People always say, “Be careful what you wish for.” Having read a lot of fantasy and magic-land-type books as a child, I’ve always thought there should be follow-up warning: “Be specific about what you wish for.” A common plot twist in the fantasy genre involves a poor soul who doesn’t word a wish carefully and…
journalism
What Wendy Wore: Katie Couric at Columbia Spectator Dinner
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m the chairman of the board of alumni trustees of the Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia University’s student newspaper. Every February, the Spectator has a big awards dinner. We always have high-profile keynote speakers. Recent ones have included Arianna Huffington (Joan Didion presented an award at that dinner as well); Julius Genachowski,…
Movie Producer Saul Zaentz: 1921 – 2014
Independent film producer Saul Zaentz died on Friday at the age of 92. His movies were often adapted from literary works and included Best Picture Academy Award winners One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Amadeus and The English Patient. Another one of his movies was the 1988 adaptation of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. While…
MrB, Photographed by Bill Cunningham. Plus, a Casting Call.
The original street-style photographer, Bill Cunningham of the New York Times, also shoots big social events. He was at the Committee to Protect Journalists International Press Freedom Awards on Tuesday, where he photographed MrB, the other awardees and guests. You can see the pictures in tomorrow’s New York Times Sunday Styles section … and here….
Thankful for Press Freedom
The Committee to Protect Journalism has posted the biographical videos (produced by Univision) and acceptance speeches for three of Tuesday’s International Press Freedom Awards honorees. Here are the links for television reporter Janet Hinostroza of Ecuador; humorist Bassem Youssef of Egypt; and newspaper reporter Nedim Şener of Turkey. As I mentioned yesterday, Nguyen Van Hai,…
What We Wore: CPJ International Press Freedom Awards
Every year, the Committee to Protect Journalists presents its International Press Freedom Awards on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The timing is apt, because the event always reminds me how much freedom of expression we do have in the United States — despite efforts to chip away at it — and how thankful we should be…
Recommended Reading and the Week in Review
Random reading recommendation: This investigative series by Megan Twohey for Reuters exposing the underground market for foreign-born adoptees is extraordinary. On a less serious note, here’s what was on the blog this week: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013: Leave Paul McCartney alone! Monday: Trying to dress ’80s for Depeche Mode. Tuesday: September’s Jewel of the Month….
What Wendy Wore: Columbia Spectator Annual Awards Dinner
I’ve mentioned before on the blog that I’m the chairman of the board of alumni trustees of the Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia University’s student newspaper. I was the arts and entertainment editor at Spectator in 1988. As one of the trustees, I now advise the students on a variety of issues and promote the newspaper’s…
Career Stories: Gene Weingarten and Skylar Grey
I generally don’t covet anyone else’s exact career path. You have to take the bad with the good, and I wind up thinking that one or more aspects of that other person’s experience wouldn’t be ideal for me. Like having to be Donald Trump’s daughter, for instance. But I’ve finally found my fantasy job and…
I’m Thankful for the Committee to Protect Journalists
For me, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is always about the annual International Press Freedom Awards dinner, hosted by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The black-tie dinner, held at the Waldorf-Astoria, honors journalists from around the world who risk their lives to report from war zones and in defiance of brutal regimes. It also raises money…