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Read more about the article Guest commentary on the 4/8 total solar eclipse
Albany-area residents view the April 8 solar eclipse. (Photo credit: Times-Union, Albany, NY)

Guest commentary on the 4/8 total solar eclipse

(The Times-Union daily newspaper of Albany, N.Y. accepted and published my guest commentary on the April 8 total solar eclipse:) Commentary: All eyes on the sky The total solar eclipse was an opportunity to live in the moment, no cellphone required — except for taking photographs By Mark Marchand April 14, 2024  In those low-tech pre-internet days, I was often called upon as a Verizon spokesman to relate how world events affected phone call volumes. Two of my favorite happenings were the O.J. Simpson trial verdict in 1995 and the 1981 wedding of…

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Read more about the article Why we need local journalism more than ever
The panel at the Times-Union of Albany HQ Nov. 15, 2023 (l-R: Kenneth C. Crowe II, Casey Seiler, Jon Schleuss, Judy Patrick, Margaret Sullivan, Mark Vinciguerra, and NY Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner.)

Why we need local journalism more than ever

When Virginia became the 10th and final necessary state to ratify the Bill of Rights on Dec. 15, 1791, those founding fathers probably didn’t realize that 232 years later part of the first of those 10 constitutional amendments would still be so important … yet struggling to thrive. Throughout our nation’s history, freedom of the press has been a firm guidepost for our country and how the news media can and should be used to hold governments and others accountable to American citizens. And while this fundamental right has survived many threats…

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Read more about the article Broadening access to high-speed internet
Map of broadband availability and gaps in the Adirondacks.

Broadening access to high-speed internet

This article was recently published in the Adirondack Explorer magazine, focusing on the federal, state, and local effort to expand the availability of Broadband in the six-million acre Adirondack Park region. A direct link to the story in the magazine is at the end. The article and graphic are copyright Adirondack Explorer.   Broadening access to high-speed internet August 13, 2023 Graphic by Carin Lane While broadband is available to most Adirondack residents, gaps remain By Mark Marchand  Not since railroads and highways transformed access to the Adirondacks has the region stood…

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Read more about the article Social media and web ramblings; part deux

Social media and web ramblings; part deux

Several months ago I posted some personal observations of "worst practices" when it comes to using social media and the World Wide Web. I try to keep up with trends in this space as part of my overall writing/consulting work, and teaching as an adjunct professor in the Journalism Department at the University at Albany (SUNY). Social media and use of the Web has moved front and center when it comes to communication in a 21st century world filled with myriad ways to instantly send and obtain information. My first post tried…

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