John Carroll's Take

John Carroll's Take episodes:

• 08.06.2008

  Presidential Fundraising

  During June, Republican presidential candidate John McCain raised $22 million, while Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama raised $52 million. Not surprisingly, their letters to potential contributors were quite different.

  
• 08.06.2008

  Newspaper Obituaries

  There are still some things only your daily newspaper can provide.

  
• 07.30.2008

  Google

  Google has granted powerful and instantaneous access to unlimited information. But is it affecting our ability to dig deeper? More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 07.23.2008

  Amanpour White Ribbon

  John Carroll examines the vast gray area between objectivity and subjectivity in journalism.

  
• 07.17.2008

  Amy Winehouse

  Why is it so captivating to watch this prodigious soul singer burn out before our eyes and ears? More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 07.09.2008

  Obama Housing

  Want to compare the value of TV vs. print in the arena of news media? John Carroll uses the presidential campaign as a litmus test. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 07.02.2008

  1960 World Series

  John Carroll remembers the series that, for him, drove home just how exciting baseball can be.

  
• 06.25.2008

  Nabokov

  Nabokov fans can rejoice in Dmitri Nabokov's decision to go against the wishes of his late father, Vladimir Nabokov, to destroy his final, unfinished novel. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 06.11.2008

  Green Hotels

  The sacrifices of being green

  
• 06.04.2008

  Ignition Interlocks

  Will drunken celebrities set a precedent for legislating the need for breathalyzers in all cars? More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 05.28.2008

  FDA Tobacco

  The FDA could take over the regulation of tobacco products. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 05.21.2008

  John Birch Society

  The John Birch Society speaks out against North American Union of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 05.14.2008

  Eight Belles

  Remembering Eight Belles and another filly who broke down in 1975, Ruffian. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 05.07.2008

  Weight Watchers

  Ads for the diet giant turn from the traditional advertising formula of selling need. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 04.30.2008

  Encyclopedia of Life

  If it's alive, you'll someday be able to find it, cataloged at an ambitious new website—the Encyclopedia of Life. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 04.23.2008

  Charlie Rose

  John Carroll discovers a hidden gem on YouTube.

  
• 04.16.2008

  Mangled Phrases

  Just like its cousin the mixed metaphor, the mangled phrase is becoming part of the media's vernacular.

  
• 04.09.2008

  Ralph Nader

  Ralph Nader is running for president. Again.

  
• 04.02.2008

  Felix Feneon

  At the turn of the 20th century, long before the advent of the Internet, French anarchist and art critic Felix Feneon was writing like a blogger. More commentary from John Carroll Support WGBH

  
• 03.26.2008

  Hillary Rodham Nixon?

  John Carroll is puzzled by the media's recent predilection for comparing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with former president Richard Nixon.

  
• 03.19.2008

  Moonvertising

  Aspiring to advertise big, one beer maker is shooting for the moon.

  
• 03.12.2008

  W. C. Heinz

  A tribute to the late WWII correspondent and sportswriter W.C. Heinz.

  
• 03.05.2008

  Lawyer Ads

  The fox is guarding the hen house when it comes to regulations for lawyer ads.

  
• 02.27.2008

  Perfect Song

  At the very top of the pyramid of music for your desert island is the perfect song. John Carroll shares his pick.

  
• 02.20.2008

  Green Bulbs

  Are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), or "green" lightbulbs, really the brightest idea?

  
• 02.12.2008

  Valentine's Day

  If you're looking for a gift from the heart, just check your inbox.

  
• 02.06.2008

  Earmuffs

  John Carroll embarks on a wee journey through the history and evolution of earmuffs.

  
• 01.30.2008

  Primary Numbers

  Just how big is Super Duper Tuesday going to be? The news media can't seem to agree on the numbers.

  
• 01.23.2008

  New York Museums

  If you're considering visiting an art exhibit anytime soon, consider checking your cell phone at the door.

  
• 01.16.2008

  BBC News

  Is the BBC chasing down an audience it can't have?

  
• 01.11.2008

  Ugly Houses

  Ugly is the new beautiful when it comes to marketing real estate.

  
• 12.27.2007

  New Year's Resolutions

  Media makers listen up: John Carroll has few resolutions he'd like you to attend to this year.

  
• 12.17.2007

  Frosty

  Sure you can sing out all of Rudolph's fellow reindeer, but can you get beyond the opening words to "Frosty the Snowman"?

  
• 12.11.2007

  Prescription Drugs

  Pharmaceutical makers spend roughly $4 billion a year advertising directly to consumers. But there are some parts of their messaging that they don't want you to notice.

  
• 12.04.2007

  Steinway Pianos

  Steinway pianos rank alongside Stradivarius violins and Les Paul guitars as the most celebrated of musical instruments. And recent media attention has made the Steinway ever more popular.

  
• 11.29.2007

  Gawker.com

  In the case of gawker.com, the Web has become a place for all the news that's not fit to print.

  
• 11.16.2007

  Black Mask

  During an average week, roughly one-half of the top 10 Nielsen-rated television dramas are about forensic crime solving. But that's nothing new in American popular culture.

  
• 11.07.2007

  Misinformation

  Media makers often find it difficult to simply call a spade a spade.

  
• 10.30.2007

  e.e. cummings

  The State University of New York at Brockport's collection of paintings by 20th-century American poet e.e. cummings would be an amazing resource, if only it hadn't fallen into disrepair.

  
• 10.25.2007

  Futuristic Visions

  John Carroll visits the Paleo-Future blog.

  
• 10.19.2007

  Matt Drudge

  John Carroll's take on the reigning king of cyber journalism.

  
• 10.11.2007

  Front Groups

  The motivation behind social advocacy ads is often a far cry from selfless.

  
• 10.04.2007

  Jimmy Lee Sudduth

  John Carroll on the life and work of self-taught African American artist Jimmy Lee Sudduth.

  
• 09.27.2007

  World War II Correspondents

  Perhaps more than any other military conflict, WWII was known for its war correspondents.

  
• 09.20.2007

  Charlie Parker

  John Carroll rediscovers "The Bird."

  
• 09.13.2007

  Huffington Post

  The Huffington Post has become one of the first liberal media success stories.

  
• 09.06.2007

  Campaign It Girls

  Campaign songs YouTube style.

  
• 08.23.2007

  LifeLock

  Identity theft prevention service Lifelock is fighting to save its reputation.

  
• 08.16.2007

  New and (Dis)improved

  For many American consumers, the three most frightening words in the English language are "new and improved."

  
• 08.02.2007

  New York Galleries

  John Carroll hits the New York gallery scene.