The LA Times Is Allergic To The Local
They have covered my book in Brand X, their younger section that's given out free in some newsboxes around town, but the main paper has not done a single story on me...a local author, whose stories of militant action against the rude take place locally...and who has been covered in wee venues like The New York Times, San Jose Mercury News, Toronto Star, and the LA Weekly.
The paper just posted a cursory Health section blog item on a subject in my book, and they apparently haven't even read the current study, which is as of yet unpublished! In fact, it sounds like they just read the news release. Quality science reporting, ladies! Their blog item about it is here.
The comment I left below their blog item is below:
Andrew Monk and his team at York University published research saying this years ago, and it's in my book, "I SEE RUDE PEOPLE: One woman's battle to beat some manners into impolite society," in the chapter on cell phone rudeness. I also explain it further. See below:A paper published in 2004 by York University's Dr. Andrew Monk and his colleagues showed that one-sided conversations are more intrusive and annoying -- whether the person talking is on a cell phone, or talking with another person whose side of the conversation isn't audible. It's likely your brain is compelled to pay attention and fill in the side of the conversation you can't hear. Dr. Mark Liberman, a University of Pennsylvania linguist, speculates that, after a few seconds of hearing half a conversation, the front part of your brain, the chief-executive/decision-making area, "is throbbing like a stubbed toe. Or at least it's interfering with your ability to think about other things."Liberman believes this mind-jacking is a side-effect of the human capacity for mind reading -- not swami-in-a-jeweled-turban-style, but in the little ways we all do, all day, every day, to predict what other people are thinking and feeling, and in turn, how they'll behave. This ability, called "Theory of Mind," is how, when somebody's shaking his fist at you and growing increasingly red-faced, you can be reasonably sure he's angry, not gleefully happy, and is more likely to end up clocking you one than hugging you. Humans not only have an ability for mind reading, "It's ... pretty much automatic," Liberman writes. "...You can't stop yourself from reading your companions' minds any more than you can stop yourself from noticing the color of their clothes. But when you're only getting half the cues -- from one side of a cell phone conversation between two strangers -- you have to work a lot harder."
There's more in my book.
Meanwhile, I just found out I'm up for Journalist of the Year from LA Press Club -- twice! -- in both large circulation and smaller circulation papers. (I'm up for a few other awards, too.) It seems I'm just not of any interest to the local daily!
Not sure if you know, but I live in Huntington Beach. Anyway, I watch ABC news in the morning. They just finished this story and I was looking for it on their webpage to link it to you. I was kind of chuckling to myself since it's old news for those of us that follow your blog!
sara at May 21, 2010 5:50 AM
This article is all over the blogosphere - there may indeed be a new study out. You know, with some trivial difference to the old study, the so-called "minimum publishable increment".
This reinvention of the wheel is bad enough. What I found even more annoying is the term "halfalogue". I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but this term grates. Then a commenter in another blog pointed out the problem: the word ought to be "hemilogue".
Indeed, that's it. Dialogue, monologue and (if we really must) hemilogue. Greek roots all around. If you've got to invent a term, at least do so properly!
bradley13 at May 21, 2010 6:35 AM
I'm a faithful reader of yours over in Ventura County. I discovered you in the VC Reporter, and then later found that you were online. Good stuff.
After subscribing to the L.A. Times for many years, I stopped my subscription due to a shrinking paper and lack of employment. I don't think they adequately reflect or represent their readership either. They've been losing ground and have been out of touch for some time now. A paper that once gave me hours of enjoyment is now a shadow of its former self.
Willa at May 21, 2010 6:57 AM
Thanks so much, Willa! And Sarah.
And I think hemi is beyond many people!
Amy Alkon at May 21, 2010 7:06 AM
I stopped reading and subscribing to the LA Times two years ago when I realized that their reporters failed to do their research and just parrot what others have said. I discovered your blog and column through Dr. Eades' website and have thoroughly enjoyed your writing.
Richard at May 21, 2010 7:27 AM
I've always worried that you bitch too much at these people; not that they don't deserve it, but that you might be foreclosing opportunities by being blunt. But reading the LA Times in recent weeks has been like fondling a patient in a hospice. Welch had a piece earlier this week about the handling of the cartoons that reminds me how ugly things have become down on Spring Street.
Make fun of them if you want. No loss to you, no loss to anyone.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at May 21, 2010 7:30 AM
Amy, Amy, Amy. Don't you know that the LaLa Times is not for the likes of us hoi-polloi? It's for the Beautiful People! (Not that you aren't beautiful, but...) Of course, they expect and demand that we buy their product, but they also know that us hicks can't really read, so they don't need to worry about publishing for us. Their purpose is to allow the self-appointed ruling class to revel in its inherent superiority. The rest of us are only supposed to look upon them from afar and be jealous.
Cousin Dave at May 21, 2010 7:58 AM
Congratulations on your nominations!
Martin at May 21, 2010 9:09 AM
Congrats on the nominations. I've been a fan since way back in your NY Daily News days! Keep up the good work.
Kristen at May 21, 2010 1:08 PM
Congratulations Amy- I'll send out my best vibes for you!!!
And since we we're discussing playgrounds earlier in the week....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC_8tpPPjOI
Eric at May 21, 2010 3:39 PM
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