Journalism: January 2008 Archives
I'm not sure how Thursday came to be tech day, but the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other papers across the country have all designated Thursday tech/ gadget / website day.
So in that spirit, I would like to direct you the the website of the Newseum which has a feature allowing you to look at the front page of Newspapers all around the world. Check it out: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/default.asp
So in that spirit, I would like to direct you the the website of the Newseum which has a feature allowing you to look at the front page of Newspapers all around the world. Check it out: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/default.asp
Today brings several announcements regarding the WSJ:
First off, the offices will move to mid-town Manhattan, away from the street from whence it derives its name. Does it matter ?-- of course there is something to covering a beat and having the paper there -- but the financial world and the worlds that the WSJ cover are decentralized -- globalized -- so so one can argue that it matters little, if at all.
I think it signals a shift -- consciously or subconsciously it will affect reporters. My long-time criticism of the journal has always been that they remain cheerleaders on the way up and critics on the way down, and don't really break as many stories on their financial beat as they might or should.
Of course for Murdoch, it will mean savings on real estate cost -- and that is one way to improve the bottom line.
The Journal will also introduce a Sports page (Fox has a large investment in sports) and in the fall will launch a lifetyle magazine to be called Pursuits (the name of the weekend feature section) edited by Tina Gaudoin a London Times editor,
Thank goodness Murdoch promised he wouldn't be interfering with editorial.....
First off, the offices will move to mid-town Manhattan, away from the street from whence it derives its name. Does it matter ?-- of course there is something to covering a beat and having the paper there -- but the financial world and the worlds that the WSJ cover are decentralized -- globalized -- so so one can argue that it matters little, if at all.
I think it signals a shift -- consciously or subconsciously it will affect reporters. My long-time criticism of the journal has always been that they remain cheerleaders on the way up and critics on the way down, and don't really break as many stories on their financial beat as they might or should.
Of course for Murdoch, it will mean savings on real estate cost -- and that is one way to improve the bottom line.
The Journal will also introduce a Sports page (Fox has a large investment in sports) and in the fall will launch a lifetyle magazine to be called Pursuits (the name of the weekend feature section) edited by Tina Gaudoin a London Times editor,
Thank goodness Murdoch promised he wouldn't be interfering with editorial.....
One of the wittiest reviewers out there is the NY Times' Alessandra Stanley on Television. Here's how she began her review of HBO's "In Treatment":
Stanley goes on to praise the show -- but her quips continue. I seem to recall meeting her at a party a decade or two ago when she was covering the wars in Central America for Time. She told a hilarious story about the scene in the lobby of the Nicaragua Hilton. Anyhow, applying her intelligence to covering TV continues to yield inspired results. I'm still laughing about the "all-you-can-eat haggis buffet."Some things sound simply awful: a family reunion holiday cruise, an all-you-can-eat haggis buffet, a television series set entirely in a psychotherapist’s office.
At The Sunday New York Times -- seems like late January is NEW NOVELIST MONTH at the NYT, (and at publishing houses for that matter) what with the recent feature on Jim Collins' "Beginner's Greek", and this Sunday's Book review of Tod Wodlicka's "All Shall Be Well," and the Charles McGrath article in the Sunday Magazine about Charles Bock's novel, "Beautiful Children."
The Arts & Leisure also had a great feature on Robert Capa's lost suitcase of negatives which has been recently turned over to the International Center of Photography (which, in turn, was run for many years by Capa's brother Cornell Capa). Need I mention that the Robert Capa was born in Budapest, Hungary as Endre Erno Friedmann. Cornell was also born Friedmann, but kept his first name. And although you might not think Cornell a Jewish first name, it was quite popular at the beginning of the 20th Century in Budapest -- it was also my grandfather's name.
Medicine & Its Alternatives.
An interesting review by Jerome Groopman on "The Cure Within: A history of Mind- Body Medicine" By Anne Harrington. Harrington is the editor of a book on "The Placebo Effect." How alternative medicine came to be preferred to a visit to an M.D, and became a $40 billion business is worth pondering. An article I read recently made the point that many alternative medicines work because of the placebo effect -- that is the belief that they do work is so great, that when the person feels better and eventually is better, they attribute it to the alternative treatment.Everyone knows an alternative treatment that works, and everyone has a "miracle" healing story. The question is to how to set those in context.
Speaking of Groopman, his article on business-like approaches to cancer-cures in The New Yorker, "Buying a Cure," (Jan 28th issue) was fascinating -- and presents a different front of attack on current medical/scientific research practice -- one that while not yeilding "cures" certainly seems to be keeping some cancer patients alive a lot longer -- for which we may all be grateful.
The Sunday LA Times had an interesting feature on "Gossip Girl" and its failure to attract a large audience, despite all its buzz and success on other "platforms" (i.e. the internet). I confess that "Gossip Girl" is my guilty pleasure but the article does beg the looming question --- if everything migrates to the internet, can any of it succeed -- and if so, how?
The Arts & Leisure also had a great feature on Robert Capa's lost suitcase of negatives which has been recently turned over to the International Center of Photography (which, in turn, was run for many years by Capa's brother Cornell Capa). Need I mention that the Robert Capa was born in Budapest, Hungary as Endre Erno Friedmann. Cornell was also born Friedmann, but kept his first name. And although you might not think Cornell a Jewish first name, it was quite popular at the beginning of the 20th Century in Budapest -- it was also my grandfather's name.
Medicine & Its Alternatives.
An interesting review by Jerome Groopman on "The Cure Within: A history of Mind- Body Medicine" By Anne Harrington. Harrington is the editor of a book on "The Placebo Effect." How alternative medicine came to be preferred to a visit to an M.D, and became a $40 billion business is worth pondering. An article I read recently made the point that many alternative medicines work because of the placebo effect -- that is the belief that they do work is so great, that when the person feels better and eventually is better, they attribute it to the alternative treatment.Everyone knows an alternative treatment that works, and everyone has a "miracle" healing story. The question is to how to set those in context.
Speaking of Groopman, his article on business-like approaches to cancer-cures in The New Yorker, "Buying a Cure," (Jan 28th issue) was fascinating -- and presents a different front of attack on current medical/scientific research practice -- one that while not yeilding "cures" certainly seems to be keeping some cancer patients alive a lot longer -- for which we may all be grateful.
The Sunday LA Times had an interesting feature on "Gossip Girl" and its failure to attract a large audience, despite all its buzz and success on other "platforms" (i.e. the internet). I confess that "Gossip Girl" is my guilty pleasure but the article does beg the looming question --- if everything migrates to the internet, can any of it succeed -- and if so, how?
The 1980s are officially back.
Peter Brant has bought out ex-wife Sandy's interest in Brant Publications including Interview Magazine (Brant is now married to 1980s supermodel Stephanie Seymour). Interview was for the last two decades under the operational control of Sandy Brant and Ingrid Sischy was the editor. Following Sandy's departure, Sischy has resigned. Peter Brant has appointed Glenn O'Brien editorial director and Fabian Baron creative director.
O'Brien harks back to the Andy Warhol Interview days, and my era there. A very, smart, entertaining fellow -- and I'm not sucking up (OK, I am -- but it's true). Recently I attended a party where a kid on the sidewalk was hawking DVDs of O'Brien 1978-1982 cable access talk show "TV Party."
Back in the late 1980s Fabian Baron was the designer for New York Woman (a publication of which my wife, Amy, became publisher).
I may have to start reading Interview again.
Peter Brant has bought out ex-wife Sandy's interest in Brant Publications including Interview Magazine (Brant is now married to 1980s supermodel Stephanie Seymour). Interview was for the last two decades under the operational control of Sandy Brant and Ingrid Sischy was the editor. Following Sandy's departure, Sischy has resigned. Peter Brant has appointed Glenn O'Brien editorial director and Fabian Baron creative director.
O'Brien harks back to the Andy Warhol Interview days, and my era there. A very, smart, entertaining fellow -- and I'm not sucking up (OK, I am -- but it's true). Recently I attended a party where a kid on the sidewalk was hawking DVDs of O'Brien 1978-1982 cable access talk show "TV Party."
Back in the late 1980s Fabian Baron was the designer for New York Woman (a publication of which my wife, Amy, became publisher).
I may have to start reading Interview again.
Here's a provocative idea: What if Google offered to buy the New York Times?
Here's the story as it appeared on Poynter yesterday (from RealClearMarkets):
Here's the story as it appeared on Poynter yesterday (from RealClearMarkets):
Poynteronline
Romenesko
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2008
RealClearMarkets
The company that has the most to gain from buying the New York Times is Google, says John Ellis. "If it proffered a Murdoch-like, no-auction bid of $4 billion, wouldn't the Sulzberger family have to accept it? Every single class B shareholder would accept the offer. It's their only exit. It is also likely that Times employees and retirees would enthusiastically support the deal; it's their only exit as well."Kinda reminds me of AOL buying Time-Warner during the first internet bubble. I am pondering whether Google's motto of "Do No Harm" means they should or would not tender an offer. For some insight into how the folks at Google think it's worth reading Ken Auletta's recent piece in the New Yorker -- in short: they try and approach every issue and problem as engineers. Which begs the question: How would an engineer approach the newspaper business in general and the New York Times in particular. That's a question worth considering......
Ron Rosenbaum, who has thought deeply and written lengthily about his obsessions and insights regarding the work of Vladmir Nabokov has a piece in Slate where he weighs in on the dilemma facing Nabokov's son Dmitri as to whether he should follow his father's wishes and destroy the notes made for a never finished novel called "The Original of Laura" OR leave them for posterity. After revealing his own mixed feelings on the subject, and Dmitry Nabokov's own inclination to destroy them, Rosenbaum opens it up to the audience to make their own choice, here.
My own vote is to preserve the mansucript -- if Nabokov had wanted to destroy the manuscript he should have done so. Too late now. Will it in any way diminish the master's oeuvre? I doubt it. Will, as Dmitry fears, give fodder for a bunch of Nabokov parasites to declaim about the work -- no doubt. So what?
Kafka wanted Max Brod to burn his manuscripts. Thank goodness he didn't.
This is no longer Vladmir Nabokov's decision. I would argue that it isn't even Dmitry's anymore (although I know, legally, it is) -- the manuscript exists. Let it go.
My own vote is to preserve the mansucript -- if Nabokov had wanted to destroy the manuscript he should have done so. Too late now. Will it in any way diminish the master's oeuvre? I doubt it. Will, as Dmitry fears, give fodder for a bunch of Nabokov parasites to declaim about the work -- no doubt. So what?
Kafka wanted Max Brod to burn his manuscripts. Thank goodness he didn't.
This is no longer Vladmir Nabokov's decision. I would argue that it isn't even Dmitry's anymore (although I know, legally, it is) -- the manuscript exists. Let it go.
Rolling Stone reports that Amy Winehouse, fresh out of rehab is considering recording some Hanukkah songs, such as "Kosher Kisses" -- see below
Grammy-nominated DJ and super-producer Mark Ronson tells Rolling Stone’s Nicole Frehsee that he’s seen his most famous collaborator (other than Bob Dylan), Amy Winehouse, recently, and they discussed new music. “She’s writing songs, and we talked about getting a studio,” says Ronson. “I have to finish a few other things first, but I imagine we’ll go into the studio this year.”
Mark Ronson, the DJ turned recording Artist, who most recently did a Bob Dylan remix, is from a family of talented, creative and charming folks, including sister Charlotte, a designer, uncle Gerald (British tycoon), stepfather Mick Jones (of Foreigner) and mother Anne (a whirlwind of charm) -- you can read more about him and his family in a recent story in the UK Guardian here. But if you want to see a great video, see his recording of "Valerie" with Winehouse on vocals.Ronson also said there may be another, more unusual project in the works. “We’re talking about making a holiday record, with Christmas songs on one side and Hanukkah songs on the other,” Ronson explained. “She’s got songs called, like, ‘Kosher Kisses’ and ‘Alone Under the Mistletoe.’ She was kind of fucking around, but I was like, ‘You have all these amazing records to play for Christmas, like Motown and Carla Thomas and the Charlie Brown Christmas, and unfortunately, us Jews have nothing that cool to listen to. So we should do something.”
The January 14, 2008 issue of the New Yorker was a particularly strong issue (I'm still catching up on my New Yorkers), with interesting articles by Dana Goodyear on the Scientology Celebrity Center, Ken Auletta on Google and John Seabrook on the scrap metal business (not available in full on line --it is a long article).
Dana Goodyear has found a novel way in to Scientology --through architectural preservation. Her piece uses the Celebrity Center its; restoration, even its restaurant as well as their acquisition and restoration of many other Hollywood properties as a way to discuss the history of Scientology and the importance it places on their relationships with celebrities. Goodyear takes a fairly disinterested and benign view of Scientology as if she was a visitor to a cultural site of a foreign land.
People are always asking what Scientology is, and although Goodyear does not get to what the spiritual element is, or what makes it a religion, she does do a good job of giving a sense of what goes on -- and what "auditing" is.
"Auditing" is, in Goodyear's explanation, "a talking cure" in which one talks about certain traumatic or negative incidents while holding on to a device called an "E - meter" which, the claims is, measures your emotional response to this incident -- repeated uses of which "cleans" one of the negative feelings and allows you to be clear, happy, etc....
Now a confession: I've used an e-meter.
For a while, a few years back, I was seeing someone who was a business coach but was also a therapist. It turned out that she was a former Scientolgist and had risen high enough in the ranks to be a teacher. She had her own e-meter and for a few sessions she brought it out. Did it work? I suppose the Jewish answer is: It didn't hurt.
My personal feeling was that the e-meter itself was ridiculous. But that there was value in repeating the details of negative events until they no longer were taboo.
This seems not unlike a form of Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Ellis was the father of behavioral psychology -- famous for saying that he got over his shyness with women when he forced himself to speak to 100 women at the Bronx botanical Garden -- after which he was no longer so shy. Ellis was no fan of Freud --- he thought the past was bunk -- you just needed to reprogram yourself with new behavioral patterns. Hmmmm.... Ellis was probably conceiving of his theories around the time L. Ron Hubbard was coming up with his. I wonder if they ever read each other's works?
It is interesting that Scientology which appears to be virulently opposed to psychiatry uses a "talking cure" -- "The Talking Cure" being another name for Freud's psychoanalysis. I've never had the impression that Scientology (or Tom Cruise in his Matt Lauer interview) distinguished between psychiatry and psychology, between psychoanalysis, psychopharmacology and behavioral psychology.
Dana Goodyear writes a blog for the New Yorker, Postcard from LA, and she has been blogging several follow-ups to the article. including today's on the TOM CRUISE SCIENTOLOGY VIDEO (which you can see on Gawker -- it was on youtube but was pulled from there)
Dana Goodyear has found a novel way in to Scientology --through architectural preservation. Her piece uses the Celebrity Center its; restoration, even its restaurant as well as their acquisition and restoration of many other Hollywood properties as a way to discuss the history of Scientology and the importance it places on their relationships with celebrities. Goodyear takes a fairly disinterested and benign view of Scientology as if she was a visitor to a cultural site of a foreign land.
People are always asking what Scientology is, and although Goodyear does not get to what the spiritual element is, or what makes it a religion, she does do a good job of giving a sense of what goes on -- and what "auditing" is.
"Auditing" is, in Goodyear's explanation, "a talking cure" in which one talks about certain traumatic or negative incidents while holding on to a device called an "E - meter" which, the claims is, measures your emotional response to this incident -- repeated uses of which "cleans" one of the negative feelings and allows you to be clear, happy, etc....
Now a confession: I've used an e-meter.
For a while, a few years back, I was seeing someone who was a business coach but was also a therapist. It turned out that she was a former Scientolgist and had risen high enough in the ranks to be a teacher. She had her own e-meter and for a few sessions she brought it out. Did it work? I suppose the Jewish answer is: It didn't hurt.
My personal feeling was that the e-meter itself was ridiculous. But that there was value in repeating the details of negative events until they no longer were taboo.
This seems not unlike a form of Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Ellis was the father of behavioral psychology -- famous for saying that he got over his shyness with women when he forced himself to speak to 100 women at the Bronx botanical Garden -- after which he was no longer so shy. Ellis was no fan of Freud --- he thought the past was bunk -- you just needed to reprogram yourself with new behavioral patterns. Hmmmm.... Ellis was probably conceiving of his theories around the time L. Ron Hubbard was coming up with his. I wonder if they ever read each other's works?
It is interesting that Scientology which appears to be virulently opposed to psychiatry uses a "talking cure" -- "The Talking Cure" being another name for Freud's psychoanalysis. I've never had the impression that Scientology (or Tom Cruise in his Matt Lauer interview) distinguished between psychiatry and psychology, between psychoanalysis, psychopharmacology and behavioral psychology.
Dana Goodyear writes a blog for the New Yorker, Postcard from LA, and she has been blogging several follow-ups to the article. including today's on the TOM CRUISE SCIENTOLOGY VIDEO (which you can see on Gawker -- it was on youtube but was pulled from there)
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