Isak

The Countdown Continues

I've been rolling right along with my passionate case for why I love sports at Bitch Magazine, coming down with #3 last night--which turned a little personal because it is the very first reason I became a fan. Catch up on the whole story:

#10: Sports are community-building

#9: Sports celebrate physical intelligence

#8: Sports are one of the few realms where adults play

#7: Sports are inherently optimistic

#6: Sports honor their history

#5: Sports are aesthetically beautiful

#4: Sports carry the power of stories and storytelling

#3: Sports are a venue to connect with people who are very different than you

Oh, and that picture above? I took it from the bleacher seats last summer while cheering on the Tigers in beautiful Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. Makes me excited for the summer nights of the upcoming season ... even though my very favorite player of all has gone to the Evil Side (not his fault, he was traded), a fact that--I must be blunt--makes me want to puke. Despite what the series I've been writing implies, it's not all joy being a sports fan, that's for sure. </rant>

A selected set of other sports pieces I've written as part of this guest-blogging stint:

• Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Stalking ESPN's Erin Andrews
• Notre Dame Hires Pro-Choice Catholic as New Football Coach
• Dana Vollmer is Fierce
• To Be A Title IX Dad
• Will Diana Taurasi Be The---ahem--Sportsman of the Year?
• Carly Welch Takes It Up a Notch
• Laura Ricketts Is First Openly Gay Owner Of A Pro Team
• "In the Name of First Ascents and Cultural Connection"
• Expect Great
  

Power of People: Editor & Publisher MayLive Again

You remember that the news came shattering down one week ago today when Nielsen Business Media abruptly decided to "cease operations" at Editor & Publisher and Kirkus Reviews. The news incited the masses who were none too pleased (my contribution to the discussion was an eloquent "Damn you, Nielsen Business Media"). E&P editor Greg Mitchell describes the broader scene:

It took 125 years to build an institution and only 10 minutes to kill it, one week ago today. ...

... Believe me, we were amused, though heartened, to see "Editor & Publisher" ... hitting No. 4 on the top Twitter trending topics, and stay in the top 10 most of the day. It must have shocked others, as well, as many tweeted, "WHAT is Editor & Publisher doing in trending topics?"

Best of all, we were swamped with e-mails from longtime fans -- some of them household names -- who expressed outrage at the sudden closing, offered to send money (or to help us go online), praised our work and said this meant doom for the newspaper industry. I wouldn't exactly go along with that final prediction, but it was good to hear so many tell us how much they loved us and what a big role we had played in their lives, some going back decades.

"You helped me get jobs four different times," one fella wrote about the once-legendary classified section. Others hailed our frank (and multiple award-winning) coverage of media failures in the run-up to the Iraq war, and other hot topics.

We heard from famous names and unknowns. We even received words of praise from many we had criticized in the past with our usual "no sacred cows" reporting. Maybe it's just the old cliché of you-don't-know-what-you-got-till-it's-gone.

And here's the best news of all day -- because of what Mitchell calls the "staggering" outpouring of support, E&P staffers chose to stay on the job for another two weeks to complete the January 2010 issue and it looks like there's a good chance that "someone will step forward and help us continue." They have gotten offers for financial backing. And even if every one falls through, "staff members may join together in some kind of (unpaid) online effort."

Thanks for speaking up, people. This matters.

Today in Startling News ...

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that the number of journalists killed around the world for their work in 2009 rose to a record high in 2009. A massacre in the Philippines of more than 30 media workers pushed the total to 68 deaths -- a sixty percent increase over over the 42 deaths last year. The previous record high of 67 was tallied in 2007 (during the height of Iraq fatalities). All but two of this year's deaths weren't foreign correspondents, but rather local reporters. Print journalists were 56 percent of the total deaths in 2009, "indicating that print media continue to play a front-line role in reporting the news in dangerous situations," according to CPR. It adds: "Although CPJ research has found a notable decline in the number of print journalists in jail, it has charted no comparable drop in fatalities among print reporters, editors, and photographers."

The deadliest countries this year for those who are on the ground, seeking accountability and sense in a world on fire are:

1. Philippines (32)
2. Somalia (9)
3. Pakistan (4)
4. Iraq (4)
5. Russia (3)
6. Mexico (2)
7. Sri Lanka (2)

Twelve other countries saw at least one journalist murdered this year. The four deaths in Iraq represent the fewest since the war began in 2003. About 20 deaths in 2009 are still being investigated; CPJ will announce the final mortal tally in January of those who, it confirms, were murdered for their work as journalists.

Seriously, people: thank a journalist today.

Liz Coleman Calls to Reinvent Liberal Education

Another treasure from the TED trove, this one featuring Bennington College President Liz Coleman. She calls for a radical re-orientation of higher education, drawing from her experience of transforming her own campus under the idea that "higher education is active pursuit -- a performing art."

An excerpt that was especially striking:

Over the past century, the expert has dethroned the educated generalist to become the sole model of intellectual accomplishment ... The progression of today's college student is to jettison every interest except one, and in that one to continue to narrow the focus, learning more and more about less and less. This, despite the evidence all around us about the interconnectedness of things.

Round-Up: Literary Indulgences

Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books are both awesome and relevant to today's girls, says The Washington Times.

Mati Unt's Brecht at Night is one of the "Best of 2009: Bookseller's Choice" over at the Barnes & Noble Review. I reviewed Unt's fabulous novel at The Collagist.

Laura Miller picks out her favorite books of the decade over at Salon. I agree with her especially on the titles by Kelly Link, Barbara Ehrenreich, Michael Pollan, and Allison Bechdel.

Book World at The Washington Post puts together a holiday guide that names the best nonfiction and fiction titles of the year, along with a "Top Ten." The paper's hosting an online discussion about the lists tomorrow; you can submit your questions and comments here.

Seymour Hersh calls for support of investigative journalists worldwide.

Ebony Magazine spotlights ten old and new classics to revisit for our times.

Genius poet Heather McHugh in the WaPo.

The Huffington Post continues to be creepy: it offers paid comments and paid Tweets. (I wrote earlier about my discontent with HuffPo here.)

An article at The Guardian has incited quite a conversation about "major" and "minor" classics.

The "Year in Reading" series over at The Millions keeps getting better and better.

BOMB Magazine features a conversation between Venezuelan novelists Francisco Suniaga and Federico Vegas.

"Mirth and melancholy" are the trademarks of this year's best memoirs, says NPR.

The Dzanc Books Write-a-Thon is coming up!

Author and lit blogger Laila Lalami write about the Swiss minaret ban for The Nation. She asks: "What are voters really trying to outlaw?"

On Democracy Now!, author and journalist Naomi Klein discusses the mass movement for climate justice.

Choose Books:The Top Ten Magazine Gift Subscriptions

Why Choose Books for your gifts this holiday season? Glad you asked. It's because there are few things more fun than giving someone a book they fall in love with; it lasts longer and matters more than, say, necklaces or sweaters, while rarely being more than about fifteen dollars. What's more, your purposeful choice of books, purchased from indie booksellers, supports a vibrant and dynamic literary culture in a time when the book world is struggling and even literacy is horrifically low. Choose Books because you really can make a difference. Choose Books because it is joyful.

In this series, you can look forward an ongoing guide to books as gifts; at the end of the season, it will be collected as an attractive PDF for you to download. More than a mere list of my personal favorites, Choose Books is outward-looking, featuring outstanding books of very different styles for very different tastes (and ages). Learn more about this series here. 

The Top Ten Magazine Gift Subscriptions

This year, consider giving the gift of ideas. When you offer a gift subscription to an outstanding magazine, you aren't just sending a source of delight to the recipient's mailbox throughout the next year. You are also delivering the opportunity to participate in the public conversation, to catalyze the imagination, and to tap into new ways of thinking. At the same time, you get the chance to disseminate favorite periodicals into the world, strengthening support for the brightest lights on the newsstand. It is one of my favorite items to give. There are literally hundreds of excellent opportunities for magazines as gifts; here is what you need to know about ten of them.

1. The Sun

Tagline: Personal. Political. Provocative. Ad-Free.

Details: 12 issues/year. Founded in 1974 and remains an independent nonprofit publication. Publishes essays, interviews, fiction, poetry, photography, "The Dog-Eared Page," and its famous "Readers Write" section.

Recent articles:  "Who Will Heal the Healers? Pamela Wible on What's Missing from Healthcare Reform"; "Eighteen Attempts at Writing About a Miscarriage"; "Selected Poems: Tony Hoagland"; "Readers Write: Selling Out"; "Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered"; "Spring Comes to New Jersey."

Gift Subscriptions: First one-year subscription is $36; each additional gift is $25 (30% off the regular price). Each recipient gets a card announcing the gift. If you are already a subscriber and renew now, all gift subscriptions are 30% off.

Trademarks: No ads in any issue; the magazine depends on subscription support. Beautifully designed, and features outstanding writing animated by hope. As it describes itself, The Sun uses "words and photographs to invoke the splendor and heartache of being human."

Consider this as a gift for: Idealists. People who are fed up with a culture of soundbites and summary, who long for expansive perspectives. Artists.

See the other nine spotlighted gift subscriptions after the jump.

Quick Hit: Literature and Online Publishing

American Short Fiction is asking folks what online publishing means to them. Matt Bell, a writer who has grown out of the world of digital literature, offers a beautiful and interesting response.

The Auction of Your Dreams

It's the last day to bid in WAM! Online Benefit Auction! Have you bid yet? Every bid supports gender justice in media ... oh, and you get awesome items and experiences in return for yourself or as a stunning holiday gift. Such as:

• Chances to meet Tegan and Sara, Lily Tomlin, Cyndi Lauper, and Margaret Cho at upcoming shows
• Dinner with Maria Hinojosa (my hero!) and/or Jessica Valenti
• Training from The Op-Ed Project
• Original DTWOF comic strip art from Fun Home creator Alison Bechdel
Chances for Girlyman or Sarah Haskins to record your voicemail message
A Hot Air Balloon Ride for 2
Whitewater rafting in Maine for 4
Tickets to the Tony Awards (includes two nights in a hotel)
Signed guitars from Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Ani Difranco, and Aimee Mann
• Expert editorial advice from WAM!mers Kate Harding, Rebecca Traister, and Katha Pollitt
A Tour of The Onion offices, plus lunch with Baratunde Thurston
Tons of bookish stuff from writers like Marjane Satrapi, Jane Hamilton, bell hooks, Sarah Waters, Marge Piercy, Jennifer Weiner, Molly Ivins, Melissa Harris Lacewell ... whew! ... among others.

Bidding ends TONIGHT at 9PM ET - so don't wait. Get that perfect gift for yourself or someone you love.

Damn You, Nielsen Business Media ...

... for "ceasing operations" for Kirkus Reviews and Editor & Publisher.

Some facts that you perhaps forgot when you made this decision:

Editor & Publisher was one of the oldest magazines in the United States, founded in 1884, and has long been a strong voice for First Amendment rights, the rights of journalists, and has held media accountable to the highest standards. (It didn't take its current name until 1901, which is why many eulogies for the publication describe it as being "only" 108 years old.) It covered "all aspects of the North American newspaper industry, including business, newsroom, advertising, circulation, marketing, technology, online and syndicates," as it describes it. For most of its life, it published weekly, though in 2004 it became a monthly publication (with a vibrant online presence). (UPDATE: There's a great interview at the Columbia Journalism Review with Greg Mitchell, E&P's editor-in-chief that discusses the publication's demise. Mitchell points to its much-awarded coverage of the Iraq war, very early vision for how media can make use of the internet, and its attention to regional media--not just the big guns--which is something I have personal experience with.)

Kirkus was founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus and was published biweekly. It reviewed about  5,000 titles per year, including fiction, mysteries, sci-fi, translations, nonfiction, and children's and young-adult books. While it never had a huge audience, it was remarkably influential. Its book reviews were honest, full of sincere admiration and astute criticism wherever it was warranted. As Ed notes, it was one of four primary all-review publications that booksellers and libraries depend upon. It was also known for paying its reviewers well--a rarity.

There's no sidestepping it: this is a huge blow to all of us who care about a vibrant literary culture and a sharp, dynamic, accountable media. I urge people to do whatever they can to change the tempo of this game, whether it's starting your own (sustainable) publication, or committing to writing thoughtful book reviews on any platform, or supporting indie media outlets, or shopping at indie bookstores, or starting a reading series, or speaking back to media outlets that do exist (and advocating for policy that stops favoring media consolidation).

This matters.

On the Eulogies

This week, veteran sports writer Christine Daniels was found dead in her home at age 52, presumably due to suicide. The LA Times icon, long known as Mike Penner, made headlines in 2007 when she came out as a transgender woman. Shortly after the sad news of her death, I wrote a piece for Bitch Magazine about it--including Daniels' legacy and the really impressive way that her paper supported during the transition. I also made note that last year, Daniels' byline reverted back to Mike Penner.

Now, Amanda Hess over at the Washington City Paper penned a fascinating column that looks at how different writers approached their eulogies of Daniels/Penner--some gendering her as female, others as male. Traditional AP style indicates that journalists should refer to people by whatever gender they prefer, and/or present as publicly; a guideline that's way too frequently ignored. But even with that in mind, in this case, the preferred gender of Daniels/Penner remains unclear--and Hess' overview details the different interests that seem to fold into how her legacy is written. I was rather unusual in referring to Daniels as female in my eulogy, which Hess notes in her original article. In a follow-up piece ("The Case for Eulogizing Christine Daniels"), she was kind enough to give me an opportunity to explain why that choice makes sense to me.