Category Archives: Writing

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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A Personal Look at ‘Millennial’ Saint-to-be Carlo Acutis

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Bill Schmitt

By William Schmitt, Special to The Evangelist Published Feb. 6, 2025 Fr. Anthony Sorgie, Fr. Robert Hohenstein, Fr. Tom Morrette (pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish), with relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis A parish event in Troy is set to … 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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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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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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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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‘Try to Remember, And If You Remember, Then Follow.’

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

“Never forget!” It’s an urgent call that requires not only personal serenity sufficient to recollect truths, but also a strong social infrastructure able to reignite awareness. Although the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, seem far behind us, we who … Continue reading →

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Not Unburdened: Why You Gotta Be So Meme?

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Bill Schmitt

It’s like I just fell out of a coconut tree. I still don’t fully understand what Vice President Kamala Harris means by promoting “what can be, unburdened by what has been.” Please join me as I seek help through the … Continue reading →

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