Showing posts with label newspapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newspapers. Show all posts

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Another must for journalists: Carl Bernstein's book

 


You know it's a "must." He's a "must" for anyone who's a news-aholic, and/or in the writing business (which in Washington, D.C. is everyone!)

Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom details Carl Bernstein's five years working for The Washington Evening Star, beginning when he was in high school and ending with his start at the Washington Post, mostly covering the years, 1960-1965.

He describes the ins and outs of what it’s like to be on staff of a major newspaper, how to get there (call and call and call the editors again!), the background and coverage of the major events of the times (JFK's inauguration, JFK's assassination, Sputnik, the 1963 March on Washington) and even, a fake obituary which he and others planted in the Post. (He admits he was chiefly responsible.)

He recounts working with editors (with few negative stories about anyone, save Bill Hill), flying to scenes, and abandoning school for his passion.  All information helpful for any fledgling or would-be writer, to learn what it takes or took back then to get hired by a paper, although challenges now do not mirror challenges then.

At the end, Bernstein includes welcome updates in brief biographical sketches of his tale's main characters, most whose names I couldn’t keep straight anyway, except for Joanne's. 

When I became aware of the section, the first name I hunted was Bill Hill's, a main character Bernstein omits since he did not like Hill for various reasons and whose absence at the end is rather childish. But, maybe Hill would not cooperate and update Bernstein because, like many of the characters, he is dead. 

In addition to the rear listings, adding a one- or two-sentence description of the majority of the cast would have been helpful  to keep names straight.

Other book weaknesses (which, no doubt, his many friends have failed to mention in their glorification) are the title and the cover, great examples of mediocrity.

Blue on blue is dull on dull and Chasing History?  

Huh?  

What does this mean?  How about Carl Bernstein's Start-Up for starters?  

I know Carl Bernstein did not choose the jacket design or the title and he probably argued with the publisher who, of course, knows more about publishing than the author.  Hahahahaha.  

And Carl, I was stunned, stunned (!) that you accepted the assignment of the weather page redesign when Bill Hill pulled out all the plugs to try and resuscitate the Star, which, of course, now lies buried in the cemetery of newspapers with so many others.

At age 78, Carl, it's time to hurry up and finish your second and final volume, thank you very much.

Whoops!  I mentioned Hill's name only four times!


patricialesli@gmail.com


Monday, July 23, 2018

Censored! Trump cartoon show at the Corcoran

At the Spiked opening reception at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Everybody who keeps up with politics knows about the firing of editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers after his 25-year tenure at the Pittsburg Post-Gazette. Speaking on behalf of newspaper management, they just couldn't take them any more.
 Image ©2018 Rob Rogers. Image courtesy of Rob Rogers, Andrews McMeel Syndication.

Management spiked or killed several of Mr. Rogers's cartoons and ideas about Trump. His drawings went too far, capturing in perfect pencil and words, Trump today.

Too much!  Cried the bosses and finally, Mr. Rogers was shown the door.
Image ©2018 Rob Rogers. Image courtesy of Rob Rogers, Andrews McMeel Syndication.
Image ©2018 Rob Rogers. Image courtesy of Rob Rogers, Andrews McMeel Syndication.Immigrant Children, 6-1-18

Had they tried, they would have been unable to quash the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists from celebrating the opening last Wednesday of an exhibition of Mr. Rogers's cut works in a display at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design (formerly the Corcoran Gallery of Art).  

Eighteen cartoons or ideas the newspaper "spiked" hang on the walls.
 Image ©2018 Rob Rogers. Image courtesy of Rob Rogers, Andrews McMeel Syndication.
Image ©2018 Rob Rogers. Image courtesy of Rob Rogers, Andrews McMeel Syndication.
At the Spiked opening reception at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design/Photo by Patricia Leslie

How wonderful it all was to be back at the Corcoran with Rogers's powerful renderings, to admire the marble of the halls, the columns, the size of the place, the soaring ceiling

It's been a too-long absence for the public while the Corcoran's collections and building were batted around by D.C. deciders who laid claims on this and that. (Thankfully, the National Gallery of Art got the pick of the $2 billion collection and has placed many of the works on public display with credit always to the Corcoran. You may search its collection of the thousands of Corcoran pieces by entering "Corcoran" on the "Search the Collection" tab.)  

At the Spiked opening reception at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design/Photo by Patricia Leslie
At the Spiked opening reception at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Two critical elements in an open society, bulwarks in the artistic world, celebrate their debuts and dedication to their respective causes in a place where the people hope the exhibitions keep on coming.

This fall with the AAEC and George Washington University's School for Media and Public Affairs, the Corcoran School (owned by GWU) will host a series about censorship, freedom of the press, journalistic integrity, and the consequences of nationalism to a democracy.


Organizers of Spiked are the University Art Gallery and the University of Pittsburgh in association with the AAEC. This fall the show moves to the University of Pittsburgh for a bigger installation

Do you think the newspaper will list the exhibition when it comes to town?


What: Spiked:  The Unpublished Political Cartoons of Rob Rogers

When: Now through October 14, 2018; Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 6 p.m.

Where: Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at George Washington University, Atrium Galleries at Flagg Building, 500 17th St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006

How much: Admission is free.

For more information: 202-994-1700

patricialesli@gmail.com

Monday, February 9, 2015

Dear Wall Street Journal,

I am having withdrawal pains, separated from you.  Every day, I agonize so much without you on my doorstep.  But, just like quitting cigarettes, the separation gets easier, day by day, especially since, during those last few days, you were a "no show" .833333 percent of the time.

It's now been about two months since we parted.  I miss your business pages, the art pages, Jason Gay, but most of all, the Saturday edition with the hilarious economist, whose name I have already forgotten. (I never could stand your editorials and always looked the other way.)

Wall Street Journal, you asked too much of me, to hang with you when you stood me up five of six dates of our last week together!  Please!  What's a girl to do?

Since you've been gone, I have begun a new relationship, just a "trial," with the Times, only on weekends, which I hope doesn't upend my planned resumption with you since it's you I long for, my first love.

Valentine's Day approacheth.

Yes, I am willing to give you another chance, Wall Street Journal (once my relationship ends with the Times).Your kind invitation came in the mail ($99 for six months!). Thank you very much! A much better price than your original offer of $150 per month!  (Wall Street Journal, get real!) It pays for a girl to hold firm to her principles and not succumb to wild pitches.

And when your trial ends, Wall Street Journal, if we are still a "twosome," if you haven't stood me up again, I'll end with you and pick up again where I left off with the Times and go back and forth.  It pays a girl to have suitors competing for attention! If only I had enough money and time to spend with both of you every day. With the Post we could have a menage a quatre!  For I especially like to compare your book reviews with the Post's and see who's copying whom. 

I haven't detected that yet in the Times, but we just started dating.

patricialesli@gmail.com

 

Sunday, December 21, 2014

You done me wrong, Wall Street Journal

Found at the Harris-Teeter, Tysons Corner, Virginia

And I don't read you any more.

Stood up and broken-hearted again, Wall Street Journal.

A "no show" for five days out of six.

Who would last that long with any lover?

I get the message, Wall Street Journal:
You don't love me any more.

I called,
I tweeted,
I bawled!
And pleaded.

Your henchpeople promised you'd call me back!

You didn't.

How can you do this to a longtime lover, Wall Street Journal?

You did.

Three years ago when I recommended that you double-date with WAPO so you would arrive on time and on the day promised, you ignored me.

I cried,
I tweeted;
And wrote;
And bleated

Finally, you got the message, Wall Street Journal

But now, the end is here
And in you go, the recycling bin,

My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I read a paper that was full
I read each and ev'ry weekday
And more, much more than this, you did it your way


Regrets, I've had a few
I gave you many chances, a lot to mention
I ignored what I had to do and saw through without exemption
You had no plans for a charted course,

each careful step along the highway
And more, much more than this, 

You did it your way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When you charged more than what was due
But through it all, when there was doubt
I paid it up, you had some clout
I faced it all, and I was small, you did it your way


For what's a girl, what has she got?
If not respect, then she has naught
To say the things she truly feels and not the words of one newsreel
The record shows I took the blows;

You did it your way!

And now we've split up,
We've gone our byways,
I am sick of you and all the chances
I gave to you to make advances
You did it your way.

We are not the door mats on the doormat of life like you treat us, Wall Street Journal, all the subscribers you've disappointed, teased, and tormented. The doormat, where I always hoped to find you.

Herstory now.

By the time I get to Phoenix,
You may be in Brooklyn
By the time I make Albuquerque
You may give me a call
But you'll just hear that phone keep on ringing
Because it's on silent, that's all
You've dumped this girl, so many times before
You just didn't know
I would really go

One can only wonder...

Why doesn't the Wall Street Journal write an article about its own lousy customer service?

patricialesli@gmail.com

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Reuters is the fastest

 
This is a MD-83 aircraft like the one which crashed today in Mali/Reuters
 
When it comes to the story today about the Air Algerie tragedy in Africa, Reuters was the first news service I could find to confirm the crash.

Here is a headline timeline in EST:

10:22 a.m.  Reuters confirms the plane has crashed

10:38 a.m.  Bloomberg News reports the plane has vanished

10:39 a.m.  BBC reports the plane is missing

10:41 a.m.  CNN says the plane is "lost" and "off radar"

10:42 a.m.  Washington Post reports the plane has vanished

10:44 a.m.  New York Times has no mention of it on its website

10:50 a.m.  Wall Street Journal reports the crash

10:52 a.m.  Reuters was added to my "favorites"
The planned route of the Air Algerie flight/Chicago Tribune, NDN

EUMETSAT


patricialesli@gmail.com