Author Archives: Bill Schmitt

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About Bill Schmitt

Bill Schmitt is a Catholic journalist, author, educator, and marketing-communications specialist whose recent work can be seen on the Magis Center blog, in the diocesan newspaper of the Diocese of Albany, and in commentaries at “Phronesis in Pieces” on the Substack platform and at “OnWord.net”. As a secular reporter/editor, he worked at Gannett Westchester Newspapers, McGraw-Hill, Cahners Business Information, Kiplinger Washington Letter, and Chemical Week magazine. Bill has been an adjunct professor of English and media at several schools, including Fordham University and the U of Notre Dame. Full bio: Click "About" at billschmitt.substack.com

Media, Trump & Budgeting: Whose Line-Item Is It Anyway?

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

President Trump first impacted the media during cathode ray tube days—before TV technology, and his career plans, changed. But the celebrity who loved to say, “you’re fired!” now can choose to use flatter screens and a grander stage to push … Continue reading →

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Pope’s 2025 Media Plea: Go Gentle into that Good Fight

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Pope Francis says journalists face a tough assignment these days. In this polarized world, it’s never been more important for communicators to remind us of our responsibilities— and to help us carry them out. The media serve socieites which must … Continue reading →

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A Chesterton Poem and Other “ND” Game Prep

Posted on January 19, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Pre-Game Report On January 20, when ESPN anchors retell Notre Dame’s journey to the 2025 College Football Championship battle with Ohio State, it’s unlikely they will show film from the game that occurred Saturday, Oct. 11, 1930. Too bad, because … Continue reading →

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Did You Hear What I Heard? It’s Streaming in 2025.

Posted on January 5, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

One way to keep Christmas joy alive throughout the new year is to hold tight to, and continue reflecting upon, bits of the yuletide vocabulary to which our culture grants only a short shelf life. While some spiritual advisors urge … Continue reading →

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Our Trains of Thought Need More than Search Engines

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

’Tis the season for language gurus to announce their “Words of the Year.” The 2024 selections from Merriam-Webster and Oxford are “polarization” and “brain rot,” respectively. Cultural critics may conclude these choices—alongside samples from previous years—suggest a certain pattern of … Continue reading →

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A Franciscan’s Mindfulness Yields an Advent Prayer

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

This commentary by Bill Schmitt was published on December 9 at the blog of the Magis Center, directed by Father Robert Spitzer, SJ. The liturgical season of Advent inspires many people to think more broadly about how Christ comes into our lives. … Continue reading →

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Realignment Time in Our Politics: Alert the Media!

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

This commentary was published earlier today on Phronesis in Pieces at billschmitt.substack.com. Bill Schmitt was interviewed about it this afternoon in hour one of Ave Maria in the Afternoon, a program nationally broadcast by Catholic radio stations. After a long … Continue reading →

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‘Man’ vs. ‘Machine’—Programming Election Day and Beyond

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

Published in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com on Nov. 5, 2024 Members of the Baby Boom generation (1946-1964)—like Donald Trump (b. 1946), Kamala Harris (b. 1964), and me—grew up with easy access to science fiction movies and TV, as well … Continue reading →

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Play’s US Premiere Explores Sex Abuse Aftermath

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

Published in The Evangelist, the newspaper of the Diocese of Albany, NY, on Oct. 23, 2024. An award-winning, one-man play that made its U.S. public premiere in the Diocese of Albany on Oct. 20 was a breakthrough event, but not … Continue reading →

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“Unleashing Love” Conference on Women’s Catholic Identity

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

Published in The Evangelist, newspaper of the Diocese of Albany, NY, on 10/23/24. Today’s culture tends to define women by their roles — wife, mother, lawyer or doctor — but the starting point for spiritual strength is one’s identity, according … Continue reading →

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