Public Media Digest: An Informational Portal for Public Media Professionals

With an expired domain, Public Media Digest, as it was once envisioned by its founders, is no more. If you were a follower, as I was, you may have been disappointed when you returned to the site to sign in and it had disappeared from the internet.

Public Media Digest obviously had its supporters. I saw that they were even nominated for Site of the Month at joomlart.com by someone who pointed out that "The site was designed by Thomas Meldgaard and includes a custom video module by Mike Wooster."

I'm a huge fan of Public Media Digest and have been for a long time. I've learned so much from this site over time about not only the public media, but about holding to account those who use any kind of media for financial gain, especially now that the internet is part of the media space. Loved the piece on gun rights - whether you're for or against gun ownership, this information is vital both to understand the safety issue as well as the rights issue, and the way in which media exploits the rift among the citizenry. Also great coverage of the danger of fake reviews - the post on online gambling was spot on and revealed the stunning vulnerability of consumers to posted reviews. The deep dive into the posted reviews of Uptown Aces Casino and how the authors could spot genuine as opposed to fake reviews was both instructive and eye-opening. Long live this valuable effort to inform the public about what they're being exposed to by broadcasters, print media and internet posts!

When I recently discovered that this Public Media Digest domain had become available I bought it with the goal of rebuilding as much of the information as was possible from it's archived pages. Consider the result as a historical snapshot of newsworthy events that were occurring during the years of 2007-2009.

FYI

Attention Programmers: PMD is looking for programmers to Tweet live from PTPA and APT Marketplace next month. If you're interested please contact the PMD staff.

After You've Gone (23x30)

Jack-of-all-trades Jimmy Venables is probably the only man in Britain who gets divorced and ends up with his mother-in-law. That's not how he planned it, but since when does life go according to plan? When his ex-wife volunteers to go to East Africa to help the victims of a natural disaster, weekend-dad Jimmy agrees to take care of their two teenage kids full-time in an attempt to win her back. Unfortunately, his posh mother-in-law Diana sees Jimmy as the true natural disaster and virtually moves in herself to keep order.

Apollo Wives (1x50)

The names of the Apollo astronauts are well-known, their actions and achievements are well-documented, but what of the women they spent their lives with — the wives forced to stand in the shadow of the moon? This fascinating documentary looks in detail at precisely what it meant to be an Apollo wife, what was required of them by their husbands, by NASA and by the media. For the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Moon Landing, ten of them come together for this programme for a remarkable meeting of minds.

Around the World in 20 Years (1x50)

Michael Palin celebrates the 20th anniversary of his TV classic, Around The World In 80 Days, in this one-hour special. One of the most memorable segments of Michael's famous circumnavigation was the open dhow voyage from Dubai to Bombay. As he said goodbye to the crew and their trusted boat, the Al Shama (meaning candlelight), Michael made a forecast. "At this point", he said, "it is impossible to accept that I shall never see them again".

Attenborough Collection (11x50)

British naturalist, author and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has worked with the BBC since 1952. Although he held several high level management positions at BBC in the 1960s and 1970s and helped the channel gain mainstream popularity, his true passion lay in creating nature documentaries. These are among the very best.

Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery (5x50)

Today, astonishing surgical breakthroughs are making face transplants, limb transplants and a host of other cutting edge operations possible. But getting to this point has been an extraordinary story of bravery and mistakes - stolen corpses, crazy remedies, medical fraud, lobotomised patients - and every now and then, brave and extraordinary advances that have saved millions of lives across the world.

Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death (1x50)

Travel back in time to the glamour and bloodshed of ancient Rome's gladiatorial world, where men fought for their lives to satisfy the whims of emperors and a bloodthirsty populace. Combining compelling narrative with state-of-the-art computer graphics and high-quality drama reconstruction, this production throws new light on the way gladiators really fought and trained, and reveals that many of them were the superstars of their age: even noblemen aspired to be gladiators.

D-Day (2x50)

The planning for the Allied invasion on June 6th 1944 took two years and cost thousands of lives, and involved a deception of breathtaking audacity. D-Day examines the intricate jigsaw, presenting events through the eyes of the men and women who were there, telling their extraordinary stories. It combines true history, personal testimony and compelling drama to portray the momentous events of that day and the stories of those who took part.

Doctor Who (12x45)

Hot on the heels of the acclaimed third series, Doctor Who returns for a fourth instalment with a familiar face alongside the Doctor. Award-winning actor Catherine Tate returns as the Doctor's new companion, reprising her role as Donna Noble who featured in the 2006 Christmas special The Runaway Bride.

Dragons Alive (3x50)

Evolved from the era of the dinosaurs, today's reptiles are the ultimate success story. They are as deadly as dinosaurs, as beautiful as birds, and as caring as mammals. Their image as ancient, unchanging creatures couldn't be further from the truth: they are in fact some of the most adaptable creatures. This series brings reptiles out of the shadow of dinosaurs and reveals what it's like to live in their world.

Equator (3x60)

For most people, the equator is just an imaginary line around the globe but in this series Simon Reeve comes face-to-face with the reality. On a 40,000-kilometre journey, he reveals the equator as a unique region of our planet; home to both the world's greatest concentration of human poverty and natural biodiversity. Beneath the sweltering heat of the equatorial sun lie paradise beaches, strange foods and exotic wildlife, along with some of the world's most extreme terrains: dense rainforests, towering volcanoes and perilous rapids.

Genghis Khan (1x50)

Always strike first and always take revenge. Genghis Khan learnt these lessons the hard way during a violent childhood. Son of a murdered father, Genghis grew up in the unforgiving environment of the Mongolian Steppe. But how did an outcast, raised in poverty, come to be the great Khan? Combining live-action footage shot in Mongolia with CGI software used in Lord of the Rings, the recreation of battle scenes is taken to a new level in presenting the story of how Genghis conquered an empire greater than the Roman Empire at its peak.

Great Romances (10x30)

What were the circumstances that brought together some of the 20th century's most well-known couples? Plundering a wealth of film archive, these programmes take you behind-the-scenes to unlock the secrets of some of the most romantic stories ever told.

Horizon: How to Kill a Human Being (1x50)

Capital punishment is in crisis. After a series of high-profile botched procedures, influential pressure groups worldwide are calling out for a humane and infallible method. But does one exist? Former British politician Michael Portillo investigates. His journey takes him across Britain and America, meeting experts in the business of death, from retired executioners to toxicologists, biomechanics specialist and trauma surgeons as well as witnesses of botched procedures.

Horizon: How Much Is Your Dead Body Worth? (1x50)

300 years ago the only way for doctors to work out what made people tick was to get a body and delve around inside. It was a time of great discovery, but it also marked the beginning of the illicit trade in bodies. However, is this really a thing of the past? Companies trading in body parts today can make up to US $5,000 for a whole body.

Horizon: The Truth About Violence (1x50)

We think of ourselves as calm, peaceful, law-abiding creatures. But could we ever be driven to kill another person? Horizon discovers the terrifying violence that lies within us all. From the role brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin play in controlling our aggression to social conditioning discover what can make us aggressive. Find out why sleepless nights mean you are more likely to lose your temper. Uncover the surprising link between brain damage and domestic violence.

Lark Rise to Candleford (33x50 & 1x75)

As the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford return in this warm-hearted series, could the fortunes of the Timmins family be about to change? A journalist named Daniel arrives to deliver the news that Emma has been left some money. There's a substantial sum to be claimed if Emma can prove her right to the money and there´s a rags to riches story in it for Daniel's newspaper.

Life on Mars (16x50)

Smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam has his world turned upside down when the hunt for a cold-blooded murderer becomes a desperate rescue mission for his own girlfriend and fellow cop Maya. After a near-fatal car accident, Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973 - only four years after he was born. Confused by his new and outdated surroundings, Sam impatiently tries to return to the present.

Massive Nature (3x50)

Imagine being at the very heart of a swarm of bats, 20 million strong, or in the middle of a huge mass of migrating wildebeest - that is where this series will take you. It unravels the action and explores the story behind these huge wildlife spectacles. The participation of every animal is explained while iconic footage is used to tell the story. Augmented by photo-realistic technology, some truly stunning angles and points of view are produced, relaying the action from the very heart of the event.

MI-5 (16x50)

More highly topical stories as the award-winning intelligence drama returns with two new seasons. Smoldering heart-throb Richard Armitage joins the cast as MI5 officer Lucas North. Having spent the past eight years in a Russian prison, Lucas North is welcomed back by MI5 chief and old friend Harry Pearce, who was instrumental in finally securing his release.

Mystery of the Black Death (1x50)

For years it has been believed that the Black Death, which swept through Europe in the Middle Ages, was Bubonic Plague. Timewatch examines powerful new research which suggests otherwise.

New Tricks (48x50)

A team of retired former detectives with over 80 years service between them and three very distinct personalities is recruited to re-examine unsolved crimes. The squad is headed up by Sandra Pullman - a detective in disgrace after bungling a hostage situation. The first task of the motley crew is to identify the real killer of a young cocktail waitress murdered in 1981.

Paul Merton in India (5x50)

Comedian Paul Merton presents his own unique perspective on a land of startling contradictions in this fresh and engaging glimpse of a vast and diverse country. Rarely have country and presenter been so perfectly matched. Paul's surreal and intense personal odyssey takes him from the crowded city streets of Mumbai to the harsh beauty of rural India; from the rugged terrain of the north to the sultry heat of the south.

The Old Guys (12x30)

From the writers of Peep Show and The Thick of It comes a new comedy about settling into old age with style. Housemates Tom and Roy are the ying to each other's yang. Roy is well-read, organised, clean and sensitive. Tom, well, isn't. As both of them settle into retirement, they are faced with the prospect of life simply not turning out quite how they imagined. Together, however, they manage to muddle through life - answering the important questions that retirement poses.

Pedigree Dogs Exposed (1x50)

rom the team behind Can Dogs Smell Cancer? comes a provocative film of the world of purebred dogs revealing the shocking tactics used by breeders to ensure 'perfection'. Even though it is scientifically proven that inbreeding causes terrible problems, Kennel Clubs around the world still hold 'purity' as sacrosanct.

Pompeii: The Last Day (1x50)

The terrifying last moments of a city caught in a volcanic death trap. On August 24 AD79 the city of Pompeii came to a devastating end as the mighty Vesuvius erupted, showering inhabitants with ash, smoke and rock. Some escaped, but those who remained were entombed forever as they fell.

Posh Nosh (8x10)

A sitcom in the form of eight ten-minute cookery shows set in the kitchen, dining room and garden of the country house of two self-styled celebrity chefs. You've never seen anything quite like Minty and Simon's show before. Or anything quite like their presenting style. Or anything quite like their 17th-century mansion.

Priceless Antiques Roadshow (15x30)

Everyone has their favourite moment from Antiques Roadshow; the exquisite jewellery found on a rubbish tip worth thousands; the cracked tea pot worth enough for its owners to buy their house; the blood-spattered Boer War book that saved the life of the owner's grandfather by stopping a near fatal bullet.

QE2 - The Last Voyage (1x50)

The world's longest serving and most beloved cruise ship, the QE2, has come a long way since her humble beginnings as piles of steel and timber on 'Yard Number 736' in Scotland. Nearly 40 years after her maiden voyage, one of the most iconic liners in the world is about to embark on her final journey, as she glides gracefully towards retirement.

Red Dwarf (52x30)

Red Dwarf is an enormous spaceship, mining around the moons of Saturn with a crew of 169 members. Before the end of the first episode, 168 of them are dead, wiped out by massive radiation leak. Revived after three millions years, once the radiation has reached a safe level, Dave Lister finds his only companions are a life-form evolved from his cat and Arnold J Rimmer, a hologram simulation of his dead bunk-mate.

Waking the Dead (8x50)

A stylish, contemporary thriller. The Cold Case team is a crack squad of police investigators who reopen unsolved murder cases, using new technology to re-examine evidence that hopefully will lead to the killer. They are at the cutting edge of modern police investigation, but they have been given just one year to prove their worth.

Wild Lives 2 (5x50)

In the harsh conditions of the barren lands of the Canadian Arctic, life is hard and death is easy. Born into a world of sub-zero temperatures and a permanently frozen ground are a young wolf, blind, hairless and fragile, and a young a caribou, an easy target for a hungry predator. These two very different animals must endure the hardships of the same bleak landscape. But as the wolf depends on catching the caribou and the caribou depends on avoiding the wolf, can they both survive?

Young Victoria (1x50)

We think of Queen Victoria as a respectable matron, the epitome of duty, a beloved monarch. But Victoria's path to the throne was by no means easy. Britain in the 1830s was a country on the brink of revolution. The people could not have borne another debauched son of George III as King. Fortunately, they were able to invest their hopes in the innocent Princess Victoria.