While scant serious attention is paid to mad cow disease by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S.

Technological advances in a refurbished White House Press Room open the door (or wall, actually) to daily presidential video news releases, says Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University. "The equivalent of press releases could go out without interruption or analysis," Thompson said of the new "video wall" that likely will be added to the press room when it reopens next year.

Saturday's conference of the Society of Professional Journalists featured a presentation on "software, hardware and other tools revolutionizing journalism," with useful tip sheets provided by Amy Gahran and Jeff South.