Thursday, April 26, 2012

W is for:   THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 

"Read, read, read.  Read everything--trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it.  Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master.  Read!  You'll absorb it.  Then write.  If it is good, you'll find out.  If it's not, throw it out the window."      William Faulkner

I used this quote for my "Q" letter, but this introduces my topic today, and why I love The Wall Steet Journal.

Mr. Hobbes reading  the Wall Street Journal 
For me The Wall Street Journal is a daily, except Sunday, pleasure.  Although I do not always have time to read it, I will save it until I do.  Yes, you can read it on line or on the ipad, iphone or?  Which is fine, but I like to hold the paper, cut out certain articles and either save them or send them to friends.  I am a "clipper," one of those people who likes to send clippings from the paper or magazines to friends.  I think it is flattering to receive a piece of writing from someone who thinks you might find it interesting.  I know you can also use e-mail for this, but to me it isn't as special.  And yes, I am encouraging the use of paper, by encouraging you to buy the paper.

The WSJ has excellent writers, and they write long articles.  I like the formal aspect of their writing, using Mr. Jones and Ms. Smith instead of just the last names, and "Please turn to page. . . . "  And even if, as a liberal, you disdain reading the WSJ,  just skip the editorials and read the last sections.  Their Friday Review and Saturday Personal Journal are always worth reading.  The header for the Review lists, Books, Culture, Science, Commerce, Humor,  Language, Technology, Art, and Ideas.  The Personal Journal has Style and Travel, Leisure and Arts, Sports, and Gear and Gadgets. 

I like Jason Gay, one of their sports writers.  I wish I had saved Mr. Gay's articles on the World Soccer Championships, but I gave them to a friend.  His comments on the Vizulas and the personalities of the French team were priceless.  In case you think the WSJ is stodgy, there was  one article, "Live in Concert.  The online buzz about the ghostly image of deceased rapper Tupac Shakur used on stage last weekend's Coachella music festival." And on the same page, a weekly column, "Week in Words" by Erin Mckean who writes about the unusual words used in the WSJ, "boondocking," "particularist,"  "hotelling," and "bar codes" were April 21st's words.  

Book reviews are interesting.  Two books about Africa were reviewed, with a five- column, almost full-page spread.  "Greetings From a New Africa" was the title and an excerpt read:  "Small mobile-phone companies set up masts in African capitals hoping that the rich would buy mobile phones.  They were wrong.  In a continent of talkers with fewer than 27 million landlines, everybody wanted one." (From the April 21-22 issue).  There is so much more, every week.

Will reading the WSJ make you a better writer?  I don't know, but it will give you a wealth of ideas. 

What magazines, newspapers, professional journals, and books do you read for ideas, information and entertainment, either in print or on-line?  And I think you can get ideas from everywhere, People magazine too.




29 comments:

  1. That is a wonderful advertisement for the Wall Street Journal. I like newspapers, not for the news, but for the 'extras' and I enjoy reading them when they're out of date. That's not helpful if current theatre listings are required but since I don't require them (usually) that's all right.

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  2. sounds like i should start reading it--thanks

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    1. As we are winding down, I want to thank you for being a follower and checking in every day.

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  3. Thank you, J. I added the Hobbes photo as I don't want bloggers to be turned off by my talking about a newspaper. But, at the last minute, so don't know if you saw this. Our hometown newspaper is getting thinner and thinner. My guess that in five years, it will be gone in its paper form.

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  4. I'm already following but I came over anyway. WSJ is the gold standard of journalism and something I probably should read. I wish I had more time to do so. I can't even get through the Los Angeles Times which is what?--the aluminum foil standard.


    Lee
    Places I Remember
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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    1. Ah, Lee, perfect, "The Aluminum Foil Standard," no wonder you are in marketing. Thank you so much for being such a good editor, always positive and upbeat.

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  5. I subscribe to writers digest, fitness, shape and yoga journal.

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  6. Wow, MJ. No fitness magazines in my group hmmm, says a lot about me and you. Thank you for stopping by.

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  7. Hi
    I love your Faulkner quote, and it's so true. I confess to never really reading the WSJ, but I will now take a look at it! I'm a New York Times reader, and my favorite section is the Science section. I like the Home and Arts sections too.

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    1. I never read it either, thinking it was all stocks and business, but now I am a convert. Compare the two, the NYT and the WSJ and see what you think.

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  8. Ever since I got involved in blogging, I've spent less and less time reading other stuff. I need to read more newspapers and magazines so that I know more about the world, instead of just living in my head and other people's lives.

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    1. But I know, Stephanie, that you have a staff that makes all those wonderful figures so you have lots of time to read. On a serious note: It's hard to pursue writing seriously and reading at the same time. They use different part of your brain and at times it's hard to just switch back and forth.

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  9. I read various magazines at the library. Financial, scientific, sports, whatever. I scan the article titles and id something jumps out at me I sit down and read it.

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    1. And make a little note in those notebooks we writers are supposed to carry around?

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  10. The WSJ brims with great writing. You are so right. I get it from a friend and then pass on clippings to my father. (we're big on clips too - cartoons, articles, you name it.)
    I love Joe Queenan's (sp?) column - he's so funny and snarky too. Great W pick.

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    1. Thanks, Joanne. Glad to meet another "clipper."

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    1. Sonia, the Friday and Saturday issues are the best. But it is hard to focus on reading, reading and then go to ones writer's world.

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  12. I'm like Stephanie, ever since I started blogging I don't read as much as I did and that is a problem I need to fix.

    Thanks for coming by my blog. It's great to meet you and I love the title of your site!

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  13. Thanks Julie, I like the idea of "to talk of many things, of shoes and ships and sealing wax. . . ."
    And that is what we do especially during this blogging challenge.

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  14. I love the photo of Hobbes reading the paper!

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    1. Hobbes wanted to be part of this blog. He loves the attention.

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  15. My husband berates me because I am not a newspaper reader. Maybe I will prove him wrong and read the WSJ online tomorrow :-)
    I love receiving news clippings in the mail, though. But then I was a letter writer in a former life, too (before the days of email).

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  16. Hi Susan: Those husbands! I am showing my age, but I do still write letters and thank you notes, not as many and I use email for most quick things. Thanks for reading my blog.

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  18. I love the tiger reading. Did you take the photograph? It is so cute.

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    1. Hi KL: Mr. Hobbes here, I am a lion, see Lover-of-Words bog under "H." Thank you for the compliment.

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  19. Hi, I get the WSJ online in my mail box. The best way for me to receive it. I agree about receiving articles in the post, very flattering to have someone think of you while reading an article and then taking the time to send it via snail mail.
    An interesting post. Blessings again from Geoff.

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  20. My dad would do this. I miss him very much. I have one friend who sends me articles, but that is the only one.

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