Andy Bechtel
@andybechtel.bsky.social
Journalism professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. Copy editor. NOLA native, Durham denizen. Member of AAUP and ACES: the Society for Editing. https://editdesk.wordpress.com/
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
To try to avoid the Trump administration’s ire, Duke has instructed faculty not to speak to reporters dukechronicle.com/article/duke...
Duke has sought to tighten faculty media engagement to minimize federal scrutiny
The messages reflect a broader University strategy: keeping Duke out of the national spotlight by exercising caution at the faculty level when it comes to politically sensitive topics.
dukechronicle.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
To try to avoid the Trump administration’s ire, Duke has instructed faculty not to speak to reporters dukechronicle.com/article/duke...
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
By the way, it's National Editor Appreciation Day.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
By the way, it's National Editor Appreciation Day.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
AP is back in court today to defend itself and the right to speak freely without government retaliation.
Why AP is standing for your right to speak freely
The executive editor of The Associated Press says the news organization is fighting for the right of the press and public to speak freely without being targeted by the government.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM
AP is back in court today to defend itself and the right to speak freely without government retaliation.
The Raleigh holiday parade is today. Its official name: ABC11 Crossroads Ford Apex Raleigh Christmas Parade presented by Shop Local Raleigh
November 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The Raleigh holiday parade is today. Its official name: ABC11 Crossroads Ford Apex Raleigh Christmas Parade presented by Shop Local Raleigh
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
The American Association of University Professors (@aaup.org) released a new report documenting an escalating assault on faculty governance structures across the country, with state legislatures in multiple states moving to strip faculty senates of their authority and independence.
AAUP Report Warns of Growing Legislative Threats to Faculty Governance Nationwide
New analysis highlights attacks on faculty senates in Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and Utah as undermining academic freedom and institutional integrity.
www.theeduledger.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:36 PM
The American Association of University Professors (@aaup.org) released a new report documenting an escalating assault on faculty governance structures across the country, with state legislatures in multiple states moving to strip faculty senates of their authority and independence.
What’s going on with headline writing. From now on, I may add that statement to many that I see.
November 18, 2025 at 11:33 PM
What’s going on with headline writing. From now on, I may add that statement to many that I see.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
There is renewed criticism over the names of military and DHS operations, including the most recent, Operation Charlotte's Web.
www.wunc.org/2025-11-16/w...
www.wunc.org/2025-11-16/w...
What to know about names such as Operation Charlotte's Web
There is renewed criticism over the names of military and DHS operations, including the most recent, Operation Charlotte's Web.
www.wunc.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
There is renewed criticism over the names of military and DHS operations, including the most recent, Operation Charlotte's Web.
www.wunc.org/2025-11-16/w...
www.wunc.org/2025-11-16/w...
A lot of learning in today’s sports section.
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
A lot of learning in today’s sports section.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
I will create the internet's foremost Headline Criticism platform.
November 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I will create the internet's foremost Headline Criticism platform.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
Today among the tabloids
November 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Today among the tabloids
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
“If you want to bully people —particularly the free press — if you want to bully them, there’s a price to pay. And that price is going to be in the millions,” said Eric Meyer, owner and editor of the Marion County Record.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
Kansas county apologizes, agrees to pay $3M over small-town newspaper raid
“If you want to bully people, particularly the free press ... there’s a price to pay. And that price is going to be in the millions.”
www.kansascity.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
“If you want to bully people —particularly the free press — if you want to bully them, there’s a price to pay. And that price is going to be in the millions,” said Eric Meyer, owner and editor of the Marion County Record.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
Today's music for grading: "Being John Malkovich" (1999) www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UiY...
Being John Malkovich - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [1999]
YouTube video by Minheum Cho
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Today's music for grading: "Being John Malkovich" (1999) www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UiY...
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
For non-journalists, it’s helpful to see what Standards and Practices guidelines look like. Here, for example, are the AP’s. www.ap.org/wp-content/u...
www.ap.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
For non-journalists, it’s helpful to see what Standards and Practices guidelines look like. Here, for example, are the AP’s. www.ap.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
Do we want to talk about the inept spacing, or that "just lay there" should be "just lie there"?
November 8, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Do we want to talk about the inept spacing, or that "just lay there" should be "just lie there"?
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
No joke, they used to show Ivy League football on PBS.
November 8, 2025 at 12:58 AM
No joke, they used to show Ivy League football on PBS.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
The next mayor of New York on a lot of world fronts today
November 6, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The next mayor of New York on a lot of world fronts today
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
After Game 5 vs. After Game 7
It's almost as if sports commentary is an exercise of post-facto rationalizations!
It's almost as if sports commentary is an exercise of post-facto rationalizations!
November 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
After Game 5 vs. After Game 7
It's almost as if sports commentary is an exercise of post-facto rationalizations!
It's almost as if sports commentary is an exercise of post-facto rationalizations!
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
"My father dropped dead. His headline lives on.
"Fifty years after my father, William J. Brink, wrote the words “Ford to City: Drop Dead” on a piece of copy paper at The New York Daily News, the headline endures in the national consciousness." — Bill Brink
"Fifty years after my father, William J. Brink, wrote the words “Ford to City: Drop Dead” on a piece of copy paper at The New York Daily News, the headline endures in the national consciousness." — Bill Brink
50 Years Ago, My Father Wrote the Headline That Refuses to Die
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
"My father dropped dead. His headline lives on.
"Fifty years after my father, William J. Brink, wrote the words “Ford to City: Drop Dead” on a piece of copy paper at The New York Daily News, the headline endures in the national consciousness." — Bill Brink
"Fifty years after my father, William J. Brink, wrote the words “Ford to City: Drop Dead” on a piece of copy paper at The New York Daily News, the headline endures in the national consciousness." — Bill Brink
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
Do you have gift cards you haven't used that can be used to buy groceries?
Grocery stores, WalMart, Target, Amazon (can order to pick up at Whole Foods), warehouse clubs
This is a good time to call the social worker at your local school and see if families have need.
Grocery stores, WalMart, Target, Amazon (can order to pick up at Whole Foods), warehouse clubs
This is a good time to call the social worker at your local school and see if families have need.
October 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Do you have gift cards you haven't used that can be used to buy groceries?
Grocery stores, WalMart, Target, Amazon (can order to pick up at Whole Foods), warehouse clubs
This is a good time to call the social worker at your local school and see if families have need.
Grocery stores, WalMart, Target, Amazon (can order to pick up at Whole Foods), warehouse clubs
This is a good time to call the social worker at your local school and see if families have need.
Rainy day grading with Blade Runner 2049 as the soundtrack. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf0l...
MIXED: Blade Runner 2049 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
YouTube video by MusicAtMyLevel
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Rainy day grading with Blade Runner 2049 as the soundtrack. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf0l...
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
The @newsobserver.com is hiring a higher education reporter! Come join an outstanding team of journalists covering a critical beat for the state of North Carolina. mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net/MCC1008MCLTC...
mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net
October 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The @newsobserver.com is hiring a higher education reporter! Come join an outstanding team of journalists covering a critical beat for the state of North Carolina. mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net/MCC1008MCLTC...
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
“Maybe it’s just that people have been saying Gulf of Mexico for 500 years and don’t easily accept change,” writes @joshuabenton.com @niemanlab.org www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nine...
Nine months later, that body of water down south is still the “Gulf of Mexico” to news outlets
Since the start of summer, "Gulf of America" has been losing what little popularity it had in newsrooms.
www.niemanlab.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
“Maybe it’s just that people have been saying Gulf of Mexico for 500 years and don’t easily accept change,” writes @joshuabenton.com @niemanlab.org www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/nine...
Any reference to George Springer's performance in the 2017 World Series must mention Houston's sign-stealing scandal and his "what happens in our clubhouse will stay in our clubhouse" response.
October 25, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Any reference to George Springer's performance in the 2017 World Series must mention Houston's sign-stealing scandal and his "what happens in our clubhouse will stay in our clubhouse" response.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
Gotta hand it to ESPN, which gets to profit from relentless promotion of and partnerships with sports gambling and then cover the inevitable scandals that come with it. Selling disease and cure in plain sight.
Sources: Billups, Rozier arrests tied to gambling
Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier have been arrested as part of a pair of investigations related to illegal gambling, sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Gotta hand it to ESPN, which gets to profit from relentless promotion of and partnerships with sports gambling and then cover the inevitable scandals that come with it. Selling disease and cure in plain sight.
Reposted by Andy Bechtel
According to more than a dozen college and uni students, “the Canvas outage threw off their schedules, preventing them from not just submitting and viewing assignments but also from participating in-class activities, contacting professors, and accessing the textbooks and other materials…”
The AWS Outage Was a Nightmare for College Students
The outage impacted online learning platform Canvas, which is used by half of college students across the US, leaving many unable to access course materials or contact professors.
www.wired.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
According to more than a dozen college and uni students, “the Canvas outage threw off their schedules, preventing them from not just submitting and viewing assignments but also from participating in-class activities, contacting professors, and accessing the textbooks and other materials…”