A poem from which many of my generation drew perceived wisdom includes the line: “And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”.To my deep chagrin, I find it is not clear, and I sincerely hope there’s a course correction in the unfolding bit, starting with the way we’re being kept up to date with the process.… Read the rest
In the noxious stew of today’s world, the recent closing of Newspaper House, home of the Argus, Cape Town’s evening newspaper since 1857, is a minor bit of gristle. But I began my journalism career there, so rather than a political diatribe in this week’s perch post, I’m going to indulge in nostalgia.… Read the rest
The metaphorical beating of breasts and rending of garments over CNNs’ “town hall” with Donald Trump is a salient lesson that providing live air time for proven liars and dissemblers, noted for a proclivity to control the narrative, is the equivalent of allowing them to write the script, and there’s enough of that done by flaks and sycophants without adding to the pool.… Read the rest
As a journalist, nothing about FOX “News” inclines me to be anything but profanely disparaging of their ultracrepridarian lawsuit defence of commitment to “the highest journalistic standards.” In an effort to comment and still maintain decorum, I sought afflatus (not what sprang to your mind) from a delightful work called “Foyle’s Philavery”.… Read the rest
Some years ago, a cameraman gave me one of the tee shirts he’d sold as a sideline at a Republican convention. The front read “Life in News”. On the back, in large type, was printed “BLAME IT ON THE MEDIA.” Delegates, he told me, didn’t get the joke. Today, it’s in danger of becoming less a joke than a justifiable truism.… Read the rest