William Owney

Member (since June 2009)
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I have spent 40 years as a writer, journalist and educator.

About William Help
Last Visit: Aug 18, 2010 - 11:58 AM PDT
Last Edit: Aug 13, 2009 - 9:40 AM PDT

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William reviewed this story - Apr 2, 2010
William's Rating
4.9
See Full Review » (9 answers)
NT Rating: 4.5 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Mar 21, 2010
William's Rating
2.4

Like so much political discourse these days, this piece uses one piece of unexamined narrative to produce another, and so on. As Kurt Vonnegut once remarked, if things were different, other things would be different, too. This piece begins with the COW that HCR reform is overwhelmingly unpopular with the public and is being passed despite their wishes. That assertion has been well litigated elsewhere and found to be less than convincing. It is much more salient as a journalist to challenge the conventional wisdom and ask what price the right pays if it continues to debate an issue when the public is ready to move on? That would have been a good Sunday think piece.

More on point at this stage, when passage is assured, is how the public will come to view a president who put his personal prestige on the line for something in which he deeply believed? It is much more reasonable to believe that Obama's approval ratings will turn upwards, as will those of his party as the elections near. If the right continues to negatively harp on this issue in the summer and fall, what will be historic will be its inability to gain seats in an off-year election.

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NT Rating: 3.4 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Mar 7, 2010
William's Rating
4.9

This is the sort of in-depth reporting American public education needs. Green addresses the 500-lb gorilla sitting at the front of the room: Quality of teaching is related to the quality of people drawn to the profession.

See Full Review » (11 answers)
NT Rating: 4.3 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Dec 31, 2009
William's Rating
1.8

Guns and butter are not conflicting uses of a nation's treasury and human capital, and no adminsitration should consider domestic initiatives and military adventurism as trade-offs. It is upon this novel predicate that Mr. Ajami launches an erudite assault on Obama foreign policy. The assault is otherwise without citation, example or foundation. We know Mr. Ajami to be correct because of recent example. George W. Bush, Mr. Ajami's lauded demolisher of Iraqi tyranny (as though that were necessary or desirable) achieved just this sort legerdemain by financing his war at the neighborhood, Chinese-run, loan company. Thus, he passed its cost onto progeny while obscuring it from the voting-age middle class. The absence of any Bush ... More »

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NT Rating: 1.8 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Dec 29, 2009
William's Rating
2.6

There are numerous gaping holes iin the GOP line of attack, and the reporting leaves much of it unexamined. Not until the final graph and only indirectly in a quote is the most salient issue raised: The attacker was cleared by foreign security, not American. This article leaves unanswered the most important question in this whole issue: What, exactly, could the United States have done to have thwarted this attack. Was there a direct action that could have been taken? This piece focuses more on the partisanship, and offers none of the context by which this could be assessed.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
NT Rating: 2.6 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed and starred this story - Dec 21, 2009
William's Rating
4.9

Superb layman's rendering of a an emergent field of pedagogy.

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NT Rating: 4.3 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed and starred this story - Dec 21, 2009
William's Rating
4.9

Superb layman's rendering of a an emergent field of pedagogy.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
NT Rating: 4.3 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Nov 27, 2009
William's Rating
5.0
See Full Review » (5 answers)
NT Rating: 3.7 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Aug 28, 2009
William's Rating
4.2

It often seems like Ben Smith is grinding axes, but this piece indicates he is capable of real journalism: Doing solid research, presenting it fairly, and stand out of the way. Though the piece is choppy and cries for a good editor adept at transitions, it would be acceptable work coming from a journalism major near graduation.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
NT Rating: 4.1 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Aug 11, 2009
William's Rating
1.9

The entire premise proceeds from Mr. Hitchens' medical assessment of two women done via photographs taken at a distance compared to: Nothing. He chooses to argue with two other writers by setting them up as straw dogs; yet, even against an opponent made of straw, he proffers not arguments, but insults. Calling someone who does not have the right of reply "boot lick" or "inexpert bore." Is not polemics: It is playground bullying.

This sort of angry talking head B.S. is exactly what it wrong with contemporary "journalism." A good editor -- or a mediocre English teacher, whichever came first -- would send this back for rewrite. Slate should be embarrassed.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 2.9 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed and starred this story - Aug 10, 2009
William's Rating
5.0

Just the facts. Both sides given ample opportunity to explain in context.

Too little of this simple, to-the-point journalism these days. Everybody wants to be a screaming (and rich) talking head. Not enough want to be that scuff-shoed purveyor of facts.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 4.3 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed and starred this story - Aug 10, 2009
William's Rating
5.0

Just the facts. Both sides given ample opportunity to explain in context.

Too little of this simple, to-the-point journalism these days. Everybody wants to be a screaming (and rich) talking head. Not enough want to be that scuff-shoed purveyor of facts.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 4.3 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Aug 10, 2009
William's Rating
4.5

This is a broad, complex story and The Post apparently made every effort to get both sides at every critical juncture. It takes journalistic skill and personal courage to work around a deliberately obdurate bureaucracy.

America would do well to ship a boat load of her bankers to Dubai.

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NT Rating: 3.7 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jul 14, 2009
William's Rating
3.2

This meta view of contemporary American politics appears to be predominantly objective and in generally acceptable context. It offers original analysis and does not present any overt bias. It is top-drawer journalism.

Nagourney's analysis rests on a concept for which he is the sole source: The idea that there are two types of comebacks. He then use that predicate without buttress to classify historic events. It leads to the obvious question, "Says who?" On one hand, it would be pedantic and digressive to launch a detailed, explicit examination of the nature of political comebacks; one the other, it would be nice to have a reason to believe that it is sufficient to have Mr. Nagourney as the sole ... More »

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 3.5 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jul 13, 2009
William's Rating
3.7

This appears to be better sourced and more tightly edited than the typical Rueters piece

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NT Rating: 4.0 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jul 4, 2009
William's Rating
2.1

While Moore has some interesting insight, this piece lacks foundation and independent reporting. If there are rumors, what are they, how credible are they, how are they affected by her resignation. If those questions cannot be answered and confirmed, leave the rumor-mongering to the pros on Twitter.

Though I am often politically aligned with Huffington writers, their increasing stridency is irritating. Even subjective pieces, no, make that especially subjective pieces, greatly benefit from some objective reporting in the marshaling of the facts.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 2.4 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jul 2, 2009
William's Rating
3.8

It's a straight news report of an important event. There is no attempt at balance, i.e., solicitation of reaction from opponents; but that will come in due time. It is not essential to coverage of a breaking event

See Full Review » (6 answers)
NT Rating: 3.3 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed and starred this story - Jun 26, 2009
William's Rating
4.4

For an opinion piece, it is fair in the way it depicts both sides of the issue. It is insightful and contextual in its analysis, though the short course in marginal utility is a bit difficult to follow.

The piece seems to overlook a major issue (also overlooked by mainstream media): Insurance companies pool all their risk. If AETNA looses money in other investments or other lines of insurance, it can adjust rates in all lines. It would be informative to have Nate use his analytical powers to determine what the actuarial tables might look like if the risk was limited to medical costs alone.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 3.5 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jun 26, 2009
William's Rating
4.2

Fairly reported. Written with the Time's customary insistence on broad "cosmic" overview, which may or may not be fully supported further down in the copy.

It's obvious that the Times is off its beat and is relying on the reporting of others to guide it. Reads like a second-day story. Not particularly distinguished or ground breaking.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 3.6 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jun 25, 2009
William's Rating
1.5

The piece lacks balance and historical context. What, precisely, would the writer have the United States do? And how, precisely, would a precipitous move by the United States affect oil prices, and what affect would that have global economic recovery? What is going on in Iran today is internal and, as the president appeared to understand, is at the beginning of a process. Intervention by outside forces would immediately terminate that process. Enough of the Cowboy diplomacy, please!

What, precisely, would the writer have the United States do? And how, precisely, would a precipitous move by the United States affect oil prices, and what affect would that have on global economic recovery? What is going on in Iran today is internal and, as the president appeared to understand, is at the beginning of a process. Intervention by outside forces would immediately terminate that process. After it plays itself out is the time to consider options. Enough of the Cowboy ... More »

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 2.1 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jun 22, 2009
William's Rating
4.0

The reporting is factual, objective, in-depth and in context. Important background and historical information is adroitly weaved into the narrative. The headline and lede are mildly misleading. The story is more about a water shortage than snakes.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
NT Rating: 4.2 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed and starred this story - Jun 16, 2009
William's Rating
4.5

Long duree. The writer articulates a useful context born of an in-depth comprehension of the social structures at play. This is so much more than the thin veneer that characterizes much of contemporary reportage.

See Full Review » (6 answers)
NT Rating: 4.2 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jun 1, 2009
William's Rating
2.4

The "reporting" begins with a series of unsubstantiated assertions. When did sourcing cease to be a journalistic requisite? Further down, the reporting becomes more factual. It's as if the reporters wrote one story and the higher-ups put their version on top of it.

What about the millions of shareholders, many of them retirees on fixed incomes, who learned only at the last minute that existing stockholders would be wiped out? Is this the face of contemporary populism.

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 3.5 | See All NT Reviews »
William reviewed this story - Jun 1, 2009
William's Rating
4.5

The reporting is factual. Written for a broad audience, the story is not able to go into as great depth as it would if it focused on only one corporation.

The big whiff in the news media's coverage of the GM story is that hundreds of thousands of small investors -- many retirees counting on dividend checks -- were completely wiped out, a possibility not disclosed until the last business day before GM filed for bankruptcy. Is this the face of contemporary populism?

See Full Review » (7 answers)
NT Rating: 3.8 | See All NT Reviews »
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Ratings Received
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