“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday around 7:30 AM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of December 7, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Media Generation
It
all began with the first “media generation”. That would be my
generation, the Baby Boomers. We were the children of television.
Supposedly watching thousand of hours of TV made us media savvy.
Either that or it turned our brains to tapioca. Depends on who you
ask.
all began with the first “media generation”. That would be my
generation, the Baby Boomers. We were the children of television.
Supposedly watching thousand of hours of TV made us media savvy.
Either that or it turned our brains to tapioca. Depends on who you
ask.
Then
came all the other “media generations”. Raised with whatever was
the hot new technology and therefore more media savvy than any
before.
came all the other “media generations”. Raised with whatever was
the hot new technology and therefore more media savvy than any
before.
I’m
agnostic when it comes to the question of which generation is the
most media savvy. The reason for that is that with each succeeding
group I still see people falling for the same things over and over.
The unquestioning acceptance of whatever drivel is spooned out for
the vast majority of us. For me “media savvy” means
understanding the underlying assumptions of whatever media is yapping
at you, so that you can balance what is being presented. Too be
honest, most days, even for me, it just seems like too much work.
agnostic when it comes to the question of which generation is the
most media savvy. The reason for that is that with each succeeding
group I still see people falling for the same things over and over.
The unquestioning acceptance of whatever drivel is spooned out for
the vast majority of us. For me “media savvy” means
understanding the underlying assumptions of whatever media is yapping
at you, so that you can balance what is being presented. Too be
honest, most days, even for me, it just seems like too much work.
Now
if you have hopes for the newest up and coming media mavens, young
people raised in an environment not of just a single medium, but
multiple and even simultaneous media, I have bad news for you again.
if you have hopes for the newest up and coming media mavens, young
people raised in an environment not of just a single medium, but
multiple and even simultaneous media, I have bad news for you again.
A
new study in the United Kingdom, from an organization called Ofcom,
says that 69% of children between the ages of 12 and 15 can’t tell
the difference between the search results on Google and a Google
search ad. 19% of children believe that if it’s on the Internet
then it must be true. That should definitely send chills up your
spine.
new study in the United Kingdom, from an organization called Ofcom,
says that 69% of children between the ages of 12 and 15 can’t tell
the difference between the search results on Google and a Google
search ad. 19% of children believe that if it’s on the Internet
then it must be true. That should definitely send chills up your
spine.
The
primary connection point for younger kids are mobile phones and the
numbers for phone and smartphone usage in the U.S. are very similar.
primary connection point for younger kids are mobile phones and the
numbers for phone and smartphone usage in the U.S. are very similar.
If
we want our children to become a truly media savvy generation we need
to teach them how to approach the media. The one thing that I always
try to teach when I’m working with folks of any age on the subject of
media is this – the media is not your friend. That doesn’t mean
it’s your enemy. But every part of that giant amalgamation of
different technologies that we refer to as “the media” has their
own agenda. That’s not a bad thing necessarily. But if you don’t
understand who is trying to sell you something, who is trying to
“bait and switch” you, and who may be outright trying to lie to
you, then you will always be fooled and you will always be
frustrated.
we want our children to become a truly media savvy generation we need
to teach them how to approach the media. The one thing that I always
try to teach when I’m working with folks of any age on the subject of
media is this – the media is not your friend. That doesn’t mean
it’s your enemy. But every part of that giant amalgamation of
different technologies that we refer to as “the media” has their
own agenda. That’s not a bad thing necessarily. But if you don’t
understand who is trying to sell you something, who is trying to
“bait and switch” you, and who may be outright trying to lie to
you, then you will always be fooled and you will always be
frustrated.
Being
“media savvy” means knowing what your agenda is and taking the
steps to fulfill your own needs wants and desires. If we can teach
that to our children, they may finally get the media world we have
all been dreaming of.
“media savvy” means knowing what your agenda is and taking the
steps to fulfill your own needs wants and desires. If we can teach
that to our children, they may finally get the media world we have
all been dreaming of.
Journalism
I
don’t even know where to begin with today’s topic. If you’ve
listened to the program over the last couple years, you know that I
have serious concerns, reservations and questions about the state of
journalism in America today. But what happened in this past week is
so astoundingly awful that it beggars the imagination.
don’t even know where to begin with today’s topic. If you’ve
listened to the program over the last couple years, you know that I
have serious concerns, reservations and questions about the state of
journalism in America today. But what happened in this past week is
so astoundingly awful that it beggars the imagination.
We
have all been watching the seemingly endless parade of attacks taking
place all over the world in the last couple weeks. It’s been about a
week, depending on when you are hearing this commentary, since the
shootings in San Bernadino, California. T What happened this past
weekend however leaves me incredibly angry and disappointed in our
news media.
have all been watching the seemingly endless parade of attacks taking
place all over the world in the last couple weeks. It’s been about a
week, depending on when you are hearing this commentary, since the
shootings in San Bernadino, California. T What happened this past
weekend however leaves me incredibly angry and disappointed in our
news media.
Within
just days of the shooting law enforcement in San Bernadino released
the apartment of the shooters back to the control of the landlord.
There are plenty of people who have questions about that. There are
also questions about why the landlord decided to open that apartment
to media. Neither of those fall within the scope of this program.
What happened once that door was opened certainly does.
just days of the shooting law enforcement in San Bernadino released
the apartment of the shooters back to the control of the landlord.
There are plenty of people who have questions about that. There are
also questions about why the landlord decided to open that apartment
to media. Neither of those fall within the scope of this program.
What happened once that door was opened certainly does.
Let
me be clear. I do not blame the media for taking the opportunity to
go inside that apartment when they were offered the chance. Even if
you know it’s not a good idea, you know that someone else is going in
and you need to be there too. I may not like the decision but it was
an inevitable one.
me be clear. I do not blame the media for taking the opportunity to
go inside that apartment when they were offered the chance. Even if
you know it’s not a good idea, you know that someone else is going in
and you need to be there too. I may not like the decision but it was
an inevitable one.
What
outrages me is what some of the media did once they were inside the
home of the alleged shooters. Three networks that should know better
went in live, MSNBC, CNN and CBS. What you see when you review some
of the footage can only be called appalling. The media went into a
feeding frenzy, wandering through the apartment randomly sorting
through anything and everything that came to hand. There’s footage
of one TV reporter climbing up onto a bed so that he can better
shuffle through materials left there. The most egregious moment came
at the hands of NBC’s Kerry Sanders. In his wanders he found some
personal ID cards. Acknowledging on air that he had no idea who they
belonged to he then showed them to his camera. The face, name and
address of this person was then broadcast to the viewing world. He
showed photos of children who clearly had nothing to do with the
story as well.
outrages me is what some of the media did once they were inside the
home of the alleged shooters. Three networks that should know better
went in live, MSNBC, CNN and CBS. What you see when you review some
of the footage can only be called appalling. The media went into a
feeding frenzy, wandering through the apartment randomly sorting
through anything and everything that came to hand. There’s footage
of one TV reporter climbing up onto a bed so that he can better
shuffle through materials left there. The most egregious moment came
at the hands of NBC’s Kerry Sanders. In his wanders he found some
personal ID cards. Acknowledging on air that he had no idea who they
belonged to he then showed them to his camera. The face, name and
address of this person was then broadcast to the viewing world. He
showed photos of children who clearly had nothing to do with the
story as well.
There
has always been tabloid journalism. Reporters who care little for
anything other than getting the most salacious and outrageous slants
on stories. The counter to that was the responsible reporting of
mainstream journalism.
has always been tabloid journalism. Reporters who care little for
anything other than getting the most salacious and outrageous slants
on stories. The counter to that was the responsible reporting of
mainstream journalism.
The
networks and their reporters should be ashamed of themselves. We
should demand better.
networks and their reporters should be ashamed of themselves. We
should demand better.
Playboy
I
approach today’s topic with a tiny bit of caution. Not because it
doesn’t deserve a moment of consideration but because of the nature
of the subject. This week an icon of American media will make a
dramatic change from what it has always been. But the really
interesting part is actually the punch line to a joke.
approach today’s topic with a tiny bit of caution. Not because it
doesn’t deserve a moment of consideration but because of the nature
of the subject. This week an icon of American media will make a
dramatic change from what it has always been. But the really
interesting part is actually the punch line to a joke.
After
more than sixty years, Playboy magazine will no longer feature
beautiful women without their clothes. While I understand that some
will say “It’s about time” what really interests me is that
finally, after decades people will be able to live out the punch line
where men claim to “only read the magazine for the articles”.
more than sixty years, Playboy magazine will no longer feature
beautiful women without their clothes. While I understand that some
will say “It’s about time” what really interests me is that
finally, after decades people will be able to live out the punch line
where men claim to “only read the magazine for the articles”.
The
really funny thing is that the articles were often some of the best
parts of it all.
really funny thing is that the articles were often some of the best
parts of it all.
It’s
important to remember that when Hugh Hefner launched the magazine in
1953 it was intended to be more than just an outlet for a certain
kind of photography. Hefner envisioned a publication that also
reached the reader’s intellect. Along the way that resulted in
some astounding reading.
important to remember that when Hugh Hefner launched the magazine in
1953 it was intended to be more than just an outlet for a certain
kind of photography. Hefner envisioned a publication that also
reached the reader’s intellect. Along the way that resulted in
some astounding reading.
Beginning
in the early ’60s each issue included an interview section. The
subjects ranged widely from entertainment to religion, from politics
to architects. Both Malcolm X and American Nazi Party leader George
Lincoln Rockwell sat down for interviews. So did John and Yoko
Lennon, Albert Schwietzer, Fidel Castro, Frank Sinatra, Garry
Kasparov, John DeLorean, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Lech Walesa.
in the early ’60s each issue included an interview section. The
subjects ranged widely from entertainment to religion, from politics
to architects. Both Malcolm X and American Nazi Party leader George
Lincoln Rockwell sat down for interviews. So did John and Yoko
Lennon, Albert Schwietzer, Fidel Castro, Frank Sinatra, Garry
Kasparov, John DeLorean, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Lech Walesa.
But
that wasn’t the only great writing in the magazine. Top quality
fiction has been a fixture there for decades. Joseph Heller, Roald
Dahl, Ian Fleming, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Margaret Atwood, Haruki
Murakami, and two personal favorites, Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut.
In fact, Bradbury’s classic “Farenheit 451” was serialized in
the magazine.
that wasn’t the only great writing in the magazine. Top quality
fiction has been a fixture there for decades. Joseph Heller, Roald
Dahl, Ian Fleming, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Margaret Atwood, Haruki
Murakami, and two personal favorites, Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut.
In fact, Bradbury’s classic “Farenheit 451” was serialized in
the magazine.
There
were thought provoking pieces on everything from pacifism in America
to the effect that machines would have on our lives. The span of the
writing has been truly impressive.
were thought provoking pieces on everything from pacifism in America
to the effect that machines would have on our lives. The span of the
writing has been truly impressive.
I’m
not denying that there have always been reasons to have serious
reservations about the magazine. America has a long standing
conflict on the subject of sex in our culture. It was a response to
that conflict and the hypocrisy that goes along with it that inspired
Hefner to launch the publication originally. Playboy also presented
an unreal and unreasonable vision of feminine beauty. But then it’s
not alone in that. Both men’s and mainstream fashion magazines have
perpetuated that lie.
not denying that there have always been reasons to have serious
reservations about the magazine. America has a long standing
conflict on the subject of sex in our culture. It was a response to
that conflict and the hypocrisy that goes along with it that inspired
Hefner to launch the publication originally. Playboy also presented
an unreal and unreasonable vision of feminine beauty. But then it’s
not alone in that. Both men’s and mainstream fashion magazines have
perpetuated that lie.
In
the end, whether you like the magazine or not, it’s appropriate at
this moment to note the change happening this week at this media
icon.
the end, whether you like the magazine or not, it’s appropriate at
this moment to note the change happening this week at this media
icon.
Now
we can all just read the articles.
we can all just read the articles.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2015
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Stories Are My Life 
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