I spend a lot of time complaining about the press to peterb. I will storm into his office and start drooling and ranting about how so much radio, TV and print coverage about so many subjects is so vapid, shallow, ill-conceived and flat out factually incorrect. Then he reminds me that I work in software, where time to market is everything, and I shut up.
So I’m happy when every once in a while I come across something in the press that is not vapid or shallow or ill-conceived or simply wrong. With the week that just was on Wall Street, I thought it would be appropriate to call out to This American Life and their show, The Giant Pool Of Money. Here is a piece of journalism that does everything that journalists say they are supposed to do. Anyone who is interested in understanding the mechanics of what got us into this mess must listen. Then listen to the followup show this weekend.
it’s a fantastic hour long show. If you liked that one, you should also listen to “The Enforcers” – at least the section on the SEC. There is a section on email spam revenge that was also excellent.
TAL did a follow up to Giant Pool Of Money this week. The show, titled “Another Frightening Show About the Economy” is all about the recent issues and the ugly bailout bill. An excellent hour of education.
When Ira Glass is producing the best business commentary in the country, the regular business/economics press should really stand up and take a hard look at themselves. But I doubt it will happen.