Jeff McCall

Jeff McCall is a professor of communication at DePauw University in Greencastle, and author of “Viewer Discretion Advised: Taking Control of Mass Media Influences.” Contact him at jeffmccall@depauw.edu. On Twitter: @Prof_McCall

Featured

Jeff McCall

6 Sep 2016

Relying Too Much on Polls Doesn’t Serve Public

A news media that wants to serve the public should focus coverage on issues and candidate qualifications.

Politics

Jeff McCall

17 May 2016

Uninformed Public is Danger to Democracy

The economy continues to struggle, the educational system underperforms and tensions exist at just about every point on the international landscape. And there is a national presidential selection process underway. … Continue reading "Uninformed Public is Danger to Democracy"

Too Much TV and Nothing to Watch

This post originally appeared in The Indy Star on February 26, 2016. The critically acclaimed television drama of the early 1960s, “Naked City,” concluded each episode with the narrator proclaiming, … Continue reading "Too Much TV and Nothing to Watch"

22 Mar 2016

Jeff McCall

Pediatricians back away from screen use guidelines

This piece originally appeared in the Providence Journal on December 9, 2015. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long advised parents to keep children under age 2 away from video screens, … Continue reading "Pediatricians back away from screen use guidelines"

12 Jan 2016

Jeff McCall

Trust in News Media Won't Be Easily Restored

This post originally appeared in The Indy Star on November 2, 2015. Anybody who has ever been lied to or betrayed by a friend or coworker knows just how difficult … Continue reading "Trust in News Media Won’t Be Easily Restored"

24 Nov 2015

Jeff McCall

TV Debates Warp Political Process

This post originally appeared in USA Today on July 29, 2015. Political wonks and junkies breathlessly await the first televised “debate” of the primary season. But sensible voters will do something more … Continue reading "TV Debates Warp Political Process"

4 Aug 2015

Jeff McCall

ABC News Further Undercuts Media's Credibility

This post originally appeared in The Indy Star on May 29, 2015. The real damage done by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos’ vacuous ethics – as shown by his revelation of gifts … Continue reading "ABC News Further Undercuts Media’s Credibility"

2 Jun 2015

Jeff McCall

The Deterioration of TV News

This Guest Author post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published in The Indy Star on April 24, 2015. NBC’s high-profile anchor, Brian Williams, has been suspended for telling tall … Continue reading "The Deterioration of TV News"

29 Apr 2015

Jeff McCall

What Millennials Consume on Facebook

This post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published in The Indy Star on April 3, 2015. The good news is that nearly 90 percent of recently surveyed millennials say they … Continue reading "What Millennials Consume on Facebook"

14 Apr 2015

Jeff McCall

Obama seen as 'enemy' to press freedom

This message was posted on Twitter recently by a prominent member of the media: “The Obama Administration is the greatest enemy of press freedom in a generation.” Another tweet from … Continue reading "Obama seen as ‘enemy’ to press freedom"

25 Mar 2015

Jeff McCall

Threats on Social Media are Still Threats

The social media world is a crazy world, indeed, sparking firestorms over petty things, such as the color of some dress in Scotland. Most social media postings connect people to … Continue reading "Threats on Social Media are Still Threats"

7 Mar 2015

Jeff McCall

WISH-8 to WTTV-4 switch is bellwether for local TV nationwide

This post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published in The Indy Star. Media executives nationwide are watching to see how the Indianapolis television market will respond to the CBS … Continue reading "WISH-8 to WTTV-4 switch is bellwether for local TV nationwide"

11 Feb 2015

Jeff McCall

Illustrated book cover for My Dream of Martin Luther King featuring a close-up painting of Martin Luther King Jr.'s face on a blue background. He is an African American man with a dark mustache. He is wearing a suit and looking off into the distance.

Media Have Warped Our Perception Of Athletes

This post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published by The Indy Star. Let’s remember a key fact as we prepare snacks and grab the remote to watch the Super Bowl. The … Continue reading "Media Have Warped Our Perception Of Athletes"

4 Feb 2015

Jeff McCall

Cover image for Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon featuring an illustration of a green dragon seated on an orange blanket. It's sitting in front of a purple wall and is between two trees.

The Rolling Stone UVA Rape Story Debacle

This post by Dr. Jeff McCall was originally published by The Indy Star on December 26, 2014. Journalism enters dangerous territory when reporters look to tell “stories” that are more dramatic, more … Continue reading "The Rolling Stone UVA Rape Story Debacle"

6 Jan 2015

Jeff McCall

Illustrated book cover for Frederick featuring a mouse standing behind two rocks. He has a peaceful expression on his face. He is holding a bright red poppy flower.

Cultural implications of media violence norms

This post originally appeared in the Indy Star on December 15, 2014. The nation struggles to explain why violence is so much a part of its daily experience. Senseless murders. Sports stars … Continue reading "Cultural implications of media violence norms"

17 Dec 2014

Jeff McCall

Is Sharyl Attkisson a victim of Obama administration?

Former CBS correspondent Sharyl Attkisson is either a paranoid kook or victim of one of the most heinous government abuses of a reporter in American history. Either way, the rest … Continue reading "Is Sharyl Attkisson a victim of Obama administration?"

10 Nov 2014

Jeff McCall

Color photograph of a man in front of a bunch of trees

News media must fight back against negative image

Originally appeared in The Indianapolis Star The dim news for the journalism industry just keeps coming. A recent Gallup news poll shows public trust of the media is at historic lows. … Continue reading "News media must fight back against negative image"

18 Oct 2014

Jeff McCall

Time to Give NFL's Blackout Rule the Boot

Originally appeared in The Indianapolis Star The Federal Communications Commission is supposed to ensure that the electronic media serve the public interest. A current FCC rule, however, works primarily to serve … Continue reading "Time to Give NFL’s Blackout Rule the Boot"

25 Sep 2014

Jeff McCall