Author Archives: Ralph Hanson

Dangerous Times Globally for Journalists

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

I’ve been putting off writing this blog post because I really don’t want to write it. I don’t like writing about a journalist being raped and murdered for trying to cover totalitarian regimes. another journalist has been murdered, once again … Continue reading →

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Talking about the news and how we respond to it

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I’m working to finish all the supporting materials for the seventh edition of Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, which hasn’t left much time for blogging. Hope to get back on a regular schedule … Continue reading →

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Everyone’s Gone To The Movies – Diversity in storytelling edition

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

A week ago or so I saw and loved the popular movie Crazy Rich Asians. Not usually much of a rom-com kinda guy, but this film was clever and smart. One of the things I liked best about it was that … Continue reading →

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A Motorcycle Ride to the United 93 Memorial on a Rainy Summer Day

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

This has nothing to do with the media. It’s a brief story about a ride I took on my motorcycle to the United 93 Memorial on a rainy June day back in 2004. It was written shortly after I had … Continue reading →

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Should people’s heads be exploding over NY Times anonymous commentary from inside the Trump White House?

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

This week has not suffered from lack of news for people like me who are obsessed with the coverage of news coming out of Washington. First, there was all the fuss over Nike featuring NFL kneeling protester Colin Kaepernick being … Continue reading →

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Nike, Colin Kaepernick, Politics & Social Media

Posted on September 3, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

There’s been an ongoing battle going on in social media for the year or so over the meaning of Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem to protest police violence against black men and the fact that he has not … Continue reading →

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Remembering Senator John McCain

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

There is much about Sen. John McCain that I have admired throughout my adult life, starting when he was my senator in Arizona back in the early 1990s. The wide range of people praising Sen. McCain demonstrates that we do … Continue reading →

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Portrait of the National Portrait Gallery

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

I recently was in Washington, D.C. for an academic conference, and fortunately enough, the conference hotel was about three blocks from the National Portrait Gallery and Museum of American Art. I’ve been there on several occasions in the past, but … Continue reading →

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Listening to Movie Music

Posted on August 21, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

Years ago, back when my Dear Wife and I lived in Arizona, we saw film composer Jerry Goldsmith conduct an evening of his music with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. Now, more than 25 years later, I still think about what … Continue reading →

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Is There Ever Grace For Being Stupid on Social Media?

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Ralph Hanson

Last week, Disney fired director James Gunn from the Guardians of the Galaxy movie franchise over a number of offensive tweets he posted dating back to 2009.  Though the tweets were not hidden, they were brought to people’s attention when … Continue reading →

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