editorial

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Op-Ed to TIME re: Kids Online Safety Act

Dec 01, 2025 at 04:22 pm by WGNS News

Editorial: U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who represents Tennessee, sent an op-ed to TIME Magazine outlining her support for the Senate version of the Kids Online Safet.... Read More

“House of Dynamite” Ignites Public Discussion - Media Commentary by MTSU Professor

Nov 11, 2025 at 04:22 pm by WGNS News

Director Kathryn Bigelow’s new movie House of Dynamite asks tough questions about how the U.S. government would react if a missile were headed toward the country. The fi.... Read More

MTSU’s Dr. Larry Burriss Weighs In on Free Speech and Local Accountability

Sep 15, 2025 at 01:26 pm by WGNS News

Murfreesboro, TN - In a time when debates over speech and censorship echo from college campuses to social media platforms, Dr. Larry Burriss of Middle Tennessee State Uni.... Read More

Commentary: When a Symbol Sparks a Fire - Flag Burning and the Constitution

Sep 02, 2025 at 06:15 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY - The American flag symbolizes freedom and democracy, values defended by those who sacrificed their lives. Dr. Larry Burriss, an MTSU professor of journalism, exa.... Read More

MTSU Professor Larry Burriss Compares Cracker Barrel, Rooted in Wilson County, to Coca-Cola and Necco Wafers

Aug 30, 2025 at 03:43 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: In today's Media Commentary, MTSU Professor Larry Burriss, who has been a longtime staple in the School of Journalism & Strategic Media department, com.... Read More

Media Commentary by MTSU Professor: From Fads to Fashion: Who Really Decides What’s “In”?

Aug 21, 2025 at 01:31 am by WGNS News

Commentary - Trends in fashion often start when a popular person wears something new, and others copy it until the media declares it the latest fad. The problem is, even if yo.... Read More

Commentary: Elvis, Kidnappings, and Palladium: The Problem with Misused Data

Aug 06, 2025 at 10:04 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY - News stories often use real numbers but come to the wrong conclusions by twisting the facts. Statistics can be misleading when not explained clearly—like.... Read More

MTSU’s Dr. Burriss Remembers Exactly Where He Was—and What He Was Wearing—During Woodstock ’69

Jul 29, 2025 at 09:55 am by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: In August 1969, the famous Woodstock Music and Art Fair took place. It was actually in Bethel, New York—and not the town of Woodstock. With a reflection on w.... Read More

OP-ED: War Isn’t a Game: Why Stories Still Matter in Modern Combat

Jun 27, 2025 at 04:50 pm by WGNS News

These days, some TV reports on conflict or war-like situations come across as almost surreal—or, in some cases, like video games. Viewers may see glowing screens with li.... Read More

Op-Ed: Rep. Bryan Terry Champions Right to Try 2.0 for Tennesseans with Rare Diseases

Jun 12, 2025 at 02:33 pm by WGNS News

Bryan Terry: New hope for Tennesseeans with rare diseases - Imagine having a spouse, child or loved one suffering from a rare, terminal illness or debilitating condition. Afte.... Read More

Commentary by Dr. Burriss: Hidden Treasures in Plain Sight

May 19, 2025 at 10:38 am by WGNS News

COMMENTARY - A man plans to check his old prints and picture frames after hearing surprising stories of hidden treasures. Harvard once bought what they thought was a $28 copy.... Read More

Commentary: When News Was Just News - A Look Back at Honest Reporting, by MTSU Professor

May 12, 2025 at 11:44 am by WGNS News

Commentary: Some may recall when cable TV first came out and the single news channel that followed. It wasn’t flashy—no commercials, no opinions, just straight fac.... Read More

COMMENTARY - Dragon Logo Gets Lawyer in Hot Water with Judge

May 05, 2025 at 01:24 pm by WGNS News

Commentary - A lawyer in Michigan got in trouble for using a big cartoon dragon logo on every page of a 12-page legal document. While lawyers are allowed to use logos in ads,.... Read More

COMMENTARY: Why Public Officials Can't Sue News Outlets for Mistakes, by MTSU Professor

Apr 28, 2025 at 05:51 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: In a recent court case, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin sued "The New York Times" for libel after the newspaper made a factual mistake about her. Th.... Read More

COMMENTARY: Time, Tradition, and Tension with B.C. and A.D.

Apr 15, 2025 at 09:34 am by WGNS News

Commentary: Some of the words and abbreviations we use to describe people, places, and things have evolved over time. But did you know that even the way we refer to dates and.... Read More

The World’s Impact on America: Why Global News Matters – Commentary by Dr. Burriss

Mar 26, 2025 at 09:02 am by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: No one lives completely alone, and the same is true for countries—they are all connected. Events in other parts of the world, like conflicts or economic chan.... Read More

Commentary: Understanding Political Jargon and a Call for Clarity, by MTSU Professor Larry Burriss

Mar 12, 2025 at 07:26 pm by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: Many politicians and public figures use confusing language instead of being direct, which has been an ongoing issue that makes understanding a variety of situ.... Read More

COMMENTARY: MTSU’s Dr. Larry Burriss Reports that Behind the Red Carpet, It’s the Money that Makes the Awards Shows Go, Go, Go

Mar 06, 2025 at 11:37 am by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: In today’s media commentary, Dr. Larry Burriss, a professor of journalism in the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU, focused on television awards sho.... Read More

Media Commentary on Misunderstood Moments: The Iwo Jima Flag Raising Controversy

Feb 25, 2025 at 08:32 pm by WGNS News

Media Commentary: February 23rd marked the 80th anniversary of the iconic flag raising on Iwo Jima during World War II. The famous photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal shows the.... Read More

Media Commentary by MTSU Professor Larry Burriss: The Illusion of Fame: Reality vs. Perception

Feb 18, 2025 at 09:12 am by WGNS News

COMMENTARY: In this media commentary, Dr. Larry Burriss focuses on the nature of fame and the role of media in shaping perceptions of public figures like entertainers, athlete.... Read More