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Murphy and Steinfels

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from: Margaret Steinfels

Media Detox

Posted Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at 3:48 PM ET

First things first: A taste of what is to come post-scandal can be seen on the front page of today's Washington Post: Mounties get their man; Redskins announce something or other (are they a hockey team?); More threats to Microsoft (as if we weren't enough?). Also Howard Kurtz (media column) predicts that the loss of l'affaire Lewinsky will lead journalists to early coverage of the 2000 election. Truly frightening.

Avoiding the news: Well, the Trillins have a tidy little arrangement there, but it still obliges one of them to read "nothing" stories. In our family we have gone a step further, we have the Cyprus File, where each of us may toss news that no one has to read at all. And there is so much not to read--in the New York Times, whole sections (sports, auto, travel and ... real estate, dining in, dining out, etc.). They all go in the Cyprus File (named after you know where). My significant other has in his file sub-directories containing the Patty Hearst trial, the O.J. trial and other calamities, natural and unnatural; also Singapore; and he is thinking of putting American Airlines' troubles in there too. In my Cyprus file, there is Guiliani insults [fill in the blanks]; American Catholics disagree with the pope [fill in the blanks]; and China protests [fill in the blanks]; and much, much more. It really does take a lot of discipline to be a good news junkie.

Dealing with the news: Last week I went through a serious detox program. No TV on Friday; no Newshour; no Washington Week; no CNN; and no Hardball. No news all week-end. I really do have to get my life back in order.

Which brings us to Lent: Definitely ashes on Wednesday and taking the garbage out without being told. And that's just the beginning.... What would Prince Valiant do?

the breakfast table
entries
1234567891011121314151617
from: Margaret Steinfels

Media Detox

Posted Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at 3:48 PM ET
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Cullen Murphy is the managing editor of the Atlantic Monthly and the author of the comic strip Prince Valiant. His book The Word According to Eve: Women and the Bible in Ancient Times and Our Own was published last fall. Margaret O'Brien Steinfels is the editor of Commonweal, an independent biweekly journal of political, religious, and literary opinion.
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