The key to vibrant, successful journalism, [Arianna Huffington] said, is “getting away from the notion that truth is found by splitting the difference between the two sides, that there is always truth to both sides.” Huffington argues that establishment journalism is failing due to “the idea that good journalism is about presenting both sides without a voice — without any passion.” The outlets that continue to adhere to that “obsolete” model “are paying a price.”
[Dan Froomkin, HuffPo’s new hire] — who has written extensively about how passion-free, “both-sides-are-equally-valid” journalism is the primary affliction of the profession — echoes that view: “The key challenge is to present an alternative to the ‘splitting the difference’ culture that has infested traditional media.”
Slate: "Why Cinema's Weekly Office Tallies Don't Matter"
A great column by Zachary Pincus-Roth that I can’t recommend enough.
This is far more entertaining than the flow chart I have above my desk right now: “How the Newsroom Really Works.” (Although if there would have been a way to add in the immortal line “Sensitive thugs, they all need hugs”…)
(via fek)
Beck and his superfriends covering Velvet Underground?? I’m in.
The above is part of Beck’s Record Club side project, which ”promises a series of installments in which the man and a bunch of buddies ducking into the studio sans rehearsal and knocking out a cover version of an entire album,” according to Stereogum (link to “Superfriends” opening mine, natch). They’re warming up the effort in taking on the Velevet Underground’s seminal “Velvet Underground & Nico” disc. Above is their version of “Femme Fatale.”
As someone love the Velvets, this is like catnip to me.
My favorite part of President Obama’s press conference yesterday was when he answered one of Chuck Todd’s pesky questions with, “I know everybody here is on a 24-hour news cycle. I’m not.” I am totally using this in all my interactions: A vague, general, perhaps bullshit yet still portentous and wise sense that you are the only person in the room, or even the planet, who understands the big picture.
If you can pull this off, you can get away with anything. Disagreements with your boss? Arguments with your spouse? Caught cheating on your taxes? You don’t understand. I see the big picture; you don’t, you can’t. In 15 years, you’ll grow to see I am right. Thus, please let me continue to strangle this drifter until you ultimately come around to fathoming the foresight of my actions.
I am not saying that President Obama is wrong. (I don’t think he is … but what the hell do I know?) I am just saying that “I know you’re on a 24-hour news cycle. I’m not” is going to be my response any time anyone questions anything I do, pretty much from now on.
Leitch, as always, is a much wiser man than I.
I got goosebumps from the beautiful trailer for HBO’s “The Pacific” miniseries, which many will rightly see as a sequel to “Band of Brothers” (the two share many of the main players behind the scenes).
Here’s a 2001 interview I did with Bruce C. McKenna, who penned three episodes for “Brothers” and I believe is serving as the 2010 miniseries’ chief writer.