Punching Down

Punching Down - Episode 21 The name of this week’s...

Sat, 05 May 2012 16:51:00 -0700

Punching Down - Episode 21

The name of this week’s episode is Don’t Fuck With @pixplz.

Punching Down - Episode 20 Punching Down is back with a bang! So...

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:51:00 -0700

Punching Down - Episode 20

Punching Down is back with a bang! So is Susie Cagle!

And just in time for the May Day General Strike, which is scheduled to kick off early Tuesday morning with an occupation of the Golden Gate Bridge (?! We’ll see! UPDATE: Oh well.) then continue with the opening of another SF Commune amid other direct actions and protests around the Bay Area.

Susie, our friend and independent journalist who’s been doing a kickass job reporting on the Occupy movement, says this about #M1GS: “It’s gonna be totally insane, all over the region. It’s just gonna be nuts.”

Then, Susie and Justin talk about their launch of Commie J-School. Did you know that you can get a journalism education without all that debt? Now you can!

Lastly, if you’ve made it this far, we discuss whether some newspaper buying another newspaper is a good thing or not.

Something something future of journalism!

A Blessedly NYT-Free Morning Coffee (Well, Tea) Shot

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:42:56 -0700

Friend of the show and HuffPo SF Assistant Editor Aaron Sankin writes:

In a punching down from a while ago you complained that in most of your coffee/paper pics everyone is reading the New York Times. I’m currently hiding the old grey lady behind the tiny paywall in my heart, so I thought I’d rectify that with a pic of me drinking tea and reading the China Daily in Beijing while on a trip I just took to the mysterious orient for my friend’s wedding.

To answer your questions: 1. Yes, that is a picture of a naked dude running along a sidewalk right behind me. 2. Yes, I am reading a story about how people are increasingly experiencing job discrimination based on their Zodiac sign.

Punching Down - Episode 19 Could anything be more fun than...

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:05:00 -0700

Punching Down - Episode 19

Could anything be more fun than getting kettled and cuffed by the cops for allegedly messing with a railroad?

How about the SFPD busting into an urban commune (where you were charging your phone), and pointing a so-called less lethal shotgun at your face?

If you happen to be a journalist, that’s where the fun sort of ends, actually, in part because it’s kind of difficult to report the news when your hands are zip tied and you’re sitting in the sheriff bus.

This week we’re delighted to have as our guest independent journalist Steve Rhodes who describes in detail these true stories about getting arrested while reporting.

For those that don’t already know Steve, he’s often seen covering the news in the Bay Area, including the spectacular April 1 takeover of an abandoned building in San Francisco by Occupy SF, and the forceful eviction by the cops the next day.

Besides his two arrests, Steve also talks about the path that’s led him to become one of the region’s essential sources for real-time information and images.

Punching Down - Episode 18This week’s offerings:Fan mail....

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:52:00 -0700

Punching Down - Episode 18

This week’s offerings:

Fan mail. Our loyal leader (listener+reader=leader) Joe Scales appoints himself editor of the Punching Down Fan Mail segment, to which he’s also a contributor. How does one actually create a Punching Down podcast, Joe wonders. We talk about our vintage-futuristic Podcast Machine and why we’re constantly yelling at it.

Occupy! This time, Justin doesn’t get chased. Rather, he does the chasing - of 2 cops! A batch of OPD emails from Jan. 28, sprinkled with references to reporters’ tweets and livestreams. A brief taste of what Occupy SF and other activists might do April 1. No #newsdesert here, only the most delicious #newsdessert money can buy.

Twitter bugs, like the one that made us unfollow you.

Tim’s man-meat, delicately sliced. Our favorite semi-regular guest shares the next chapter in the story about his vasectomy.

Punch. As always, copious amounts of punch.

Punching Down - Episode 17 This week we’re thrilled to...

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 10:27:00 -0700

Punching Down - Episode 17

This week we’re thrilled to bring you a very special installment of Punching Down - The Brock Keeling Story!

Here’s how it goes: Once upon a time, there was a kid from Orange County named Brock who loved to surf and skate. Then one day found himself in a Bay Area bar where he met Eve Batey, although he has no memory of the encounter. Regardless, this led him to becoming editor of the beloved local blog, SFist.

Somewhere along the way, Brock mastered the art of web-logging. His secret? “Just vomit onto the screen.” Also, sleeping in the nude.

Eventually, he kicked the morning coffee habit and got into food writing. But after the Great SF Food Truck Bubble of ‘13 burst and all the bloggers lost their jobs, Brock turned to making porn, starring certain members of the SF Board of Supervisors.

Today, Brock is working on his latest project, in which he’s hoping to cast former SF mayor Gavin Newsom. “I bet [Newsom] has a big dick,” he says.

We’re currently soliciting possible titles for said project, so please leave your suggestions in the comments.

Punching Down - Episode 16 After the world is destroyed in a...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:27:00 -0700

Punching Down - Episode 16

After the world is destroyed in a nuclear war, will there be any hope left for journalism education?

If anyone has the answer, it’s radio reporter, podcaster and dad Eric Klein who joins us this week to share his experiences working at the ever-troubled KPFA-FM in the Bay Area, and how those experiences contrast with his current volunteer work at Free Geek in Portland.

h/t Todd

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:20:19 -0700

h/t Todd

Punching Down - Episode 15 What is the fundamental unit of...

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:42:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 15

What is the fundamental unit of journalism? Is it a particle or a wave? And what does Operation Thunderdome mean for the future of news?

This week, we’re back inside a glass box inside the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library to discuss these questions, and we’re joined by special guest and loyal listener George Kelly, an online coordinator working for the Contra Costa Times.

Besides talking about some of the digital tools he likes (Twitter, Cover It Live), does not like (Storify) and seems neutral about (Facebook), George reflects on his career as an online journalist. He also explains why he’s skipping that thing in Austin, Texas.

Eve, meanwhile, would like you to give us a candid photo of someone drinking their morning coffee while reading a newspaper other than the fucking New York Times.

Please send your pic to punchingdown@gmail.com and maybe we’ll publish it on the Tumblr!

You can find George Kelly online in various places including allaboutgeorge.com, notherethere.com and @allaboutgeorge on Twitter.

Thanks, George!!

Punching Down - Episode 14 This week: two stories about cops...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 15:40:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 14

This week: two stories about cops chasing journalists, and one about a journalist getting a vasectomy.

First, you’ll hear from Jessica Hollie, a student, citizen journalist and live video streamer who recently tried to film a white supremacist rally at the Capitol building in Sacramento but was chased away by a cop on a horse, apparently because of her skin color. (The cops left her white colleagues alone.)

Jessica’s interview leads us to discussion between Eve, Tim and Justin about the democratization of media, in particular for women, people without a lot of upper body strength, and the non-rich.

Then, in our semi-regular Justin Gets Chased (not chaste) segment, Justin shares what happened when he stuck around after closing time to broadcast the occupation of an office building in San Francisco. One of those mysterious blue CHP cops grabbed the helmet-clad Ustreamer by the wrist…watch the video, or listen to the podcast, to find out if Justin was able to escape!

And finally, did you know that if you’re poor and in need of free Valiums, the State of California is more than happy to provide you with a vasectomy? Tim tells all!

Show notes:

2:18 - Jessica Hollie gets chased by a cop on a horse

22:51 - Eve, Tim and Justin discuss the democratization of media

32:38 - Justin gets chased by a blue cop (the chase card of the CHP?)

50:20 - The best time Tim got a vasectomy

Punching Down - Episode 14 13 On this week’s show, Eve praises...

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:55:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 14 13

On this week’s show, Eve praises the crime reporting by SF State grad Rigoberto Hernandez, who got the scoop on a homicide in the Mission without needing to rely on the cops for information.

Then, Justin spends the second half of the podcast complaining about Silicon Valley startup douchespeak in the form of a recent blog post explaining the difference between a pivot and a reboot.

Thanks to George Kelly for sharing this wonderful morning coffee photo!

This video is going around again (read: Romenesko shared it, for...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:56:00 -0800

This video is going around again (read: Romenesko shared it, for some reason). Pay close attention to the lede!

Punching Down - Episode 12 We have a few questions: * How should...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:07:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 12

We have a few questions:

* How should news organizations deal with nasty @ mentions by mean people on Twitter? Is it better to act all stand-offish? What about occasionally getting in flame wars? Would that be acceptable? (Eve and Justin mostly fail at answering these questions, so maybe you have some ideas? Let us know by tweeting @ us!)

* What should intern hopefuls not put in their emails to potential bosses? We definitely have some answers to that question! (Hint: Do not talk about burritos.)

* What’s it like to learn iMovie from Jake Gyllenhall? Eve now knows!

Punching Down - Episode 11 On last week’s podcast, Eve...

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:33:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 11

On last week’s podcast, Eve promoted a panel she was scheduled to appear on at SF State’s journalism department. But because the U.S. Court of Appeals in SF struck down Proposition 8 (the voter initiative banning same-sex marriage), Eve had to work instead. So, we have a mock panel where Eve plays the part of panelist and Justin plays the moderator. Hear what Eve has to say about her favorite topic, the Future of Journalism!!

You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at Occupy Internships, which is Justin’s offensive on Twitter against companies (of a certain size) that try to hire unpaid interns. Such as the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco!

Punching Down - Episode 10 Dear listeners in the Pacific and...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:37:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 10

Dear listeners in the Pacific and Mountain time zones: You might still be able to enjoy the latest Punching Down podcast with your morning coffee and your Sunday Times, because as you frequently remind us, you like the way it feels in your hands.

On this week’s episode, freelance journalist Chris Roberts talks about (what else!) getting punched down, such as the time he was working on a medical marijuana story and someone told him that his ass was grass.

Then, in an extended version of the semi-regular Justin Gets Chased segment, Justin talks about getting chased — and shot at, and kettled, and gassed — by the cops during Occupy Oakland’s Move-In Day on Jan. 28. That experience inspired Justin to go out and do some shopping:

Lastly, Eve promotes an upcoming SF State Journalism panel on which she’s scheduled to appear. If she’s a crazy, combative, bitter bitch on the panel, will it ruin the department? (Full disclosure: Justin works there, so let’s hope not!)

A gentleman enjoys his NYT and Morning Coffee (drink!) at 9th...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:45:37 -0800

A gentleman enjoys his NYT and Morning Coffee (drink!) at 9th and Irving.

Punching Down - Episode 9 What’s it like for an independent...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:51:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 9

What’s it like for an independent journalist to endure arrest by the cops, low pay from employers, and annoying questions from your colleagues in the mainstream media? Allow our friend and multi-talented reporter Susie Cagle to explain, in Punching Down’s long-awaited return to your Internet Website!

Listen as Susie talks about her recent experiences chronicling Occupy Oakland, which she calls a “story of a lifetime.” Speculate with us whether Susie will risk arrest again during today’s planned takeover of a vacant building. And hear about Susie’s idea for creating an independent oasis for journalism in the “news desert” that is Oakland.

#morningcoffee photo courtesy of Elzza and Eric Punching Down -...

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:29:00 -0800

#morningcoffee photo courtesy of Elzza and Eric

Punching Down - Episode 8

We start our ninth (we know!!) podcast with another Justin Gets Chased! segment, except this time, the Muni fare inspector that Justin ran from decided not to give chase. Weak, Muni. Weak!

Then, in a discussion about the murky business of anonymous sources, Eve talks about her struggle over whether or not to wait on publishing a story about unconfirmed allegations that SF sheriff-elect Ross Mirkarimi physically abused his wife.

In possibly one of the best gross-out moments of the Punching Down podcast, special guest Tim shares an anecdote about the time his dog rolled on a foam rubber rectum.

And, speaking of discarded sex toys, we congratulate former Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein for successfully escaping from the struggling legacy newspaper.

Show notes:

2:29 - Justin could’ve been chased, but he wasn’t!

8:10 - Eve could’ve beat Matier and Ross, but she didn’t!

26:33 - RSS feeds: full or truncated?

45:46 - The best time Tim’s dog rolled on a foam rubber rectum

47:43 - Congrats to Phil Bronstein!

Banana-Sam (not pictured above) was last seen at the San...

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:17:00 -0800

Banana-Sam (not pictured above) was last seen at the San Francisco Zoo enjoying a cup of morning coffee with his miniature Sunday New York Times. He likes the way it feels in his adorable little hands and will bite if provoked. (Original photo by Flickr user LaertesCTB. Image macro by Justin.)

Punching Down - Episode 7

On the 8th (we know!) and final episode of the Punching Down podcast for the year, Eve and Justin reflect on their favorite local media stories of 2011.

Justin’s hands-down favorite of 2011 was #opBART, the spectacular series of online and street protests last summer in response to BART’s unannounced blackout of cellular and wi-fi service in a number of its train stations.

Whose BART? Our BART!

(The protester, if you recall, was Time magazine’s Person of the Year.)

Eve’s top story of 2011 was the wave of journalists getting arrested locally and around the country, a notable example being Susie Cagle, the reporter, writer, cartoonist, woman (and many other awesome things) who was arrested Nov. 2 while covering Occupy Oakland.

Eve also makes a prediction about the financial future of well-funded, non-profit news organizations, while failing to get Justin to predict anything about 2012. (Justin does, however, make a wish for the new year and hints at designs for a new mobile reporting device called the #PIXPLZ9000.)

And (at or around the time of publication) the search continues for Banana-Sam, a squirrel monkey abducted this week from the San Francisco Zoo, and who’s now tweeting from his very own fake Twitter account!

Anonymous sources tell us that Banana-Sam may have been recruited by teh CabinCr3w and/or may be living in an adorable, squirrel-monkey-size tent at Occupy SF Zoo.

Whose zoo? Our zoo!

Happy New Year, everybody.

Show notes:

0:12 - #opFindBananaSam: There’s a cash reward!

4:11 - #opBART: Born of spilled innocent blood and banned airwaves, begat the downfall of a transit agency’s spokesperson

27:08 - The best year if you’re a journalist who wants to get arrested

49:37 - Eve’s and Justin’s wishes for 2012

Punching Down - Episode 6 We’re delighted to bring you the...

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:36:00 -0800

Punching Down - Episode 6

We’re delighted to bring you the Punching Down Holiday Special, featuring SF Appeal ad salesperson Tim Ehhalt, who shares his feelings about putting boobs and advertisements for Jägermeister on the front pages of newspapers. But first, we ponder what the future holds for a well-funded Bay Area news organization, now that its wealthy financier has passed away.

Eve reminds us that one downside of being able to feel a thing in your hands is how that thing, unfortunately, can be stolen. She also has some information about a job opening at a local alt weekly.

Plus: Tim and Justin reminisce about their first jobs, which happened to be working for newspapers. Hey, take a few more sips of that #morningcoffee! Drink!!

Show notes:

0:21 - Warren Hellman RIP

15:37 - Boobs and Jägermeister, and the way they feel in your hands

22:45 - The Great Bernal Heights Newspaper Theft

31:33 - The best time a potential newspaper subscriber threatened Justin with bodily harm

37:34 - The SF Bay Guardian is hiring!