Kyle Smith wrote in the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal that Barbara Walters is “a journalist who cannot write.” The sentence he offered as evidence? “Just before the ax fell, lightning struck and my life changed, never to be the same again.” I haven’t seen Walters’s Audition, in which the sentence appears. But the line sounds like a possible candidate for one of the Delete Key Awards, which this site gives annually to writers who haven’t used their delete keys enough. What do you think? Read the full review by Smith, a film critic for the New York Post, here: online.wsj.com/article/SB121038380585382137.html?mod=todays_us_weekend_journal.
© 2008 Janice Harayda. All rights reserved.
One-Minute Book Reviews 
Broadcast journalism doesn’t count towards a “journalist” such as Walters’ ability to write. She just has to look good on camera and read off a Teleprompter without moving her eyes too much. Even the interview questions are largely scripted. They’re all pretty much actors.
I’m a senior at Rowan University, and every department within the school of communications wins some kind of award every year. But the TV people might as well live in the basement in pods, that’s how much we journalism and writing majors relate to them.
Comment by Amelia — May 12, 2008 @ 8:47 am |
It’s a shame, though, isn’t it? If writing doesn’t matter to broadcast journalists, that wasn’t always the case. Some, like Morley Safer on “Sixty Minutes,” were known more for their ability to write than their pretty faces.
Comment by 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — May 12, 2008 @ 12:02 pm |
Reminds me of the Don Henley song “Dirty Laundry” “…I just have to look good/I don’t have to be clear.”
Comment by paisleyandplaid — May 13, 2008 @ 6:08 pm |
Nice line from Don Henley. That applies to many, many books I have read … Lots of pretty packaging, but to what end?
Comment by 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — May 13, 2008 @ 6:48 pm |
I don’t trust people who leave the “e” off the word “axe.” I’m not clear whether lightning struck the axe or whether Barbara was struck by lightning and lost her ability to write. Or what.
Malcolm
Comment by knightofswords — May 14, 2008 @ 12:33 pm |
Actually, it sounds as though that “e” is the least of the problems with this book …
Comment by 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — May 14, 2008 @ 9:28 pm |