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SP Radio Podcast: Dissecting the SP editorial process

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Download this week's episode here.

On this edition of SP Radio, we take a look at Smile Politely and its role in the local media landscape. The impetus for this conversation was the recent article the site published on Calvin Miller, which drew a lot of local attention and commentary.* Many of Miller's accounts in that article have been discredited by the recent release of the police video, but does that mean we should not have published it and that his account is not newsworthy? Why did it get published in our Culture section?

We take a look inside the process of publishing this article and why we chose to put it on the site. And instead of focusing exclusively on this one issue, we open it up to a larger conversation about what SP, Halfwayinteresting.com and other online media sites do and how it compares to traditional journalism and activist journalism.

In addition to SP editors Caleb Curtiss and Joel Gillespie, we are joined by Eric Bussell, the founder of HalfwayInteresting.com. Eric is also a frequent commenter on Smile Politely, including many in the Miller article. Eric discusses his thoughts on the publication of the that article and how his site approaches the publishing process.

*The article was originally published on the Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center website.

 
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A reminder: You can subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes by searching for Smile Politely Radio in the iTunes store.

If you have suggestions, criticisms or would like to be a guest/contributor, please contact us at spradio@smilepolitely.com.


Most Recent News Comments

{username}

What a great job by all the volunteers!  This event was really put together fast, and well. What I noticed about the crowd was how many old faces I saw despite occurring on a college campus.  I talked to quite a few, including students, who assured me…

{username}

Thank you for discussing Ron Paul’s “successors” - the future of the freedom movement.  The movement didn’t begin with Dr. Paul, nor will it end with his exit from the political scene.  How many future political leaders were in that audience of nearly 5,000 last night?

{username}

I went to the Ron Paul event last night. There was alot of energy & the audience responded to Ron Paul’s ideas which surprised me. I didn’t think most people would be aware of NDAA. Another person, who was there last night, observed that quite a few…

Mark Laughlin avatar

A really well researched article.  Great job!

{username}

I love the Guitars

{username}

Hi my name is Harry Huffman, professional speaker…. keynote humorist and above all story teller. I have also been a ballroom dancer, competitor and instructor over 45 years.I’m looking to get on the story telling circuit or radio. Can you give me some advice. Thank you.  My web site http://www.speakdance.com

{username}

Man, I cannot wait for these four records to be released by Parasol/Hidden Agenda - seriously great music for them to be working with. Thanks for letting me hang out in the studio and see you at the party…

John Steinbacher avatar

Rob, I’m slightly confused about the media player you are referring to.

Rob McColley avatar

I’ve looked at this page with two different browsers, and four different operating systems. I’ve decided that the embedded media player is just plain busted.

{username}

$100K for a toy house? No wonder my taxes are killing me. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/solar-decathlons-rainy-start_594112.html

Most Recent Comments

Rob McColley avatar

“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”

{username}

I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.

Michael Feltes avatar

The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!

{username}

Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.

isaac arms avatar

represent, Matt.

{username}

Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.

{username}

Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…

{username}

Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…

Rob McColley avatar

I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.

Annie Weisner avatar

This makes me so sad.  (Happy to live in Urbana, though!)  Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away.  This town should be supporting small businesses.  I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…

{username}

*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…

isaac arms avatar

Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet.  John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…

isaac arms avatar

What?  Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?

Mike Ingram avatar

This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market.  Check it:  http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles

{username}

And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?

isaac arms avatar

hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.

{username}

Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.

isaac arms avatar

Excellent.  I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.

{username}

Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.

isaac arms avatar

funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.

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