Quotes of the Day

“You really shouldn’t sleep this week. Professionally, it’s unadvisable.” — Matt Spence of The Times of London.

Kudos to Boston Globe

“Great work all night by #bostonglobe team covering Watertown/MIT mayhem.” — WaPo Executive Editor Marty Baron, who has to be kicking himself right now for leaving the Boston Globe late last year to come to Washington.

A Social Media editor learns lessons

“I think I learned my lesson to wait for confirmation about what network/cable reporters say their ‘sources’ tell them.” — Reuters Social Media Editor Anthony De Rosa.

Huh?

“‘I don’t know if that’s a fashion statement or what.’–guy on CNN, inspecting sunglasses on face of Boston suspect.#seriously” — HuffPost‘s Jennifer Bendery.

Up all night with Jake Tapper

“When Jake Tapper is at the helm at CNN, CNN is what it’s supposed to be.” — Former White House Speechwriter Jon Lovett.

“God love @jaketapper: Almost everything he says begins with ‘Here’s what we don’t know…’ #JohnKingLesson” — Don Van Natta Jr., Senior Writer for ESPN.

“Hmm. @Jaketapper is really good in this sort of situation. Calm solid presence.” — Daily Caller columnist Mickey Kaus.

Network redemption plan

“CNN took ton of heat earlier, but props tonite-only news net going live w nu photo+MIT shooting. Isn’t that what news net is supposed to do?“– NYT TV Industry reporter Bill Carter.

“CNN should replay the interview with Dr. David Schoenfeld for laughs. Every A: “I can’t tell you that.” WHY ARE YOU ON THE PHONE W/CNN?” — Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who also wrote this morning: “It’s too bad Suspect #1 won’t be able to be legalized by Marco Rubio, now.”

A word of advice: “I don’t actually recommend going back to sleep, just did it, had bad nightmares.” — Dave Stroup, digital director for Aneesh Chopra for Va. Lt. Gov. 

The Observers

“One thing I learned serving in Lebanon is that young men & boys  with guns/bombs can be deadliest as they’ve yet to appreciate value of life.” — Peter Daou, political blogger and advisor.

“If these two are actually foreign trained terrorists, then this is the event we’ve been fearing; small-scale attacks on the softest targets.” — The Atlantic‘s Jeffrey Goldberg.

In awe of NBC’s Pete Williams (who broke the names of the Boston Bombing suspects)

“Pete Williams is a machine.” — BuzzFeed‘s Rosie Gray.

“Journalism professors take note: @PeteWilliamsNBC has put on a free journalism clinic all week.” — Chris Donovan, producer, NBC News/”MTP.”

“Pete Williams is dominating all the “social media experts” on Twitter by… reporting.” — Andrew Golis, Boston-based director of digital and senior editor at PBS’s “Frontline.”

“Yay Pete.” — PBS’ Gwen Ifill. She later added, “FYI for all new @PeteWilliamsNBC fans, he’s been on this beat for bout 20 years #ExperienceMatters”

“How does @PeteWilliamsNC not have 100K Twitter followers? (Hint, Peter, start tweeting).” — Justin Green, contributor to The Daily Beast.

“Among the many excellent things about @PeteWilliamsNBC this week: Very clear about what he doesn’t know, or is unsure of.”– The Hill‘s Niall Stanage.

“NBC’s Pete Williams proving that reporters don’t always have to be on the ground to get all the scoops and get them right.” — ThinkProgress‘ Igor Volsky.

Meanwhile, Oversharing Sherri goes to Boot Camp

“Going 2 my 2nd #bootcamp session-anything called “bootcamp” scares me to death, but I must put fear of going over the fear of dying #health” — ABC “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd at 7:30 a.m. this morning as news of the bombers dominated the news cycle.

And NBC Matt Lauer’s bad luck streak continues…

“Meanwhile Matt Lauer is shown live in West, Texas – doesn’t look very happy.” – Washington Examiner‘s Charlie Spiering.

Howard Kurtz’s brilliant morning sentiment

“Wish I hadn’t gone to sleep and missed all the action in Boston. Hope that manhunt ends soon.” — CNN, The Daily Beast-Newsweek‘s Howard Kurtz. (Photo credit: Politico)

At least Weingarten was joking: “You people really should have woken me up last night.” — WaPo’s Gene Weingarten. Read more

Oscar winning film director and producer Oliver Stone and PBS’ Gwen Ifill will speak at the 43rd annual commemoration of violent acts at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. During the incident, which involved some protesting, Ohio National Guardsman killed four unarmed students and injured nine.

Ifill will moderate a panel discussion called “Historical Importance of May 4″ while Stone conveys his thoughts about “History and Memory in Film.”

No doubt PBS’ “Washington Week” host Gwen Ifill didn’t anticipate the sleeping beast she’d wake by complimenting NBC Political Director and MSNBC “Daily Rundown” host Chuck Todd.

loving @chucktodd even more than usual right now

— gwen ifill (@pbsgwen) March 20, 2013

But that’s exactly what happened last week when Todd, who is Jewish, traveled to Israel with President Obama and asked one too many questions, three to be exact. “Passover starts in a couple days, I get four questions,” Todd joked. Obama poked at him, saying, “Chuck, how many ya got?” and “Chuck, you’re just incorrigible!” Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also made fun of the reporter, saying, “This is not a kosher question but don’t hog it.”

In a day and age when journalists get verbally slaughtered online for just about anything, including breathing, some of Ifill’s followers were furious about her praise for Todd. There was nothing mild about it. Unlike some journalists, Ifill left it alone and didn’t respond.

Have a look. Read more

At least some college seniors will get their final parting wisdom from PBS’ Gwen Ifill and CNN/ABC’s Christiane Amanpour.

Ifill will deliver Wake Forest University’s 2013 commencement address on May 20.  Amanpour will address the 2013 graduating class of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on May 23.

PBS’s Gwen Ifill is off to Ohio at the end of February to speak and accept an award. According to a report in The Athens Messenger, Ifill is headed to Ohio University’s campus on Feb. 25 to participate in an informal Q & A in the Multicultural Center. She will also speak at an event to honor the 90th anniversary of journalism at OU, and receive the Carr Van Anda Award. The accolade is hailed as Scripps School of Journalism’s “highest honor.”

Say hello to WTOP’s National Security Correspondent JJ Green, who has worked at the station since 2004. Asked for his thoughts on new versus old media, he replied, “I’ve always been sort of forward leading when it comes to technology. The title for my senior thesis for broadcast journalism was ‘Selected Implications of Satellite Electronic Surveillance.’” Mr. Smartypants graduated from Hampton University, near Virgina Beach. “I had no idea, no understanding that led me to believe I’d be involved in covering national security now. I had no clue, no interest and look where I ended up.” Green praises new media, but stresses that you still have to go that extra step of verification. “We’re so breathless now, with so many other avenues and sources for people to get their news that there is pressure individually to want to keep up and be recognized,” he said. “We have to be really careful when using social media.” Green covers global intelligence and terrorism. His career history is extensive, but we’ll give you highlights. He came to Washington in 1989 to work as a reporter for WMAL radio. After working as a weekend reporter on FOX-5 WTTG in the early 90s, he worked on air as a correspondent-in-training on ABC News NIGHTLINE. He covered various elements of the O.J. Simpson trial and race relations. Asked if he thinks O.J. was guilty, he said, “No, I did not and I do not now have an opinion on that. As a journalist, I don’t think that my opinion really counts when it comes to covering the news.” Green’s resume includes working at CNN, where he covered The Million Man March and The Balkan Peace Talks as a general assignment reporter in Washington. In the late 90s he began working for the Voice of America Television and as host and correspondent of Africa Journal while traveling extensively. Don’t try trash talking him in another language. He’s fluent in Spanish, speaks working level French and is studying Korean and Arabic. Among the problems he faces with government public affairs is they have lumped radio into one pool, so that it all appears to be talk radio. “WTOP is a news radio station not a talk radio station,” Green said fervently. “We have people who do opinion for us. It’s not designed to be a talk radio station.”  In 1996, Green landed what he looks at now as “the” job: host of C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.” Asked if he kept a straight face with callers, he said, “I think I laughed once while I was at C-SPAN. A caller phoned in and said ‘Dude, you dress almost as nicely as Brian Lamb.’ I cleared by throat and regained my seriousness.” Lamb is purportedly a great dresser. And Green? “I like nice clothes.”

If you were a carbonated beverage, which would you be? One that is finished.

How often do you Google yourself? Whenever someone says “hey have you googled yourself lately?”

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever said to an editor/boss (or vice versa)? “No” is the worst I’ve ever said. Thoughts are another matter.

Have you ever goofed up on air? What happened? Yes, a colleague at a radio station, who shall not be named, sneaked into the radio studio years ago and lit my news copy on fire and I huffed and puffed my way through it.  True story.

Who is your favorite working journalist and why? Tavis Smiley, because one day when I used to host C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” and I was getting hammered by some guy on the phone for being political, which I was clearly not, Tavis, who was my guest, immediately pivoted from the cool intelligent scholar he is and verbally assaulted this guy on live television to get him off my back.

Do you have a favorite word? Yes… is my favorite word. No is such a waste of effort.

Who are you named after and what are people’s general reaction to your name? I’m named after JJ Green Sr. So Jessie James Green Jr. is my full name and our middle name, James, came from his mom’s maiden name. She was not inspired to name her son after a gunslinger.

Who would you rather have dinner with – NBC’s Brian Williams, CNN’s Roland Martin, ABC’s Sherri Shepherd or Fox News’ Megyn Kelly? Tell us why. I’d choose NBC’s Brian Williams, because I tell him how Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube are always cutting up at the Pentagon gaggle. No actually, I’d ask him if he wanted to switch jobs for about 10 years. Read more

Quotes of the Day — Inauguration aftermath

“Wow. CNN. Inaugration.” — CNN’s John King with the above photograph.

A nod to C-SPAN

” @cspan easily wins the award for best Inaugural Parade commentary – by having none and just letting viewers enjoy it.” — House Maj. Leader Eric Cantor‘s (R-Va.) Dep. Chief of Staff Doug Heye.

Michelle Obama’s bangs: Yay or Nay?

CNN’s Piers Morgan: “Am I allowed to not really like the bangs? I don’t really go for the bangs.” His colleague Erin Burnette disagreed: “I love them.”

Speaking of the first lady…

“Want. That. Coat.” — PBS’s Gwen Ifill.

Important Q to Ponder: “Has someone called Aretha Franklin’s hat for comment on Michelle Obama’s bangs?” — The Atlantic‘s Molly Ball.

Uh oh. “Jon Stewart is going to have a field day with this inauguration coverage. #dailyshow” — The Hill‘s Managing Editor Bob Cusack.

Dance Twins

“Obama and I apparently have the same dance style. I don’t know who should be sadder about that. #inaug13″ — Mandy Jenkins, Interactives Editor, Digital First Media.

The Angry Blogger

“Why the hell has my phone kept ringing today? I offered commentary. Did I declare terrorist action on Washington and am unaware? Ph-ck!” — Washingtonian‘s Javonni Brustow, who also editor of ThePundit.com and a blogger for PopGlitz.

The Observers

• “Pelosi got a cheer at 7th and Penn. Boehner and Cantor didn’t. Almost like this crowd is Dems. #Inauguration.” — WaPo‘s Ben Pershing.

• “Once again, some Republicans are ruining this day simply because they can. Please stop complaining. It’s not just abt you. It’s abt us all.” — Democratic pundit Donna Brazile.

• “Watching the Benediction WWR cannot help but think of the burden that any president must bear. No one can truly understand – except them.” — Paul Brandus of WestWingReports.

Speaker Boehner Crying Watch: “Speaker Boehner wiping his eyes after lunch prayer.” — HuffPost‘s Jen Bendery.

Backhanded sarcastic compliment for CNN

“CNN winning the timefill before the parade with ‘how did you come up with those hats?’” — TPM‘s Evan McMorris-Santoro.

 Is Fox News getting stale?

“What about Fox News’ viewers? Are they going to go along like sheep? They now have no network that represents their perspective on what seems to be a key issue for Obama’s second term. Is it time for a new Fox?” — The Daily Caller‘s Mickey Kaus in a short post on his view that Fox News is going too far left and has a stale lineup.

In case you care about POTUS’ limo: “The windows in the President’s limo are not tinted. It’s easy to see him when he drives by.” — Former White House Press Sec. and pundit Ari Fleischer.

ABC reporter has Inauguration version of Modern Seinfeld, a USA Today reporter takes an intense picture, HuffPost ladies pose with Paula Abdul and more… Read more

Remember me circa 2004?

That was PBS’s Gwen Ifill over the weekend, who couldn’t seem to stop herself from reminiscing about herself. We all like to stroll down Memory Lane occasionally, don’t we? Oh, look how cute I was at 5! Or, who put me in that monstrosity of an outfit? Of course, Ifill then caught herself in the Humblebrag. Which clearly makes up for all that bragging in the first place. Right?

Few things more disconcerting than turning on CSpan in hotel room and seeing self moderating 2004 VP debate.

— gwen ifill (@pbsgwen) October 7, 2012

I proudly claim my #humblebrag.

— gwen ifill (@pbsgwen) October 7, 2012

QUOTES of the DAY

BOSOM BUDDIES: If they do nothing else, conventions bond people together in unfathomable ways. The Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Tucker Carlson poses with FishbowlDC’s Peter Ogburn, also producer of The Bill Press Show. This makes up for all the times Carlson told Ogburn to go f&%k himself.

A follower to Howard Stern: “Thank you for not tweeting about politics!!!” Howard Stern: “I’ll stick to fart jokes.”

A question to end all questions: ‘How are you?’

“I then headed down the hall for a brief separate interview with [Stephanie] Cutter, whom I’ve known for years, going back to when she was John Kerry’s spokeswoman. ‘How are you?’ I asked. ‘Are we on the record?’ she replied. — NYT Magazine’s Mark Leibovich in a first person account of covering presidential campaigns and the joylessness of the current campaign season. Read the full story and see the frighteningly ugly graphics of the candidates here.

STOP THE PRESSES! Weigel gets rubdown in HuffPost Oasis

“OH outside HuffPost Oasis: ‘Somebody spilled coconut water all over my shoe!’” — Slate‘s Dave Weigel, who quickly added, “Not to mock the HuffPost Oasis. I partook of a free massage there.” Not surprisingly, an obviously mature follower asked, “Geez dude, right there in the open? Was there a happy ending?”

Cheap motels here we come! Is David Corn here?

“A cheap motel in Charlotte…just how I want to spend my holiday weekend. Welcome to the DNC!” — Co-founder and Exec. Director of GOProud Jimmy LaSalvia. (Mother Jones Washington Bureau Chief David Corn stayed at what he dubbed Motel Hell — a.k.a. Days in Busch Gardens, Fla. — until he could stand it no more and shacked up in a downtown condo belonging to a fellow writer who offered him better accommodations on Twitter during the GOP Convention in Tampa. Pictured here: Corn with Victoria White in her living room.

Points for effort? “Dead 460-word lede that took me five hours to write just cut down to 100 words that I could have written in 30 mins. Much better, but geez.” — WaPo Book World Editor Ron Charles.

Exploding pens! The epidemic continues…

“Anyone know what makes pens decide to leak? I’ve had three go rogue on the inside of my purse in the last two days. Ink everywhere.” — WaPo‘s Karen Tumulty. Last week PBS’s Gwen Ifill dealt with an exploding pen just before going on air.

AMAZING FEATS: Harwood’s garage door opener works

“Frontiers of technology: turns out that garage door opener, even after having been slathered w/cheese grits (don’t ask) still gets job done” — CNBC and NYT‘s John Harwood.

WTF? Breitbart.com reporter prematurely accuses media of racism

“MSM did absurd strip club stories at RNC. So if they don’t do same at DNC…why?!? Racist MSM have smthng against ethnic DNC strippers?” — In an act of absolute stellar reporting, Breitbart.com‘s Tony Lee, formerly of Human Events, accuses “MSM” of racist reporting at the Democratic National Convention before it even begins. WWBD? Not this.

Cab complaint in Charlotte

“Advice to all in #Charlotte: Avoid the Orange Cab company. An hour late for pickup. Told four times cab was ‘five minutes’ away.” — The Weekly Standard Senior Writer Stephen Hayes.

Journo laments latest fashion trends

“So glad to see that this year’s dominant style will be high waists and short skirts, two things which look just darling on a 6’2 woman.” — The Atlantic‘s Megan McArdle.

Old School Baier Vomit

“Heading to see my wife and kids- hopping a plane back to dc and then coming back sunday-haven’t see the boys in 10 days-need a day w the fam.” — FNC’s Bret Baier. He adds, “I am loving life this morning – these guys woke me up at 630a.” And there you have his adorable sons — both with trademark Bret Baier wavy chestnut hair — in perfectly matched outfits.

Cool guy talk

“Guys, it’s Twitter. It’s happening. It’s not going to change. Ride the wave, brah.” — Politico‘s Dylan Byers getting his Twitter on.

And speaking of cool, a reporter goes Eastwooding at the vet

“Keeping myself occupied waiting at the vet on a rainy Sunday night #eastwooding” — Politico‘s Dan Berman.

Boingo hot spot anyone?

“The two most evil, rancid, hateful words in the English language for work travelers: Boingo Hotspot” — Politico‘s Ben White. And from the Dept. of Bragiculture, White (a FishbowlDC fave but we have to rip on him for this) retweets a follower complimenting him: “Your tweets have been so… compelling & educative for me.” He replies, “So kind! My pleasure.”

Modern Dating: Journo accidentally asks out flight attendant

“Flight attendant just moved to DC,doesn’t know anyone. Wanted to say we could go out as friends; may have accidentally asked her out. Awkward.” — Mother Jones‘ Nick Baumann.

Peter Ogburn contributed to this report.