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Early this month, filmmaker Theo Van Gogh was brutally slain in Amsterdam. A Dutch-Moroccan Muslim extremist stands accused of killing Van Gogh because of a film he made critical of women's status under Islam. The murder has led many Dutch citizens, politicians, and journalists to reconsider their long tradition of tolerance. UPI editor in chief Martin Walker talks to Bob about how European papers are learning to handle the hard questions.
On Tuesday, veteran CBS newsman Dan Rather announced that he will soon be leaving the anchor chair. Over the course of his 24 years behind the evening news desk, Rather's critics have found plenty to take issue with. But where some see bias, Brooke sees the sincere, if overly raw, expressions of a man who just couldn't keep his feelings to himself.
In 1960, legendary disc jockey Alan Freed was indicted for accepting music industry money in exchange for radio air time. The scandal sparked anti-"payola" legislation, but loopholes have persisted. Last month, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer launched an investigation into modern forms of pay-for-play by the major record labels. Brooke speaks with New Yorker columnist James Surowiecki about "spot buys" and the gaming of the Billboard charts.
Even though more than 7,000 illegal music downloaders have been sued by the industry, there are indications that more people are file sharing than ever before. Ever since the early days of Napster, file sharers have blamed the commercial unavailability of quality music for their turn to the peer-to-peer services. NPR's Rick Karr looks at how major labels are actively driving musicians and fans to the Internet and other new technologies.
Most people - music lovers or not - know the dastardly feeling of getting a tune lodged in your head, and not being able to get it out. Brazilians call such tunes chiclete de ouvido, or "ear chewing gum." Here they're known as "earworms." Brooke offers this rumination on the kinds of ears most likely to be sticky, and the kinds of songs most likely to get stuck. Listen at your own risk.
How do you get to Nashville's famed Bluebird Cafe, the launch pad of dozens of country music's biggest stars? If you're Bob Garfield - and you're trying to make it big in country music in less than 36 hours - "practice, practice" is not an option. Luckily, Bob has chutzpah, and a brilliant song, just waiting for a record exec to bite. Join Bob as he tries to pen the next country music hit. You asked for it, you got it! A free, downloadable version of Bob's hit song "Tag You're It".... To start your download, just click here.
Highlights from Past ShowsOn Monday, the world learned that the United States would soon have a new representative in charge of diplomacy abroad. What's been the reaction to National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice's ascension to Secretary of State? Brooke turns for answers to our trusty foreign media watcher UPI editor in chief Martin Walker.
For months the news in Iraq has been of bombings and beheadings, ambushes and assassinations – a guerilla war defined by the guerillas. And then suddenly it was war once again – American style, or at least American media style. When the name of the siege of Fallujah was changed from Operation Phantom Fury to Operation Al-Fajr (or “New Dawn”), it became clear to Bob that the information warfare was going to be as fierce as the street.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
