John Carroll's Take

Presidential Fundraising

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:50:38 -0400

During June, Republican presidential candidate John McCain raised $22 million, while Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raised $52 million. Not surprisingly, their letters to potential contributors were quite different.

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Newspaper Obituaries

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:46:45 -0400

There are still some things only your daily newspaper can provide.

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Google

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:51:37 -0400

Google has granted powerful and instantaneous access to unlimited information. But is it affecting our ability to dig deeper?

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Amanpour White Ribbon

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:42:57 -0400

John Carroll examines the vast gray area between objectivity and subjectivity in journalism.

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Amy Winehouse

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:21:11 -0400

Why is it so captivating to watch this prodigious soul singer burn out before our eyes and ears?

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Obama Housing

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:40:56 -0400

Want to compare the value of TV vs. print in the arena of news media? John Carroll uses the presidential campaign as a litmus test.

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1960 World Series

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:17:13 -0400

John Carroll remembers the series that, for him, drove home just how exciting baseball can be.

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Nabokov

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:55:14 -0400

Nabokov fans can rejoice in Dmitri Nabokov's decision to go against the wishes of his late father, Vladimir Nabokov, to destroy his final, unfinished novel.

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Green Hotels

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:50:39 -0400

The sacrifices of being green

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Ignition Interlocks

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:49:14 -0400

Will drunken celebrities set a precedent for legislating the need for breathalyzers in all cars?

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FDA Tobacco

Wed, 28 May 2008 16:41:53 -0400

The FDA could take over the regulation of tobacco products.

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John Birch Society

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:36:55 -0400

The John Birch Society speaks out against the North American Union of Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

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Eight Belles

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:38:30 -0400

Remembering Eight Belles and another filly who broke down in 1975, Ruffian.

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Weight Watchers

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:09:17 -0400

Ads for the diet giant turn from the traditional advertising formula of selling need.

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Encyclopedia of Life

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:21:18 -0400

If it's alive, you'll someday be able to find it, cataloged at an ambitious new website-the Encyclopedia of Life.

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Charlie Rose

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:39:36 -0400

John Carroll discovers a hidden gem on YouTube.

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Mangled Phrases

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:51:50 -0400

Just like its cousin the mixed metaphor, the mangled phrase is becoming part of the media's vernacular.

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Ralph Nader

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:57:30 -0400

Ralph Nader is running for president. Again.

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Felix Feneon

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:43:03 -0400

At the turn of the 20th century, long before the advent of the Internet, French anarchist and art critic Felix Feneon was writing like a blogger.

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Hillary Rodham Nixon?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:08:33 -0400

John Carroll is puzzled by the media's recent predilection for comparing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with former president Richard Nixon.

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Moonvertising

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:33:13 -0400

Aspiring to advertise big, one beer maker is shooting for the moon.

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W. C. Heinz

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:12:57 -0400

A tribute to the late WWII correspondent and sportswriter W.C. Heinz.

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Lawyer Ads

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:03:52 -0500

The fox is guarding the hen house when it comes to regulations for lawyer ads.

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Perfect Song

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:18:12 -0500

At the very top of the pyramid of music for your desert island is the perfect song. John Carroll shares his pick.

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Green Bulbs

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:45:31 -0500

Are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), or "green" lightbulbs, really the brightest idea?

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Valentine's Day

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:34:46 -0500

If you're looking for a gift from the heart, just check your inbox.

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Earmuffs

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:57:19 -0500

John Carroll embarks on a wee journey through the history and evolution of earmuffs.

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Primary Numbers

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:38:46 -0500

Just how big is Super Duper Tuesday going to be? The news media can't seem to agree on the numbers.

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New York Museums

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:44:15 -0500

If you're considering visiting an art exhibit anytime soon, consider checking your cell phone at the door.

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BBC News

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:24:45 -0500

Is the BBC chasing down an audience it can't have?

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Ugly Houses

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:20:43 -0500

Ugly is the new beautiful when it comes to marketing real estate.

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New Year's Resolutions

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:52:08 -0500

Media makers listen up: John Carroll has few resolutions he'd like you to attend to this year.

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Frosty

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:23:03 -0500

Sure you can sing out all of Rudolph's fellow reindeer, but can you get beyond the opening words to "Frosty the Snowman"?

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Prescription Drugs

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:38:13 -0500

Pharmaceutical makers spend roughly $4 billion a year advertising directly to consumers. But there are some parts of their messaging that they don't want you to notice.

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Steinway Pianos

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:41:58 -0500

Steinway pianos rank alongside Stradivarius violins and Les Paul guitars as the most celebrated of musical instruments. And recent media attention has made the Steinway ever more popular.

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Gawker.com

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:46:55 -0500

In the case of gawker.com, the Web has become a place for all the news that's not fit to print.

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Black Mask

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:12:30 -0500

During an average week, roughly one-half of the top 10 Nielsen-rated television dramas are about forensic crime solving. But that's nothing new in American popular culture.

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Misinformation

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:54:59 -0500

Media makers often find it difficult to simply call a spade a spade.

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e.e. cummings

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:17:27 -0400

The State University of New York at Brockport's collection of paintings by 20th-century American poet e.e. cummings would be an amazing resource, if only it hadn't fallen into disrepair.

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