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When Leaves of Grass was deemed obscene in 1882, Mark Twain wrote a defense of Walt Whitman’s “noble work.” Now, Twain's essay is being published for the first time, in the Virginia Quarterly Review. University of Iowa professor Ed Folsom calls it classic Twain satire.
The 15 British naval officers detained in Iran went home this week, but they stayed in headlines. The L.A. Times' Borzou Daragahi says Iran’s image may have been bolstered by the ordeal, at least in the Mideast press.
BBC correspondent Alan Johnston was kidnapped in Gaza last month. It's generated some outrage from western journalists, but even more from those in Palestine. Reuters reporter Nidal al-Mughrabi discusses the Palestinian response to Johnston's abduction.
EMI has agreed to drop the digital locks that have become standard for online music. Other music companies have argued the locks prevent piracy, but critics say they prevent consumers from freely using their purchases. Endgadget editor Ryan Block discusses the industry's attempts to secure its music.
11 years ago, the first Left Behind novel hit bookstores. 43 million copies later, the final installment in the apocalyptic narrative has been published. Co-author Jerry Jenkins talks about fictionalizing Scripture to save readers' souls.
Evangelical youth leader Ron Luce thinks the secular media is demonically-inspired, and he’s fighting fire with fire. Religion writer Jeff Sharlet describes BattleCry, Luce’s angry attempt to infiltrate enemy bastions like MTV and Hollywood.
Billionaire Sam Zell is taking over at the Tribune Company, parent of the L.A. Times. But who should own newspapers? Companies? Families? Very rich guys? L.A. Times media critic Tim Rutten says that behind every great newspaper is a great family.
Listeners react to our April Fools' Day hoax. That's right, there is no forthcoming sitcom called Jihad to Be There. We made it up.
Highlights from Past Shows
Why no emails from Alberto Gonzales in the prosecutor purge document dumps? He apparently doesn't use email. Ditto for other Cabinet members. Now some are questioning whether Bush staffers avoid email altogether, or just their official accounts. Government watchdog Melanie Sloan says there’s illegal obfuscation at work. And historian Anna Nelson explains the law that made presidential communications part of the public record.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Morse v. Frederick, or, as it’s more commonly known, Bong Hits 4 Jesus. That phrase is at the center of perhaps the most important student free speech case in 38 years. Student Press Law Center consultant Mike Hiestand explains.
On the Media is funded by The Bydale Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Overbrook Foundation.
