Robot “reporting” has arrived, whether you like it or not. Personally, I consider it a gift. Turning press releases into news stories is a drag, and writing articles about the simple fact that it had snowed (a common occurance, where I worked) bored me to tears. I agree with the AP’s Lisa Gibbs: AI writing … Continue reading
Author Archives: williamandrewwolfe
Who’s on worst?
As an English teacher in the Paris region, I have noticed that many French people complain that 1) English is a difficult language to learn and 2) French people are notoriously poor at doing so. The first proposal is at once obviously true, yet perplexing. After all, the English we speak and write emerged through … Continue reading
Are you ready to die for your job?
Journalism can be dangerous, and it seems to me that the situation has only gotten worse in my lifetime (50 some odd years and counting). In the United States, journalists are merely harassed, spit upon, assaulted and otherwise disrespected, disdained and treated with contempt. Here in Europe, a whole lot of journalists have been murdered … Continue reading
Word play
If you have a pretty good level of English, here is a video on the subject of my mother tongue that I think is very funny: Continue reading
Only in America…
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/09/teens-think-they-shouldnt-have-to-speak-in-front-of-the-class/570061/ Only in America would this happen. I’ve got news for these kids, and for you: Everyone should be encouraged to do things that make them uncomfortable (within the bounds of propriety, of course), or even things that scare them witless (within the bounds of reason, of course). This practice leads to personal growth. Try … Continue reading
Career Opportunities… in Journalism
We all know the employment outlook for journalists these days. It’s not great. Still, opportunities exist, and this week the New York Times announced the creation of what seems to be a dream job for those who dare to aim high: the David Carr Fellowship, in honor of the recently-deceased media columnist. Of course there … Continue reading
Killing in the name of…
I have no idea whether Officer Darren Wilson was justified in shooting Michael Brown the first time, or the second through sixth times. Such decisions made under such circumstances are always questionable. Testimony from witnesses and the people involved is unreliable and physical evidence open to interpretation. If truth is the first casualty of war, … Continue reading
8 Things the French Do Better Than Americans
The Internet may have all but killed newspapers (giving away your product for free proves to be an unsustainable business model), but it has given rise to a whole new literary form: clickbait. What is “clickbait?” As with pornography or fine art, you know it when you see it. It’s lists and quizzes, and otherwise … Continue reading
English / Journalism / Media
A job to die for?
There are very few things worth dying for in this world (ideologies and religions included), and still fewer to justify killing another person. I’d like to think the vast majority of the human race would agree that life is a precious gift. We can imagine sacrificing our own life to spare a loved one, a … Continue reading
Faith, lost and found
The cobbler may wear tatty old shoes and the confectioner might tire of chocolate, but journalists never stop reading the news. We can’t help ourselves; it’s an addiction. My own habit includes Google’s newsfeed, the New Yorker and National Public Radio. While these latter two are generally excellent mediums, I had begun to fret over … Continue reading
