Making Media Transparent

Posted: April 19, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Media | Tags: | Comments Off

In an article in Slate, Jack Shafer argues that Jim Romenesko‘s Web site is making journalism more transparent by publicizing journalistic transgressions that would otherwise not have gotten much attention in the media. He cites the example of Mitch Albom, whose column in the Detroit Free Press has been suspended pending an investigation into an article that he wrote. According to Shafer, Romenesko’s coverage of the incident allowed it to become a national story. Might be a site worth checking out regularly.

Singing and Dancing

Posted: April 19, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Culture | Tags: | 2 comments »

A few friends and I have been conjecturing lately on why Asians like karaoke so much. My theory was that creativity is not cultivated in Asian cultures to the extent that it is in America. Emphasis tends to be on academic and professional success. So instead of dreaming about becoming pop stars or rock musicians, Asians save their dreams for when they go out to karaoke. But then I mentioned to another friend how Asians also like Dance Dance Revolution. His interpretation: “They seem to like following directions. Asians are a very orderly people.” And I realized he’s right. Karaoke and DDR both involve following directions in the act of creativity. Okay, so Asians do like to go clubbing, where no directions are involved, but I think my friend might be on to something.