yelling, originally uploaded by stucklo6an.
People get mad at us from time to time … even infuriated.
Today @sarahRettger Tweeted to my attention The Longstockings blogger’s incendiary, uppercase letter rage sparked by a recent On Point program on children’s literature:
I caught a discussion on NPR featuring Cecily von Zeigesar (Gossip Girl), Addie Swartz (creator of Beacon Street Girls) and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn (professor of child development at Columbia). The show was moderated by a fellow named Tom Ashbrook, who CLEARLY had no reference point for any contemporary young adult literature. I mean, you can totally tell he’s reading some crib-sheet notes as he talks about the specifics of the books they discuss.
Ouch.
In the comment section, more critical brickbats were hurled at the host.
Without responding to each and every charge, or expounding on a subject area I know little about, let me simply say this: Through years in the business I have grown accustomed to the wildly divergent opinions regarding on-air talent. One listener’s radio genius is another’s broadcast bane. And please consider that we are responsible for filling many hours of airtime each week. We often nail the bulls-eyes, but other times the arrow can stray considerably. I harbor no illusions about our infallibility.
The writer’s passionate, informed interest in children’s literature is impressive. I find it reassuring that she is among the kind of people that pay attention to what we do, even if what we do at times makes her and others angry.
I hope we get another chance.
