From FRAN FRIED to Romansko.com: This is something that’s been on the back of my mind for a long time — the media’s use of the acronym “GOP” to describe the Republican Party. I know it makes things easier for copy editors like me in an era of narrowed web widths, but simply: Isn’t “Grand Old Party” a form of editorializing? (And “Just because it’s always been done that way” isn’t a legit response …) More here.

Question: Well, should the media refer to the Republican Party as “GOP”?

On Friday morning, the state of Idaho is scheduled to take a life in the name of its people — but largely beyond the view of its people. By restricting the news media’s access to a crucial step in the execution of Paul Ezra Rhoades, the state Correction Department will restrict what Idahoans know about this most sobering service of justice. Idahoans will have to accept, on faith, the notion that the state’s first execution in 17 years was carried out without complications. That establishes a bad precedent for future executions — and there’s a good chance other Idaho inmates will be put to death in the next few years. Four reporters will be allowed to watch the execution, but the Correction Department has decided that they will not be able to watch as the execution team straps Rhoades into a gurney and inserts IVs into his veins/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Would you want to witness this execution?

The Idaho Department of Correction says it will not allow media witnesses to view the entire execution of Paul Ezra Rhoades, and two separate groups are protesting the policy. Rhoades is scheduled to die by lethal injection Friday, making him the first person to be executed under Idaho's new lethal injection guidelines. Prison officials say to maintain Rhoades' dignity, they won't allow witnesses to view him being restrained or having the IVs inserted. They also said changing the procedure now could be disruptive. But a group of Idaho news organizations say that policy conflicts with a 2002 federal court ruling that found the public, through the media, must be allowed to view executions in their entirety. The news organizations have asked the state to reconsider/Rebecca Boone, AP. More here. (AP file photo of Idaho execution chamber)

Question: Should the media be allowed to witness the entire execution of Paul Ezra Rhoades?

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, finished in second place in the Iowa Republican Party's Straw Poll.

By now, pretty much everyone agrees Ron Paul was ignored by the media following his second place finish in the Ames straw poll on Saturday. Whether or not the media blackout was justified due to his less-than-favorable campaign prospects is subject to debate. But the fact is the Texas Congressman lost to Michele Bachmann by nine-tenths of one-percentage point in the contest and was ignored by the Sunday talk shows (as Jon Stewart pointed out) and marginalized by the nation's top newspapers (as Politico's Keach Hagey pointed out).

Why did the media ignore the GOP's peacenik, drug-legalizing libertarian? Read more.

Why do you think Ron Paul isn't given more coverage by the media?

Pintak asked the journalists if they have a Twitter account and how they avoid giving their personal bias in their tweets. (Judy Woodruff/PBS “News Hour with Jim Lehrer,” pictured) said she has a Twitter account, but admitted she is still learning how to tweet. “(The) News Hour feels (Twitter) is something important, frankly, to bring attention to what we are doing,” she said. Woodruff said other media networks also are using social media. Pintak cited the New York Times reporter who tweeted “Toyota sucks” and asked the journalists if they thought that was right to do. Fields said sometimes people forget that Twitter, Facebook, and e-mails are publications. She said she personally doesn’t have a Twitter account.  “Maybe I’m behind the times, but I don’t like that,” she said. Still, she said, ProPublica does blog often/Yesenia Amaro, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. More here. Also: Joel Mills/Lewiston Tribune story of event here.

Question: Would you like to see more reporters, editors, newscasters involved in blogging, Twitter, and Facebook?

Item: Obama flashes irritation in press room/Politico

More Info: President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question. Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a Deputy Defense Secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face. ”Ahh, see,” he said, “I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can’t end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I’m going to get grilled every time I come down here.”

Question: How open will Obama be to the media, after he’s been stung by them a time or two? Do you care if he’s open with the media?