Does it matter if Joseph Mitchell embellished his journalism?

He is long known to have used composite characters and a new biography will reveal more embellishments – but perhaps that’s the magic of his workOver the weekend, the feathers of American literary journalists ruffled lightly in the breeze of a review that appeared in the New York Review of Books. The review, written by longtime New Yorker staff writer Janet Malcolm, was of an upcoming biography of another New Yorker staff writer, Joseph Mitchell, due to be published in the United States on 28 April. Malcolm’s review can be read as a pre-emptive defence of Mitchell’s legacy as one of the giants of American literary journalism. The biographer in question, Thomas Kunkel, has apparently found more evidence of what was already somewhat known: that Mitchell embellished his nonfiction, often condensing characters and facts to smooth out his stories. In one already well-known example, a long piece called Old Mr Flood condenses several men’s stories into the titular Mr Flood. Mitchell admitted this openly in a preface to the book later published under that name.He has mixed up nonfiction with fiction. He has made an unwholesome, almost toxic brew out of the two genres. It is too bad he is dead and can’t be pilloried. Or perhaps it is all right that he is dead, because he is suffering the torments of hell for his sins against the spirit of fact. And so on.Every writer of nonfiction who has struggled with the ditch and the bushes knows what Mitchell is talking about, but few of us... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #roman empire

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Does it matter if Joseph Mitchell embellished his journalism?'


Walker signs Angie Thomas journal

Walker Books will publish Angie Thomas' Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth later this year.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-12 07:33:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walker books #guided journal


2020 Pulitzer Prize Contest Open to Journalism Entries

The Journalism entry site is now open for the 2020 cycle. As entrants begin to take stock of their eligible Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-12-18 15:50:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pulitzer prize


Reuters, Facebook Journalism Project Create E-Learning Course on Deepfakes

Multimedia news publisher Reuters teamed up with the Facebook Journalism Project on an e-learning course aimed at helping newsrooms more easily detect deepfakes and manipulated media. Identifying and Tackling Manipulated Media contains tips on identifying and rejecting manipulated video, images... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2019-12-17 19:35:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #real-world examples #news publisher


Springer Nature points out problems with cOAlition S transformative journals plan

In an open letter sent today (Tuesday 17th December) to research funder consortium cOAlition S, Springer Nature has urged the coalition to make amendments to its proposed framework on transformative journals, currently out for consultation. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-16 23:07:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open letter #transformative journals #springer nature


Why the Rise of Paywalls Will Save Journalism

Journalism is arguably in one of the most fragile states since Gutenberg’s advent of the printing press almost 600 years Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-12-13 17:13:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #save journalism #printing press


Michael Joseph pre-empts Klass' climate activist thriller

Michael Joseph has joined sister companies in the US and Germany in pre-empting an “astonishingly of-the-moment” thriller about a climate activist, Out of Time by author and Hollywood screenwriter David Klass. Rights to adapt the title have also been sold to Netflix. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-09 00:28:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael joseph #climate activist


Joni Mitchell figured out the perfect gift for the people who have everything

Her new book, “Morning Glory on the Vine,” brings together lyrics and drawings that she once gave to close friends. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-12-06 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #perfect gift #close friends


How Journalism Made a Poet Out of Me

In 1977––just three years after the publication of Tom Wolfe’s The New Journalism, a landmark, incendiary anthology that declared journalists using fictional technique had erased the novel as literature’s dominant form—I was fresh out of college and had just landed my first job as a journalist.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-06 09:48:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tom wolfe #anthology


The Famous Baldwin-Buckley Debate Still Matters Today

In 1965, two American titans faced off on the subject of the country’s racial divides. Nearly 55 years later, the event has lost none of its relevance, as a recent book attests. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2019-12-02 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #matters today


Thomas & Mercer signs three more novels from Caroline Mitchell

Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer will publish three further books by Caroline Mitchell. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-19 14:24:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Meal Prep King strikes book deal with Michael Joseph

Michael Joseph has signed a two-book deal with Instagram star John Clark, also known as The Meal Prep King, after his weight loss story went viral. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-14 18:38:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael joseph #book deal


Helen Cullen's second novel goes to Michael Joseph

Michael Joseph will publish a "beautiful literary" second novel from Irish writer Helen Cullen in Spring 2020. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-07 20:17:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael joseph


Google Vows to Keep Investing in Journalism in Search for Sustainable Publishing Models

During the Digital Media Asia 2019 conference held in Hong Kong in October, tech giant Google reiterated its support for Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-11-04 18:00:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hong kong #digital media


Books Matter: HCCP’s David Moberg on the Future of Christian Publishing

Group publisher of HarperCollins Christian Publishing David Moberg reflected on the birth of faith-based publishing, the ways it’s changed and stayed the same, and what to expect in the future during PWedu’s Christian Publishing Summit on Wednesday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david moberg #christian publishing #group publisher #faith-based publishing #publishing summit #harpercollins


Facebook Reaches Deal With Wall Street Journal Publisher, Others for News Section

News Corp has reached a deal to let Facebook Inc. feature headlines from The Wall Street Journal and other Dow Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-10-21 14:49:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news corp


Michael Joseph snaps up 'phenomenal' debut

PRH's Michael Joseph has bought debut novel A Kindness by Regan Rose, recently pre-empted within 24 hours of submission by Penguin in the US. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-21 06:19:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael joseph


FUSE Media 2019 Speakers from Hearst, Annex Business Media, Industry Dive, Farm Journal & More

FUSE Media Summit is coming up next month, and we're preparing to delve into the most pressing topics for digital media executives today. From productization and marketing automation to data privacy and the consumer experience, there’s a lot to discuss over just 2 1/2 days. Here's a look at the... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2019-10-17 18:06:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #industry dive #farm journal #pressing topics #data privacy #consumer experience #case studies #digital media


Mitchell Beazley gets 'groundbreaking' Foodpairing Company book

Mitchell Beazley has acquired a "ground‐breaking" new book from the Foodpairing Company. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-17 04:49:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mitchell beazley


Walker pre-empts Joseph Coelho’s first middle-grade fiction series

Walker Books will publish award-winning poet Joseph Coelho’s first middle-grade fiction series.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 18:51:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walker books


Bluebird swoops for Brand's joy journal

Bluebird has swooped for an "imaginative, beautiful and mindful" children’s activity compendium from illustrator Laura Brand, featuring a foreword by Fearne Cotton. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-10 19:48:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fearne cotton