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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Lament for the Rags

Lord Black on the grand theater of newspapers past:

In the 20th century, the newspaper became the principal engine of political controversy, evolving social tastes and dramatic breaking news. Even after the rise of radio and television, the newspaper continued to be the home of influential columnists, from Walter Lippmann and the Alsops to Heda Hopper and Louella Parsons, and was the place where opinion was whipped up for every cause, from saving Chicago from Al Capone to chronicling Elvis Presley's life as a GI. The film industry, live theatre and literature, such as the works of Damon Runyan, made the slouch-hatted, hard-drinking, crusading newspaper reporter a folk figure of the culture.


The drinking remains, the crusading is more about the trivial irritations of daily life, the hats sadly are gone. Reading Black's description one can't help but be struck by the genuine love he feels for papers.  Does anyone love blogs or online media content in such a way?  Is their a romance to blogging?  Perhaps the lack of tactile connection makes it impossible. 

Posted by Richard Anderson on April 30, 2009 | Permalink

Comments

As a paper boy in the early sixties, there were maybe 2% of the households that didn't subscribe to daily delivery. When a paper was lost or blown away you got a phone call that night. People spent quality time with their papers as TV and Radio were condensed sound bites.

There was a certain romanticism surrounding the horse and buggy too.

Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-04-30 10:18:42 AM

Newspapers are not interactive. Blogs are. With blogs, readers can at least feel tht they might be shaping public opinion rather than being yelled at or preached at.

Conman Black is just annoyed because he realizes that newspapers have lost their relevance and hence his legacy gets flushed away with it like so much dandruff from the other 20 criminals in his communal shower.

And as far as the 60's go, well that's 20 years before my time. But I can imagine that there was just no other source of news. I am sure there were not as many other distractions competing for one's time than there are now. But you are right John, the 60's do sound kind of romantic.

Epsi

Posted by: epsilon | 2009-04-30 1:33:25 PM

"Conman Black is just annoyed because he realizes that newspapers have lost their relevance and hence his legacy gets flushed away with it like so much dandruff from the other 20 criminals in his communal shower."

Feel the man hate.

Posted by: Your Better | 2009-04-30 2:12:47 PM

YB GFYS

Posted by: epsilon | 2009-04-30 4:39:07 PM


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