Richard Branson, the press, and the space in between

It’s space, Richard—at least as NASA knows it. Yesterday, the British billionaire Richard Branson, two pilots, and three other people rode a rocket plane operated by Virgin Galactic, an arm of Branson’s business empire, fifty three and a half miles into the air—a test run for the sort of private space flight that may soon be available to normal people (or, at least, normal people with a few hundred thousand dollars to spare). The flight generated a lot of hype, though there was also some debate, including in the media coverage, as to whether Branson was really going to space at all: while a variety of US agencies define space as beginning fifty miles above the earth’s surface, other bodies—including the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which is the global authority on such matters—say the marker is twelve miles higher than that, and thus eight and a half miles higher than Branson traveled. Some pundits were unimpressed. “I’m sorry, but if you’re not orbiting the earth you’re not a Space Billionaire,” Matthew Yglesias tweeted, contrarily. “We’ve all been in airplanes.” Even the New York Times, as Yglesias noted, caveated the weightlessness that Branson and his fellow riders experienced as “apparent.” “Apparent weightlessness” might also be a good way to characterize much of the TV coverage of the flight. Reporters threw around adjectives like “exciting” and “spectacular,” and revelled in Branson’s showmanship (Khalid debuted a song at the event; Stephen Colbert... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-07-12 12:05:06 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Richard Branson, the press, and the space in between"


Peter Gleeson leaves News Corp’s Courier-Mail and Sky News after multiple instances of plagiarism

In one case the Courier-Mail columnist and Sky News presenter filled almost half a column with the unattributed reporting of a regional ABC journalistGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Sky News presenter and Courier-Mail columnist Peter Gleeson has left... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-24 07:57:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Australian’s editor Chris Dore lost his job after attending News Corp event in California

Exclusive: Key Murdoch editor was at Wall Street Journal Tech Live event at Laguna Beach last month along with top News Corp executivesFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastChristopher Dore lost his job... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-18 07:59:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Crikey’s Peter Fray apologises over Walkley outburst as speculation surrounds Chris Dore’s News Corp exit | Weekly Beast

Crikey editor told to pipe down after ‘unacceptable’ heckling of ABC winners. Plus: faint praise from the Australian for its departing editor-in-chiefCrikey’s Peter Fray heckled the Gold Walkley winners during their acceptance speech at Thursday night’s gala journalism awards ceremony, but it... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-18 02:09:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Chris Dore resigns as editor-in-chief of the Australian blaming ‘personal health issues’

Dore tells staff he is ‘exhausted’ and is leaving News Corp Australia to ‘concentrate on restoring my health’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe editor-in-chief of the Australian, Chris Dore, has resigned suddenly, citing “personal health issues”.The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-16 07:28:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Kevin Rudd accuses News Corp of ‘dog-whistling’ over reporting of Daniel Andrews

Former prime minister and media academics criticise reports, but Jeff Kennett says questions are ‘fair play’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastKevin Rudd has accused News Corp Australia’s Herald Sun tabloid of “dog-whistling to conspiracy theorists” over its... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-08 07:13:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘Lachlan gets fired the day Rupert dies’: Murdoch biography stokes succession rumors

New book by Australian reporter Paddy Manning hints at Succession-style feud with ramifications for US rightwing politicsIt’s long been thought that the succession plan for Lachlan Murdoch to take control of Fox Corporation and News Corp was set in stone for when his 91-year-old father, Rupert... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-31 13:39:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The New York Post says racist and sexist posts came from rogue employee (updated)

Fast Company isn't the only news outlet to suffer a recent, high-profile security breach. As CNBCreports, The New York Post has confirmed a rogue employee was behind racist and sexist posts on the newspaper's website and Twitter account. The perpetrator lashed out at various targets as part of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-27 15:22:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Murdoch’s succession: who wins from move to reunite Fox and News Corp?

Deal would seal legacy with favoured heirs, but markets question whether companies should merge in the first placeThis week’s 200th anniversary soiree for the Sunday Times gathered some of the biggest names in media at the headquarters of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 14:56:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lachlan Murdoch’s legal team loses bid to have parts of Crikey’s defamation defence dismissed

Australian independent publisher’s application to strike out parts of Murdoch’s reply also failed ahead of defamation trialFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastLachlan Murdoch’s application to have... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 03:20:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Rupert Murdoch considering merging Fox and News Corp once again

Merger would combine Fox News and TMZ with newspaper and online news operations, almost a decade after they splitThe two parts of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire are discussing a merger nearly a decade after they split.The merger would combine Murdoch’s Fox News and TMZ assets with News Corp’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-15 01:01:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


News Corp again scoops the pool at News Awards as Walkleys reveal nominations | Weekly Beast

Story nominated for News gong branded ‘national disgrace’ by Indigenous reporters. Plus: SMH all wrapped up in The EverestFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcastThere’s one thing guaranteed at the annual... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-14 03:11:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The best video streaming services in 2022

The number of video streaming services available has increased dramatically over the past few years as everyone decides they want a piece of the pie. The days when Netflix was your only option are long gone now, and while that’s great for all of us itching to discover our next favorite TV show,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-06 13:15:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A migrant child’s long journey to Gringolandia

In his memoir, poet Javier Zamora recounts in gripping detail his boyhood travels from El Salvador to the United States. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-09-22 10:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this


At 9, Javier Zamora walked 4,000 miles to the U.S. At 29, he was ready to tell the story

Javier Zamora talks about "Solito," his harrowing memoir about journeying from El Salvador to the U.S. as an unaccompanied 9-year-old. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-09-15 14:00:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Steve Price’s article claiming ‘minority’ white male status prompts press council complaints

News Corp columnist framed himself as among a minority of white men who could no longer voice their opinionFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcastAustralia’s press watchdog has received multiple complaints... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-09-05 09:03:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this


News Corp almost doubles its profits on back of digital advertising and subscribers

Rupert Murdoch’s publishing and media giant attributes record profits and revenue to acquisitions and digital transformationRupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has almost doubled its profits in 2021/22 to a record $US760m ($A1.1bn).The US-listed company owns News Corp Australia, as well as... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-08 23:21:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Japanese creator of hit manga series Yu-Gi-Oh! dies aged 60

Kazuki Takahashi found in snorkelling gear floating in the sea off coast of Okinawa, reports sayA Japanese artist who created the hit manga comic series Yu-Gi-Oh!, which spawned a worldwide media franchise including a trading card game, has been found dead in the sea, according to media... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-07-07 09:37:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Ita Buttrose recalls ‘open sexism’ at News Corp in 1980s where women were seen as ‘the enemy’

ABC chair says in media lecture she was ‘hissed at’ and accepted only after achieving successGet our free news app; get our morning email briefingNews Corp was a world of open sexism in the 198os where women were regarded as the enemy, ABC chair Ita Buttrose has said in a media lecture.“In 1981,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-17 11:30:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


That’s yacht fair: Oz lambasts Nine over lavish shindig but fails to mention News Corp role | The Weekly Beast

‘Nine parties it up,’ accuses the Australian, while ignoring corporate hospitality of News Corp execs. Plus: the Tele’s riveting true crime TikToks“Nine parties it up” was the headline on a hit piece in the Australian about rival media company Nine Entertainment. The broadcasting and publishing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-03 02:00:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Toto Albanese steals the post-election show as News Corp front pages do an about-face | The Weekly Beast

Seven’s Mark Riley catches Covid just in time to miss plane to Quad summit. Plus: the West Australian prints Noongar edition for Reconciliation WeekToto Albanese was the undisputed star of the newspaper front pages on Monday morning after her master Anthony Albanese won the election. The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-05-27 02:22:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this