Donald Rumsfeld’s press, then and now

On Tuesday, Donald Rumsfeld—who, as defense secretary under George W. Bush, was a driving force behind the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq—died. Major outlets wheeled out pre-written obituaries. The AP’s, by Robert Burns, bordered on hagiography. Its headline initially declared Rumsfeld “a cunning leader undermined by Iraq war”; that language was later changed to “cunning leader who oversaw a ruinous Iraq war,” but the opening paragraph still says that “try as he might,” Rumsfeld “could not outmaneuver the ruinous politics of the Iraq war,” as if he had been forced to play chess against a supercomputer. The Iraqi death toll from the war is not noted; the American death toll is—but not before Rumsfeld’s charitable work on behalf of veterans, his “accomplished” college wrestling career, and colleagues’ recollections of his smarts and patriotism. The first words of the article’s URL are “Chicago Bears,” a reference to the football team Rumsfeld supported as a kid. Because the AP is a wire service, the obituary was republished widely. Other prominent efforts were better, but did not adequately foreground the human cost of Rumsfeld’s military aggression: The New York Times addressed Iraq only after mentioning the records he broke as defense secretary (he was the youngest person in that post, under Gerald Ford, then the oldest, under Bush) and his reputation as a “combative infighter” who challenged “military orthodoxies.” The Washington Post described him as “controversial,” but... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-07-02 12:32:38 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Donald Rumsfeld’s press, then and now"


Michelle Zauner will score the film adaptation of her own memoir, Crying in H Mart.

It’s been a big year for Michelle Zauner. This spring, her much-lauded memoir Crying in H Mart was published, and last week her band Japanese Breakfast released Jubilee, another critically acclaimed album. And the excitement continues: yesterday, the Hollywood Reporter announced that Crying in H... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-06-08 14:46:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Book Review: ‘Dear Senthuran,’ by Akwaeke Emezi

“Dear Senthuran” is an epistolary memoir of gender identity, diaspora and the solitude of success. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-06-08 11:08:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Grindr Advice Column That Became a Memoir of Modern Queer Life

In “Hola Papi,” the writer John Paul Brammer mines his own experiences and traumas to deliver wisdom for queer readers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-06-08 09:00:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Pride Was Hard-Won: PW Talks with Julie Rodgers

For nine years, Rodgers was a celibate gay Christian speaking about the benefits of conversion therapy, and in her forthcoming memoir 'Outlove: A Queer Christian Survival Story,' she chronicles her journey into peace, a loving marriage, and advocacy for LGBTQ Christians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


UK Book Publishing Industry Raises Copyright Alarm: ‘Save Our Books’

'The biggest threat to our industry post-Brexit,' says the Publishers Association, is an 'international copyright exhaustion framework.' The post UK Book Publishing Industry Raises Copyright Alarm: ‘Save Our Books’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-07 17:22:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘If publishers become afraid, we’re in trouble’: publishing’s cancel culture debate boils over

Publishing staff, in rows over authors from Mike Pence to Woody Allen, are voicing their reluctance to work on books they deem hateful. But is this really ‘younger refuseniks’, or a much older debate?In the 1960s, Simon & Schuster’s co-founder Max Schuster was facing a dilemma. Albert Speer,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-06-03 12:12:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Poetry and Nursing in the Filipino Diaspora: A Conversation with Romalyn Ante, by Marianne Chan

Interviews Photo by Oluwaseyi Johnson / Unsplash I was lucky to meet Romalyn Ante when I was invited to read at a virtual event organized by R. A. Villanueva and hosted by Books Are Magic in August 2020. Ante was the guest of honor at the event,... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-06-02 11:57:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this


I Thought This Memoir Wasn’t “Taiwanese Enough”—Because That Was My Fear About Myself

In March of 2004, my family and I were at home in Taiwan for the national election, and I got into my first-ever screaming match with a perfect stranger. The election choice, as always, was between the Kuo Ming Tang, which favors reunification with China; and the Democratic People’s Party, which... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2021-06-01 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Katherine Johnson of ‘Hidden Figures’ tells her story in her own words

“I always pushed myself to go higher,” Johnson wrote in her posthumous memoir “My Remarkable Journey” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-05-29 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Roxane Gay Starts Publishing Imprint With Grove Atlantic

Roxane Gay Books will focus on underrepresented fiction, nonfiction and memoir writers, with or without agents. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-05-26 09:00:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this


U.S. Book Show: Stevie Van Zandt’s Life in the Religion of Rock ‘n’ Roll

The renaissance man and author of the forthcoming memoir 'Unrequited Infatuations' shared his reflections on how the religion of rock ‘n roll shaped a decades-long career as a producer, solo artist, member of the E Street Band, activist, and actor on TV shows including 'The Sopranos.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Headline lands Azmat's 'insightful, perspective-shifting' Sex Bomb

Headline has landed Sex Bomb, a "hilarious, compelling and conversation-starting" memoir from stand-up comedian, podcast host and writer Sadia Azmat. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-24 11:30:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


One of NASA’s ‘hidden figures’ tells her own story

Katherine Johnson’s work as a NASA mathematician was essential during the space race, if underappreciated. A new memoir sheds light on her story. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2021-05-21 15:20:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A Road Trip Across America to Dismantle White Patriarchy

Randa Jarrar’s memoir Love Is An Ex-Country focuses predominantly on the years leading to the 2016 election, a period, which, like now, was characterized by heightened Islamophobia, misogyny, homophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, and racism. Jarrar embarks on a road trip inspired by Tahia... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2021-05-21 11:00:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Miriam Margolyes memoir goes to John Murray

Actress Miriam Margolyes’ memoir of "extraordinary adventure" will be published by John Murray in September.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-19 23:43:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Panel Mania: WAKE: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez

'WAKE: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts' by Rebecca Hall and Hugo Martinez is a riveting combination of memoir and inspirational scholarship. In this eight-page excerpt Hall's efforts to research a slave revolt in 1712 mark the first steps of a quest that will take her to 18th... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publisher stands by 'Flamin' Hot' book after Frito-Lay calls origin story 'urban legend'

'We are proud to stand with our author,' said the head of Portfolio Books, promising that the memoir 'Flamin' Hot' will still be released June 15. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-05-19 00:04:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Review: Billie Eilish's new photo memoir is unpretentious to a fault

The pop star seems to have entered her memoir era at 19. Her new book, "Billie Eilish," uses photos and spare captions to document her life for fans. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-05-11 12:00:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Oprah, Keanu Join U.S. Book Show Lineup

Publishers Weekly's new virtual book publishing trade show, the U.S. Book Show, will feature Oprah Winfrey as its opening keynote speaker, and actor Keanu Reeves will speak on a panel about his new graphic novel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Farshore signs deal for CoComelon's book publishing

Farshore and HarperCollins Poland have signed a joint deal for the book publishing of "CoComelon", a pre-school YouTube channel and streaming media show owned by Moonbug Entertainment. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-11 03:24:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this