Category Archives: Spirit of communication

New Media Can’t Afford to Think Talk is Cheap

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

Newsmakers and their media enablers may or may not have valid ideas to express to the American audience, but the more obvious problem is their occasional failure to express those ideas civilly. One of our crucial democratic norms—authentic, informed public … Continue reading →

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Words That Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive All Year

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

by Bill Schmitt Published Feb. 10, 2025, in the blog of the Magis Center, Garden Grove, CA. One way to keep Christmas joy alive into 2025 is to hold tight to and continue reflecting upon bits of the yuletide vocabulary that our … Continue reading →

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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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