Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

I appreciate the heads up. But as a journalist, I have been pretty open with my contact information for years.

Walter IV @walteriv.bsky.social · 2d

My man, this is the internet. Perhaps DM your personal address.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

Sure. or email [email protected]. Thanks so much!

Flipboard @flipboard.com · 2d

We love your work! Would love to get you on Flipboard — could we send you a DM?

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you so much!

Flipboard @flipboard.com · 2d

A must-read post by @edeggans.bsky.social on finding news outlets to trust, and keeping them accountable. "The audience has never had more power over the media industry than it has right now," he writes.

Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

After trading messages with so many readers asking this question, I pulled together a post on how to find trustworthy news sources. The bad news: It means a LOT more work for consumers. READ: https://loom.ly/lG92xgs

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

I just finished a rewatch of ER. And that was a show that evolved quite a lot over a long period of time, getting really good after a few seasons. I also think Breaking Bad, good as it was, got better after its first few seasons. Law and Order also didn't hit its stride until a few years in.

James Benton @jamesbenton.bsky.social · 2d

When I first heard about shows in Britain only going three seasons for the most part, I really couldn’t understand it. But the more I thought about even the best shows in America, most of them could have stopped at the third season. I can think of very few that surged or improved after season four

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

After trading messages with so many readers asking this question, I pulled together a post on how to find trustworthy news sources. The bad news: It means a LOT more work for consumers. READ: https://loom.ly/lG92xgs

How to find trustworthy news reporting in these times?

I don't have the perfect answer. But here's a few ideas.

open.substack.com

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

I dig it. But I think persistent and universal cynicism only feeds the dynamic. Have to find a way to see some good in your fellow man. Otherwise, how will things ever get better?

HotinCleveland @wohio.bsky.social · 2d

Ha! Sorry but it's hard to be positive with... ya know.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

Not sure about your reading of his audience. I think he has a much wider base of support among Black viewers. But I agree, there aren't a lot of us in the critical community.

Matt Marcotte @mattmarcotte.bsky.social · 2d

Perry's stuff consistently does well, but his fans (largely older women of color) aren't represented as much in the critical and online community.

Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

Couple of things from Nielsen's latest ratings report: Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black has over 1 billion minutes viewed on Netflix, yet I haven't seen much press talking about it. And BBC America's Canadian sci fi series Orphan Black, which ended in 2017, is ranked 7th overall.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

That seems like a glass half empty attitude my friend! LOL.

HotinCleveland @wohio.bsky.social · 2d

People have bad taste.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 2d

Couple of things from Nielsen's latest ratings report: Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black has over 1 billion minutes viewed on Netflix, yet I haven't seen much press talking about it. And BBC America's Canadian sci fi series Orphan Black, which ended in 2017, is ranked 7th overall.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 3d

I don't think I was "both sides" ing those two channels. Since my column was not really about their content, I didn't want to get into the minutiae of how they were different. But I did specifically cite tension between liberal punditry at MSNBC and the content on Fox News Channel...

allestofeles.bsky.social @allestofeles.bsky.social · 4d

Great post, but. You can't both sides MSNBC & Fox News. While the anchors at MSNBC are liberally biased, they stick much closer to the facts than Fox News. Evidence? MSNBC has yet to be sued or paid $780M (quarter of a Billion!) for outright lies.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 4d

My take on Substack exploring why trust in media outlets reporting is sagging historically, and why changes like CBS News is doing, putting Trump and conservative-friendly executives in charge of a traditional journalism outlet, isn't the answer. READ: https://loom.ly/2p_hMP0

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 4d

Well, remember, this is a trade magazine for the entertainment industry. When Costner had his clashes with the people behind Yellowstone and released that terrible western Horizon, I thought: What is going on with this guy? As did many people in the biz. This is THR's answer, which is their job.

Jeff in PDX @hardyjeffrey.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah. But after reading it, I also felt that they like to kick a guy when he's down, even if he brought some of it on himself. Brutal.

Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 4d

The Hollywood Reporter has a compelling story on Kevin Costner's slide from one of the industry's biggest movie stars, to a guy whose diva-ish behavior led him to leave TV's hottest show for an uphill struggle to build a new western franchise. https://loom.ly/t5CHYc4

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 4d

The Hollywood Reporter has a compelling story on Kevin Costner's slide from one of the industry's biggest movie stars, to a guy whose diva-ish behavior led him to leave TV's hottest show for an uphill struggle to build a new western franchise. https://loom.ly/t5CHYc4

How Kevin Costner Lost Hollywood

On-set brawls. Courtroom battles. Epic bombs. Why the world's most bankable cowboy is suddenly shooting blanks.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 5d

I had a feeling - watching Geddy Lee w/Yes at the rock hall of fame, seeing Lee and Alex Lifeson play Taylor Hawkins tribute - they might tour again. Now they’re officially doing it, I hope fans give drummer Anika Niles space to do her version of Rush. https://loom.ly/5YOz6TM

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 5d

A lot of newspapers printed and distributed their own products. Until the bottom fell out of the industry.

livinonbluespower.bsky.social @livinonbluespower.bsky.social · 5d

nice job not keeping up with technology and consumer needs. They did not weep for the printers and distributors of their papers while they transitioned to online. Evolution is a cruel mistress.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 6d

Well, Golden Goose actually got killed when ebay, Monster.com, Craigslist and Google cannibalized the classified ads business, destroying the economic model which fueled newspapers for over 100 years. For generations news consumers never paid what it actually cost to sustain newspaper newsrooms.

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 6d

Hey - sorry about the paywall. Here's my take, which I wrote back when news of the deal with Weiss was originally reported: ericdeggans.substack.com/p/giving-pol...

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 6d

You're right! That word should be, "felt." As in "I myself have sometimes FELT I was...."

Eric Kelderman @erickelderman.bsky.social · 6d

Hey Eric - good stuff. I also think there's a word missing or something in this sentence: "I myself have sometimes I was on the receiving end of unfair coverage by Fox News as they misrepresented my columns to try portraying NPR as out of touch and hopelessly biased for liberals."

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 6d

Some thoughts exploring why trust in media outlets to report accurate news is sagging to historic levels, according to a new Pew poll and other studies. I try to look beyond typical arguments and toward larger changes in media, politics, audiences. READ: https://loom.ly/2p_hMP0

My take on why Americans don't trust journalists anymore

It's more complicated than journalists failing in their mission. And reversing the numbers are key to preserving democracy.

open.substack.com

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 9d

Many thanks to Substacker Fawnia Soo Hoo, who kept me in her piece on Gen X men going through it on TV, even after I insisted this wasn't much different than the way other generations of men - mostly middle aged and white - have been depicted. READ: https://loom.ly/hOAs1bs

Gen X Men on TV Are Really Going Through It

Just don't call it 'man-opause.'

heywhatevernevermind.substack.com

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 9d

Wow. Puff Daddy got sentenced to four years in prison. Will they house him anywhere near R. Kelly? https://loom.ly/whzViDg

Sean Combs sentenced to over four years in prison for prostitution-related charges

Combs had been convicted in July on two counts of transportation for prostitution. During his sentencing hearing he spoke at length for the first time in the trial, addressing the judge at length.

www.npr.org

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 9d

Bari Weiss, a conservative-friendly columnist/media entrepreneur w/zero broadcast TV leadership experience, will be installed as top editor at CBS News by its new, Trump-aligned owners. This on top of a Trump-aligned ombudsman. Wonder if they'll cover Trump aggressively?https://tinyurl.com/pyn92aef

Bari Weiss to be named top editor at CBS News

Paramount Skydance will acquire the journalist’s publication, the Free Press, which she started after quitting the New York Times in 2020.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 9d

I think you have 2 choices: The NPR Network and a local station. Donation to the network supports the folks who create the national programming; the institution where I worked. And/or you can choose a local member station to also support. We'd love it if you did both. www.npr.org/donations/su...

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 9d

The company which bears his name still works with PBS. www.fredrogers.org/2025/06/23/d...

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Eric Deggans @edeggans.bsky.social · 9d

Honored that Associated Press quoted me in its story about Washington Post's bizarrely disappointing decision to fire columnist Karen Attiah, raising concerns about fate of Black journalists. My question: Why did Post respond w/ultimate punishment first? https://loom.ly/R9O5VPw

In Black columnist's firing, advocates fear decreasing diversity, vital perspectives in news media

Karen Attiah, a former opinion columnist at The Washington Post, says she was fired after social media posts expressing concerns about gun violence and rhetoric against Black women.

apnews.com

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