investing.
let me offer up and example. One of the names listed in that
original set of charges was on William E. McGlashen, Jr. You’ve
probably never heard of him. Like the others, it’s alleged he used
his wealth to help his kids cheat their way into college. And here’s
the kicker. Mr. McGlashen founded a big time investment fund. Funds
like this usually have a central concept on how they invest your
money. Mr. McGlashen’s fund? It was dedicated to ethical
investing.
The
story stinks. The reporting shouldn’t as well.
story stinks. The reporting shouldn’t as well.
Unwanted Companion?
Once
upon a time in the bad old days, cell phones were huge. Bag phones
and bricks that looked like World War II walkie talkies. Then, as the
technology grew more sophisticated, they began to shrink. There was a
time about a decade ago when we were discussing how small a phone
could be. Of late, that has reversed course again, and modern
smartphones are getting pretty big again.
upon a time in the bad old days, cell phones were huge. Bag phones
and bricks that looked like World War II walkie talkies. Then, as the
technology grew more sophisticated, they began to shrink. There was a
time about a decade ago when we were discussing how small a phone
could be. Of late, that has reversed course again, and modern
smartphones are getting pretty big again.
Today
phones are getting smaller again. Just in a new way. These new phones
come with fewer options and abilities. A company called Light offered
up a phone that was only a phone back in 2017. Since then more
companies have moved into this minimalist phone market. It’s phone
and SMS plus a few other very basic functions (think alarm clock,
basic calendar). That’s it. There’s no internet, no social media.
A basic phone. What was once referred to as a “dumbphone” is the
prize product of companies like Punkt and Palm.
phones are getting smaller again. Just in a new way. These new phones
come with fewer options and abilities. A company called Light offered
up a phone that was only a phone back in 2017. Since then more
companies have moved into this minimalist phone market. It’s phone
and SMS plus a few other very basic functions (think alarm clock,
basic calendar). That’s it. There’s no internet, no social media.
A basic phone. What was once referred to as a “dumbphone” is the
prize product of companies like Punkt and Palm.
These
aren’t products aimed at techno-incompetent old folks. They are
intended for long time smartphone users who feel their technology may
hold a bit too much of their lives. Instead of being tempted to
constantly fish out your smartphone and check whatever it is you
check, this phone offers basic communication. Which lets you? Forces
you? To re-engage with the world around you.
aren’t products aimed at techno-incompetent old folks. They are
intended for long time smartphone users who feel their technology may
hold a bit too much of their lives. Instead of being tempted to
constantly fish out your smartphone and check whatever it is you
check, this phone offers basic communication. Which lets you? Forces
you? To re-engage with the world around you.
Some
of them, like the new product from Palm, will piggyback on your main
phone. Palm is calling their new offering a “companion phone”.
Available only through Verizon, the phone was designed by a wide
ranging team including NBA star Stephen Curry.
of them, like the new product from Palm, will piggyback on your main
phone. Palm is calling their new offering a “companion phone”.
Available only through Verizon, the phone was designed by a wide
ranging team including NBA star Stephen Curry.
All
of which sidesteps the question, who would want one of these? First,
is there a market for this? Most of what I’ve described can be done
with a smartwatch, another piece of technology that hasn’t taken
the world by storm as of yet. But it has made inroads. Would you
trade in your smartwatch for a credit card sized dumbphone? I can’t
see it. Even I would lean toward the Dick Tracy wrist radio
technology.
of which sidesteps the question, who would want one of these? First,
is there a market for this? Most of what I’ve described can be done
with a smartwatch, another piece of technology that hasn’t taken
the world by storm as of yet. But it has made inroads. Would you
trade in your smartwatch for a credit card sized dumbphone? I can’t
see it. Even I would lean toward the Dick Tracy wrist radio
technology.
Then
there’s the price. The Palm phone is priced at $349. The bottom of
the line Punkt phone is $229, the Light phone which is call only and
limits you to 9 speed dials, will set you back$150. All of those
leave me shaking my head in disbelief. The Palm is outrageously
pricey and the Light is absurdly minimalist.
there’s the price. The Palm phone is priced at $349. The bottom of
the line Punkt phone is $229, the Light phone which is call only and
limits you to 9 speed dials, will set you back$150. All of those
leave me shaking my head in disbelief. The Palm is outrageously
pricey and the Light is absurdly minimalist.
So
it appears we have a solution in search of a problem. Over-priced and
under useful, I can’t see the world beating a path to these phones
doors. Do you?
it appears we have a solution in search of a problem. Over-priced and
under useful, I can’t see the world beating a path to these phones
doors. Do you?
Baby Food News
Do
you remember the first non-traditional place for media? You might
say when radios were added to cars and that would be a good thought.
I’m talking really non-traditional in this case. Like when news
sheets showed up in toilet stalls. This was probably 20 or 30 years
ago now. Some bright young mind thought, people spend a fair amount
of time sitting or standing in restrooms with nothing to take their
minds off of, you know. So let’s get our media product in front of
them. This spawned a short-lived movement of plastic sleeves on the
inside of toilet stall doors with print outs of the days news,
advertising, comics, whatever.
you remember the first non-traditional place for media? You might
say when radios were added to cars and that would be a good thought.
I’m talking really non-traditional in this case. Like when news
sheets showed up in toilet stalls. This was probably 20 or 30 years
ago now. Some bright young mind thought, people spend a fair amount
of time sitting or standing in restrooms with nothing to take their
minds off of, you know. So let’s get our media product in front of
them. This spawned a short-lived movement of plastic sleeves on the
inside of toilet stall doors with print outs of the days news,
advertising, comics, whatever.
I
can only imagine it died off because of the work involved, added to
people being annoyed by the concept and the new item for destruction
by the various types of destructive idiots that roam the earth. I
can’t remember the last one I saw.
can only imagine it died off because of the work involved, added to
people being annoyed by the concept and the new item for destruction
by the various types of destructive idiots that roam the earth. I
can’t remember the last one I saw.
But
the idea hasn’t died. The first time my gas pump started talking
to me, I just about had an embarrassing moment for a man of my
advanced years. Now, the pumps play music, give me sports
highlights, the news and weather. It appears that one other place of
relative quiet is about to be invaded with more media. If you live
in a large enough urban area, you may already have run into an
elevator with media screens. Captivate is one of the leading
companies doing this. They will now be teaming with the Scripps
video news service called Newsy to bring some up to date news to your
ride up to or down from the 32nd
floor.
the idea hasn’t died. The first time my gas pump started talking
to me, I just about had an embarrassing moment for a man of my
advanced years. Now, the pumps play music, give me sports
highlights, the news and weather. It appears that one other place of
relative quiet is about to be invaded with more media. If you live
in a large enough urban area, you may already have run into an
elevator with media screens. Captivate is one of the leading
companies doing this. They will now be teaming with the Scripps
video news service called Newsy to bring some up to date news to your
ride up to or down from the 32nd
floor.
According
to the folks at Captivate, the average length of an elevator ride is
67 seconds. Which would indicate that I don’t live in what they
would term a “large” urban area. The company has been teaming up
with other content providers to keep our eyes glued to their screens.
The goal is grab executives who are too busy to spend any actual
time reading or watching the news and give them nice little chunks
they have the time to digest.
to the folks at Captivate, the average length of an elevator ride is
67 seconds. Which would indicate that I don’t live in what they
would term a “large” urban area. The company has been teaming up
with other content providers to keep our eyes glued to their screens.
The goal is grab executives who are too busy to spend any actual
time reading or watching the news and give them nice little chunks
they have the time to digest.
That’s
the part that I find the least appealing. The world today is far
more complicated than it was 20 or 30 years ago. I find it hard to
get excited about decision makers relying on baby food news to get
the information they need about the world around them. It’s one
thing to get the latest sports scores in a minute long burp session,
but you’ll have to convince me that it’s offering much of any
great nutrition otherwise.
the part that I find the least appealing. The world today is far
more complicated than it was 20 or 30 years ago. I find it hard to
get excited about decision makers relying on baby food news to get
the information they need about the world around them. It’s one
thing to get the latest sports scores in a minute long burp session,
but you’ll have to convince me that it’s offering much of any
great nutrition otherwise.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2018
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Stories Are My Life 
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