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March 5, 2005
Local Man interviews Rhetorica...
Doug McGill of Local Man has some questions for me.
Ten Questions from Local Man1. What is the Rhetorica project, broadly speaking? How ideally would it improve journalism?
2. Describe three ways journalists could choose stories and write stories differently, that would put the Rhetorica program into action.
3. What accounts for the lack of curiosity shown by most journalists for understanding how language works as rhetoric -- i.e. its methods and modes of action, not just its conventions?
4. Is it realistic to hope that journalists will ever sit still long enough to learn how they reinforce certain sets of ideals and values with every sentence they write (whether consciously or not)?
5. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "noetic field." It sounds New Agey, like the Noetic Institute. What is the noetic field and why is it important?
6. If journalists and citizens become more conscious of language as rhetoric, won't we likely have the same old divisive public discourse only fought with better weapons and strategy?
7. Where do rhetoric and ethics meet, if they do?
8. You describe an educational course for journalists. Would you say that a similar course is desirable for citizens, so they better understand what journalists write?
9. Are Rhetorica's principles vis a vis American journalism applicable to global media?
10. What issues and challenges does "making media for global citizens" (Local Man's focal interest) present from Rhetorica's perspective?
Doug plans to publish my answers on his weblog next week. I'll post a link, but I'll wait a week before posting the answers on Rhetorica. Local Man gets first rights.
Posted by acline at March 5, 2005 10:32 AM | | Spotlight