Cable

Pundits: Central to democracy, or partisan spewers of opinion who destroy trust

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024

Lippmann, a Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote a syndicated column on national and international affairs.

Key Points: 
  • Lippmann, a Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote a syndicated column on national and international affairs.
  • He advocated a philosophy in which honest reflection on common experiences would lift citizens out of their parochial worldviews.
  • A pundit is someone who offers commentary in the media on a particular subject area.
  • I want to suggest that pundits support democracy when their combat is driven by ideas rather than tribal identities.

Pundit proliferation

  • Mass media in the 1950s featured radio hosts who delighted in browbeating callers.
  • The rise of a television pundit class in the 1960s established a new type of celebrity, thanks largely to William F. Buckley’s “Firing Line,” which ran from 1966 to 1999.
  • Lippmann’s vision of the pundit as public intellectual sought to preserve “the traditions of civility” during the advent of broadcast media.
  • The aspiration was hardly a source of inspiration for “The McLaughlin Group” and other shout shows launched in the 1980s.

Incentives to punch up

  • Columnists cannot replicate the visceral experience of the shout shows, although the ability of readers to graze online heightens the incentive to punch up punditry.
  • The term “pundit,” though, is derived from the Sanskrit word “pandrita,” meaning “learned.” Many pundits are not trained in journalism.
  • As a scholar of political communication, I believe punditry is likely to become more specialized in catering to particular interests.
  • This trend works against Lippmann’s principle of commentary that offers reflection on common experiences.

Pundits and democracy

  • Commentary that oversimplifies policy disagreement erodes the trust that citizens have for each other, especially when opponents are belittled.
  • Pundits contribute to democratic backsliding when they cultivate dystopian views of politics.
  • The best example is the relentless negativity that characterized commentary on presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in 2016.
  • The authors reported that “political differences of opinion do not, in and of themselves, harm attitudes toward politics and politicians.

Supporting democracy

  • Many political theorists insist that there is democratic value in heated commentary that calls out injustice.
  • Media scholar Patricia Rossini suggests that in evaluating political expression, people should be concerned not so much about tone as tolerance.
  • Audiences should also keep in mind the incentives of pundits, especially when commentators use their platforms to nurture relationships with politicians who undermine democracy.


Mike McDevitt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

South Africa Insulated Wire and Cable Manufacturing Industry Report 2023 - Cable Theft Remains a Significant Issue - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 28, 2023

The "Manufacture of Insulated Wire and Cable in South Africa 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "Manufacture of Insulated Wire and Cable in South Africa 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • The insulated wire and cable manufacturing industry supports infrastructure development, electrical power transmission, telecommunications and industrial sectors such as construction and automotive.
  • Cable theft is a significant issue in South Africa and is in many cases an organised crime enterprise.
  • There are profiles of 13 companies including South Ocean Electric Wire Company, Aberdare, Flexicore, Tulisa and Voltex.

center3 acquires CMC Networks in strategic move to accelerate growth plan

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 20, 2023

CMC Networks operates across more than 110 service locations with a cost-effective, scalable, and resilient data communications network.

Key Points: 
  • CMC Networks operates across more than 110 service locations with a cost-effective, scalable, and resilient data communications network.
  • The acquisition aligns with center3's strategic vision for growth and expansion in the Middle East and African markets.
  • We are excited about the possibilities that CMC Networks will bring including its wealth of knowledge, capability in the African region and promising growth in the Middle East."
  • Marisa Trisolino, Group CEO of CMC Networks, said:
    "Joining forces with center3 is a thrilling development for us.

center3 acquires CMC Networks in strategic move to accelerate growth plan

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 20, 2023

CMC Networks operates across more than 110 service locations with a cost-effective, scalable, and resilient data communications network.

Key Points: 
  • CMC Networks operates across more than 110 service locations with a cost-effective, scalable, and resilient data communications network.
  • The acquisition aligns with center3's strategic vision for growth and expansion in the Middle East and African markets.
  • We are excited about the possibilities that CMC Networks will bring including its wealth of knowledge, capability in the African region and promising growth in the Middle East."
  • Marisa Trisolino, Group CEO of CMC Networks, said:
    "Joining forces with center3 is a thrilling development for us.

Thanksgiving Holiday Provides Boost to TV Viewing Levels in November, according to Nielsen's Report of The Gauge™

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Overall TV usage in November was up 5.7% compared with October, primarily driven by the week of Thanksgiving (11/20/23 - 11/26/23), when viewing levels peaked and measured over 14% higher than the previous month.

Key Points: 
  • Overall TV usage in November was up 5.7% compared with October, primarily driven by the week of Thanksgiving (11/20/23 - 11/26/23), when viewing levels peaked and measured over 14% higher than the previous month.
  • Month-over-month, broadcast usage was up 7% in November, largely propelled by the week of Thanksgiving when usage jumped 18.4%.
  • Similar to broadcast, streaming usage peaked during the holiday week when viewing jumped over 10% compared with October levels.
  • that was driven largely by football coverage and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, leading it to a platform-high 1.3% of TV.

Melani Griffith Appointed as Chief Growth Officer for Google Fiber

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 14, 2023

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Google Fiber is proud to announce Melani Griffith as the company’s first-ever Chief Growth Officer (CGO).

Key Points: 
  • MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Google Fiber is proud to announce Melani Griffith as the company’s first-ever Chief Growth Officer (CGO).
  • In this role, Melani will continue to set the course for GFiber’s continued customer growth, overseeing the entire customer lifespan from brand and marketing, sales, digital, customer service, and public relations.
  • As CGO, Melani will continue to lead this charge for GFiber, reshaping the customer experience to provide truly differentiated services that make it easier for them on every front.
  • It’s that tenacity that will lead to the type of operational excellence and continuous improvement that our customers should expect from us.”

ATLANTIC-ACM Announces 2023 U.S. Wholesale Service Provider Excellence Awards

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 14, 2023

Leading TMT consultancy and market diligence firm ATLANTIC-ACM announced its 2023 U.S. Wholesale Service Provider Excellence Awards based on the 26th annual U.S. Wholesale Report Card study.

Key Points: 
  • Leading TMT consultancy and market diligence firm ATLANTIC-ACM announced its 2023 U.S. Wholesale Service Provider Excellence Awards based on the 26th annual U.S. Wholesale Report Card study.
  • The U.S. Wholesale study covers metro and long-haul wholesale services across several different voice and data products.
  • The study delivers quantifiable metrics on current wholesale trends and real-time insights into shifting purchasing dynamics and buying priorities.
  • The winners for ATLANTIC-ACM’s 2023 U.S. Wholesale Service Provider Excellence Awards are:
    Founded in 1991, ATLANTIC-ACM, is a leading strategic consulting firm to the telecom and technology sectors.

$10.2 Billion In Political Ad Spend Forecasted For 2024 Election Cycle

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Political ad spend is expected to reach $10.2 Billion in the 2024 election cycle, surpassing the $8.9 Billion spent in the 2022 election cycle and the $9 Billion spent in the prior Presidential election cycle of 2020, according to AdImpact .

Key Points: 
  • Political ad spend is expected to reach $10.2 Billion in the 2024 election cycle, surpassing the $8.9 Billion spent in the 2022 election cycle and the $9 Billion spent in the prior Presidential election cycle of 2020, according to AdImpact .
  • The leading ad intelligence SaaS company detailed spend and other political ad trends in their first AdImpact Political Summit, held Wednesday, November 15th in New York City.
  • The Summit featured a 2023/2024 political spend outlook led by Kyle Roberts, CEO, AdImpact, and Michael Beach, CEO, Cross Screen Media.
  • According to AdImpact, Broadcast TV will maintain its position as market-share leader with anticipated expenditures in the 2024 election cycle totaling $5.09 Billion, while Cable will account for $2.10 Billion, and Digital at $1.18 Billion.

Airties Collaborates with Qualcomm to Accelerate 5G Fixed Wireless Adoption with Broadband Carriers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 14, 2023

PARIS, Dec. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Airties, a global leader of managed Wi-Fi solutions for broadband service providers, today announced that it is collaborating with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connectivity solutions. Specifically, the two companies are collaborating to optimize Airties' managed Wi-Fi solutions to integrate more easily on broadband carrier platforms, featuring Qualcomm® 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform.

Key Points: 
  • Specifically, the two companies are collaborating to optimize Airties' managed Wi-Fi solutions to integrate more easily on broadband carrier platforms, featuring Qualcomm® 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform.
  • "Fixed Wireless is unquestionably reshaping the home broadband market worldwide," said Metin Taskin, founder and Co-CEO of Airties.
  • It is also critical to understand the end user experience through both 5G and home Wi-Fi in order to assess the end-to-end performance of a Fixed Wireless Access service.
  • Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Gen 3 Platform also provides converged mmWave-sub 6 hardware architecture, reducing footprint, cost, board complexity, and power consumption.

San Francisco's Hilton Union Square and Parc 55 Have a Sleigh-Full of Holiday Offerings, Special Bevvies & Bargains

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 8, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This holiday season, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and its sister property, Parc 55 San Francisco, a Hilton Hotel are set to dazzle guests and locals alike with a variety of festive offerings.

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This holiday season, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and its sister property, Parc 55 San Francisco, a Hilton Hotel are set to dazzle guests and locals alike with a variety of festive offerings.
  • We have Santa, signature cocktails, selfie backdrops, Union Square ice skating packages and the best views in town for ringing in 2024."
  • "These holiday specials at Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 are the perfect complement to the vibrant holiday events happening in Union Square," said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of the Union Square Alliance.
  • Both the Hilton and Parc 55 are at the very heart of San Francisco's world-class Union Square with its internationally recognized retails brands, restaurants and Broadway style theatre.