The truth about non-fiction
By Editor on November 27, 2008 1:43 am / Permalink
A journalist should be like a good husband, never cheating on Mrs Truth. But in reality many distinguished writers have been outrageous flirts with fiction. Dan Hogan examines some such — from Truman Capote to James Frey.
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‘The book started out as a prank’
By Editor on November 21, 2008 6:00 am / Permalink
Mohammed Hanif is the author of the novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, a political satire and whodunit about the assassination of Pakistani president, General Zia. In this interview with Rohit Chopra, the writer, journalist, and graduate of the Pakistan Air Force Academy shares his thoughts about the curious and varied inspirations behind the novel, the challenge of having to overcome his journalistic training while writing the book, and his scepticism about the category of ‘South Asian’ writing.
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The unfairness of talk radio
By Editor on November 10, 2008 1:21 am / Permalink
Talk radio demeans the principles of democracy and civility, even as it plays a powerful role in shaping public opinion in the US. And yet the mainstream media give it a free pass. In this essay, writer and editor Parthiv Parekh argues that ignoring talk radio is dangerous and calls for mainstream media to take a more combative approach to the media form.
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Defining the creative industries
By Editor on October 26, 2008 11:16 pm / Permalink
The policy concept of the ‘creative industries’ proposed by Britain’s New Labour government reflects developments in the knowledge economy. Simon Roodhouse argues that it represents a viable framework for engaging with both public and private sectors, establishing cultural activity as new industry, and responding to technological developments.
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The importance of Religulous and Bill Maher
By Editor on October 6, 2008 2:02 am / Permalink
Bill Maher’s film Religulous does not subject secular rationality to the same withering critique as it does faith and and religious belief. But, argues Rohit Chopra, it raises necessary and difficult questions about the right to offend, the arrogance of easy certitudes, and the dangers of religious absolutism.
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Journalistic blind spots and the ‘centrist-to-liberal’ Christian
By Editor on September 21, 2008 9:40 pm / Permalink
In discussions of religion in the contemporary media, pundits tend to oversimplify the range of Christian perspectives. In this article which first appeared in ReligionDispatches, Mark Hulsether argues that we need to listen to voices across the entire religious spectrum.
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Media cooperation in South Asia
By Editor on September 13, 2008 9:15 pm / Permalink
As the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation enters its 23rd year, relations between member countries remain less than ideal. Sevanti Ninan argues that media organisations can play a powerful role in fostering regional cooperation, promoting peace, and countering jingoistic media coverage.
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The ethics of representation
By Editor on September 4, 2008 10:21 am / Permalink
Earlier this year, the National Union of Journalists in UK had called on its members to “help nail asylum myths”, following concern over some reporters’ loose use of language on immigration issues. Ryan Hooper revisits the issue.
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