ProPublica today points us to some very peculiar behavior in Washington, D.C.: media companies pushing back against the government's attempt to make political spending more transparent.

Several publishers and broadcasters are opposing a Federal Communications Commission proposal that would require broadcasters to disclose how much political candidates spend on advertising, which would then be posted on the federal agency's website. The FCC will vote on the proposal on April 27.

Joining the parent companies of Fox News, the Washington Post, Politico, and NBC News, among others, to defeat or water down the measure is Cox Media Group, the the proud mama and papa of WSB-TV and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

• Joeff Davis/www.Joeff.com
• Huckabee a kinder, gentler version of Rush?

I mentioned last week that the hubbub over Huckabee confused me. As conservative commentators go, he's harmless enough, and that's exactly why I questioned the idea that he could beat Rush Limbaugh and become the new conservative radio stalwart.

Two things about that: One, I'm not the only person who doesn't think Rush should be quaking in his boots. Mark Davis, himself a longtime conservative talk show host and columnist (and sometimes Rush stand-in), says there is no way Huckabee is going to overtake the conservative radio king.

Two: Don't think for a moment that Cumulus execs aren't trying to suggest Huckabee is a kinder, gentler version of Rush. American Spectator breaks the news this morning that the first caller to Huckabee's show was "Mike from San Francisco" — who turned out to be Mike McVay, senior vice president of programming for the Cumulus Media Network. McVay was never identified as a Cumulus employee, but what he said gave away pretty quickly that he was a plant:

"Well Governor, let me start by saying it's great to have a different opinion and a different person on the radio and I'm very, very happy that you're doing this radio show. One of the reasons why I want to listen to your program every day is because you ran for office and you've been a politician, you have a different perspective I think."

That's just spectacularly dumb.

• CL File Photo

I'm about to tell you, in a very long and involved way, two things about that statement:

1. That's technically true, and there are probably instances of cheating flagged within that 196 number, but that number is most likely tremendously overstated and the data used to arrive at it is deeply flawed.

2. The paper knew this and decided to publish anyway, because it didn't have the time, resources, or desire to dive deeper into these numbers.

I say this based on conversations I've had with school administrators, detailed responses by the districts themselves, and an expert who advised the paper and told it specifically why these numbers were not only wrong, but irresponsible to publish. In fact, I'm more certain of my conclusions than you should be of the notion the AJC's report indicates widespread cheating on the level the story asserts.

Let's just say I want to start a conversation about what these irregularities show. That logic and wording was good enough for the AJC to all-but-indict nearly 200 school districts — and hire a marketing firm to help it do so — as harboring cheaters, so it's good enough for me. Jump with me and let's discuss:

It's been a busy few weeks for the Atlanta Daily World, the city's oldest black-owned newspaper.

First, the paper's found itself in the middle of a skirmish with local preservationists over its plan to sell and partially demolish the 84-year-old newspaper's former Sweet Auburn building, which it vacated after the 2008 tornado caused extensive damage. Atlanta-based infill developer Integral Group plans to convert the property and an adjoining parcel into a 91-unit apartment development that'd be along the downtown streetcar route.

Now we're learning that the weekly paper's been bought by Real Times Media, a multimedia company based in Detroit. The firm, which owns historic black newspapers such as the Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle, the Michigan FrontPage, the New Pittsburgh Courier, and Memphis' Tri-State Defender, will take over all operations this month. Publisher Alexis Scott, the granddaughter of the paper's founder and frequent "Georgia Gang" panelist, will stay in her executive role under the new ownership.

“The Atlanta Daily World is excited to become a part of Real Times,” Alexis Scott said. “This is truly a new beginning for the paper. The resources that are now available will enable us to diversify into a multi-media platform.”

In the early 1930s, the company published newspapers in other cities and was considered one of the largest black-owned businesses in the country. Its rich history is worth a read.

(H/T to the Atlanta Business Chronicle)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Publisher Mike Joseph is heading to the corporate suites to oversee parent company Cox Media Group's newspapers. Amy Glennon, the AJC's vice president of audience, will take his office. Joseph's was named the paper's publisher in mid-2009. From zee memo announcing the changes:

Date: March 6, 2012
From: Mike Joseph, Publisher
To: All AJC Employees

Today, Cox Media Group President Doug Franklin is announcing several leadership changes, including two that directly impact the AJC. I wanted you all to know that I have accepted a position as CMG Executive Vice President and will have responsibility for all our newspapers — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, Dayton Daily News and Palm Beach Newspapers. While I won’t be here at the AJC on a daily basis, I’m very excited about my new role and the opportunity to work with the AJC in a different capacity.

I am pleased to announce that Amy Glennon will succeed me as publisher of the AJC. Most recently serving as our Vice President of Audience, Amy will oversee all of the AJC’s operations.

A versatile veteran of our business, Amy is an effective, collaborative and innovative leader, which she has demonstrated in a wide range of newspaper roles. She combines keen professional judgment and a passion for serving our customers with a balance of media experience and business savvy. Most recently, Amy has been a key leader in our print Reader Value strategy and has helped the AJC march more aggressively toward an audience-focused, digital future as we push harder to improve our business.

Amy has been with the AJC for 20 years, having started her career in the newsroom in 1992. Since then, her roles have included Features Editor, Director of Innovations, Gwinnett General Manager and VP of Circulation.

“I look forward to building on the AJC’s current momentum, tapping into the abilities, energy and passion of those around me, as we continue moving into the future together,” Amy said.

Amy is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she spent three years at The Red and Black student paper. She currently serves on the paper’s board of directors. Before the AJC, Amy worked at the Gwinnett Daily News.

Please join me in congratulating Amy as she takes on this important role for both the AJC and CMG.

Got any details about the behind the scenes goings-on, if any? Send us a line.

I've met Shawn McIntosh, the public editor for the AJC. I sat on a panel with her as we discussed the future of newspapers in the Internet age. She was informed, smart, and kind. That's my opinion, and it's one I strongly believe in.

However, if someone out there thinks she's a blithering idiot who wouldn't know a viable future-of-news strategy if it bit on her on her the bum, please explain why in 500 words or fewer and email it to her. I'm sure she'd like to publish it.

That's my takeaway from this column, in which McIntosh explains the paper's wonderful new Balanced Views opinion page, in which "[w]e’ve been running side-by-side opinion columnists since September, and last week added a similar approach to our editorial cartoons."

Which means they've been taking one of the last reasons to read the Dunwoody-based news product, Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist Mike Luckovich, and undercutting his importance by offering a half-as-insightful take on the day's political absurdity. All in the bullshit name of "balance."

Sigh. Four things here. 1) This is why newspapers are dying. There is nothing wrong with pissing off a vocal minority of your audience who can't accept insightful commentary that doesn't align with their political belief, right, left, and all in between. You're better off without them. 2) Getting folks to email you and say "glad to see your pages don't really take a stand, or offer much insight that don't immediately refute" isn't a worthwhile endorsement of your strategy. 3) Abdicating taking strong stands on the editorial page, such as endorsing candidates, is as chicken-shit as it ever was. 4) Please don't suggest that running editorials like the one calling for Beverly Hall to step down shows that you'll speak out when necessary. How fat was that limb you climbed out on there? Please.

The problem is not "presenting the other side." The problem is finding columnists and readers with independent takes so insightful, argued in such an air-tight manner, that even opponents to that viewpoint have to respect it. That should be the path of the daily paper for this region, not one that substitutes focus-group results for a viable strategy.