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Wednesday      
May 6, 2009
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The Future of Journalism

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The Boston Globe reportedly struck a deal with its largest union today to keep the paper going – but how long will it last? Young journalists are now acting as reporters, photographers, videographers and computer programmers – all wrapped into one. Is the all-platform journalist the answer? Or will these young minds come up with a new form of journalism? Our guests are Sara Gregory, a junior at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Joel Stonington, a grad student at Columbia Journalism School in New York; and Brian Boyer, a computer programmer turned new media journalist who recently graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

How Serious is the Swine Flu?

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U.S. officials are reversing earlier guidelines, saying they no longer recommend that schools be shut down for the flu, even as Texas reports its second flu related death, a 33-year old woman who officials say had other underlying health problems. We get the latest from longtime flu-researcher, Dr. Robert Webster of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis Tennessee. He says we should remain vigilant because the virus is still very young–it could turn more dangerous.

Doctors Without Borders

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People check the damage on a vehicle after a car bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. A car bomb exploded Wednesday at the entrance to a fruit and vegetable market in south Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding about 30, police and hospital officials said. (AP)

People check the damage on a vehicle after a car bomb exploded Wednesday at the entrance to a fruit and vegetable market in south Baghdad. (AP)

Car bombs killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more in Baghdad today. For the seriously wounded in Iraq, getting care is difficult. A team of Iraqi surgeons is working in a special clinic in Jordan that treats Iraqis with serious wounds from car bombs and other explosions. The care isn’t available in Iraq because hundreds of specialized doctors have left the country since the war started in 2003. Right now there are 100 Iraqis on the waiting list for treatment at the clinic.  The BBC’s Natalia Antelava visited the clinic in Amman.

The Edwards Affair

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Elizabeth Edwards’ memoir and her interview with Oprah come out tomorrow. In both, she muses on the affair that has sunk the political career of her husband John, who now faces a federal investigation into improper payments to his mistress. We speak with Rick Klein, Senior Political Reporter at ABC News.

Chuck Palahniuk’s “Pygmy”

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The author of “Fight Club” has developed an almost fanatical following for his brutal yet funny novels. In his latest, Palahniuk tells the story of Pygmy, a 13 year old terrorist from an unnamed country sent to the American heartland to implement Operation Havoc. We speak to Palahniuk about his book, his life, and bringing humor into dark subjects.

Music from the show

  • The Lickets, “Meat City”
  • The Doors,  “Peace Frog”
  • Nathan Milstein, “Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin”
  • The Wee Trio, “Flint”
  • Kar Kar Madison, “Boubacar Traore”
  • Steve Earle, “Transcendental Blues”
  • The Dust Brothers, “Finding the Bomb”
  •  Daniel Lanois, “Lovechild”

 

Tags: , , ,

Listener comments
  • With regard to the Edwards Affair and whether John Edwards should have run, we forget that he may have contributed greatly to Mr. Obama’s win. If he had not run, his supporters may have initially gravitated to Ms. Clinton instead, and she might be President today.

    Mr. Edwards may, in fact, have played a key role in the election of our current President.

    Posted by Glenn Ravdin, on May 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
  • [...] Listen [...]

    Posted by «Here and Now»-Interview mit Brian Boyer « Blotter, on May 6th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
  • Having thought that your predecessor program on NPR was weighted towards kid-stuff, I had seen nothing until your program emerged. Today’s broadcast though was the limit with the adolescent pratings of that girl from Duke and the fellow from the University of Chicago. Why the latter would be called to speak on journalism is a mystery as technicians are not journalists, and if the lady represents the future of the profession, it must be a bleak one indeed. Rather than engaging in aimless fads with her friends via trendy electronic implements, both she and they ought to make use of their time by studying Shakespeare, or if that would be too demanding, at least reading some of the good writing which has arisen right here in the United States and constituting America’s literary heritage. This is astonishing that people can now obtain university degrees and still be illiterate, then go on to cushy jobs in which they are able to inflict their ignorance both on the present and on posterity. The statements of the Columbia man did convey maturity and good sense, hence one might take hope from them.

    Posted by Paul Egan, on May 6th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
  • [...] The Future of Journalism: Rundown 5/6 | Here and Now The Boston Globe reportedly struck a deal with its largest union today to keep the paper going – but how long will it last? Young journalists are now acting as reporters, photographers, videographers and computer programmers – all wrapped into one. Is the all-platform journalist the answer? Or will these young minds come up with a new form of journalism? Our guests are Sara Gregory, a junior at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; Joel Stonington, a grad student at Columbia Journalism School in New York; and Brian Boyer, a computer programmer turned new media journalist who recently graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. (tags: podcast journalism future friends audio tidbits+fodder) [...]

    Posted by   links for 2009-05-07 — contentious.com, on May 7th, 2009 at 9:00 am
  • [...] I don’t write about it much here, but I love the radio. NPR is my primary daily news source. So, I was totally geeked when Here and Now asked me to be on their program. And through the magic of editing, I think I managed to sound pretty alright! [...]

    Posted by Brian Boyer — Hacker Journalist : Old friends! Ripoffs! Hateful comments! — A media blitz roundup, on May 18th, 2009 at 11:32 am
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