That colorful phrase is the name of a new book by
Gordon S. Jackson, a South African who spent his early years as an ostrich farmer and has
served as a monthly news ombudsman in Spokane, Wash. He is now a member of the journalism faculty at
Whitworth College.
Gordon is a collector, and what he likes to collect most is quotes. "Watchdogs, Blogs and Wild Hogs: A Collection of Quotations on Media," published by New Media Ventures,
is his third such work. (You can find the book on Amazon.com. And if you
click here to buy it, Poynter receives a small cut of the profit as an Amazon associate.)
Did you ever wonder where, for example,
columnists like George Will get all those apt quotes, as if he had
Disraeli on his Rolodex?
Gary Trudeau once suggested in a
Doonesbury strip that the priggish Will had a "
quote boy" to do his quote excavation work for him. My guess is that Will has simply performed a
Vulcan Mind Meld on Gordon Jackson.
Here's a sample from Jackson's book:
On Accuracy: "If you want your name spelled wrong, die." –- Al Blanchard
On Freelancing: "The two most beautiful words in the English language are 'check enclosed.'" -– Dorothy Parker
On Newspapers: "At certain times each year, we journalists do almost nothing except apply for the Pulitzers and several dozen other major prizes. During these times you could walk right into most newsrooms and commit a multiple axe murder naked, and it wouldn't get reported in the paper because the reporters and editors would all be too busy filling out prize applications." -- Dave Barry
On Tabloids: "It's wonderful. I love talking to witches and Satanists and vampire hunters and people who've been kidnapped by UFOs -- it sure beats covering zoning board meetings." -- Cliff Linedecker
On Sources and Subjects: "As individuals, reporters can take advantage of their humanity, suffer with the victim, participate in and facilitate a process of catharsis and grief, and help give public meaning to the life of a victim. The problem occurs when the journalist becomes part of an anonymous and rapacious group... It is the public vision of the voracious, unfeeling pack that dehumanizes us, hurts victims, and makes us so unpopular." -- Roy Peter Clark
OK, so maybe I like the book because Gordon uses a blabby quote from me -- on the same page, I might add, as
Chicago's Mayor Daley,
Princess Diana and
Winston Churchill. But believe me, possessing this book will up your quote quotient.
