Heading to SXSW

Light blogging today. Have to leave the house at 5 am Saturday to make it to Austin by mid-afternoon for the South by Southwest Interactive Festival.

I'm on a panel at 11:30 am Sunday about Old vs. New Journalism with Dan Gillmor, Matt Haughey (Metafilter), and Josh Benton (Dallas Morning News), moderated by Evan Smith, editor of Texas Monthly.

More importantly, I'll be carousing after the sessions with Dr. David (of "Small Pieces" fame), Ernie the Attorney, and others. Also hope to spot Rebecca B., Cory, Ben and Mena (Movable Type founders) and others there.

I'm sure the fest is wired to the gills, so I'll try to do some blogging from my laptop.

Tony pulling whack job on 'Sopranos'

Well, shit, Tony.

Yahoo News: Fans of HBO's popular drama "The Sopranos" may have to fuhgeddabout a fifth season after James Gandolfini, the actor who plays the family patriarch, filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking a release from his contract.

Thanks to IWantMedia for the pointer.

The democratization of the media

Commentary in CBSMarketWatch.com (registration required, alas): The Net is forcing openness on an arrogant industry.

Washington Post Warriors

The brilliant William Greider in The Nation on the obtuse war-mongers on the Washington Post editorial page staff.

The Arab world tunes in

Tom Brokaw in the NY Times: The Arab world tunes in.

One of the most important changes in the Middle East since the last war against Iraq has been the proliferation of satellite news services. The small satellite dish is now a familiar fixture at apartment buildings, cafes and other public gathering places, distributing news through four Arabic-language channels.

Prizes for innovative new-media journalism

J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism has launched the Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism. A $10,000 grand prize and two $2,500 runners-up will reward journalism that uses new technologies in innovative ways to
involve citizens actively in public choices.

Great news. Deadline: June 12. Check out the guidelines, and apply online here.