newspapers

The World's Last Handwritten Newspaper

Maureen O'Connor · 05/24/11 12:25PM

The Musalman is the world's oldest Urdu-language daily newspaper. It is also thought to be the world's last handwritten daily newspaper. Every day, four katibs—practitioners of the ancient art of Urdu calligraphy—write The Musalman's four broadsheet pages from right to left, by hand. Mistakes sometimes require rewriting the entire page. They then send it to a printer for reproduction, and sell it on the streets of Chennai, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The 10-minute documentary above depicts the process.

How Long Before PBS Is Just as Commercialized As Everyone Else?

Hamilton Nolan · 05/23/11 02:09PM

In your gloomy Monday media column: Troubles at PBS, a National Magazine Award-winning story re-examined, ladies love Nooks, Newsweek staffers are constantly griping (with good reason!), and Reuters gets a new op-ed editor.

America's Most Trusted Political Reporter: 'Don't Know'

Hamilton Nolan · 05/20/11 03:20PM

In your finally Friday media column: America's love affair with political media knows no bounds, Twitter will get reporters fired, Katie Couric leaning towards ABC, Elizabeth Spiers has eyes everywhere, and Kurt Andersen's, um, indie bistro of words.

Old Reporter Outraged that Young Press Secretary Is on Facebook

Hamilton Nolan · 05/19/11 02:48PM

In your odd Thursday media column: an old reporter goes on a Facebook-shaming rampage, the Boston Globe is suddenly "not for sale," Dick Ebersol retires, Bill Keller is still talking, and Al Gore says News Corp's censoring his network.

It's Time For Bill Keller's Editor to Fire Him

Hamilton Nolan · 05/18/11 02:00PM

In your fed-up Wednesday media column: Bill Keller must be stopped, a new Encyclopedia of News, the LAT's long-awaited vindication, Katie Couric considered, and Gwyneth declines to launch a magazine, thank god.

Tina Brown Gives Exact Date That She Will Be Wrong

Hamilton Nolan · 05/17/11 01:57PM

In your soaking Tuesday media column: Tina Brown goes out on a limb, journalists are set free in Libya, Dorothy Parvaz is still missing, Greta Van Susteren vs. Mediaite, and the media continue to consume and excrete itself, nonstop.

New AP Stylebook: Now With More Corn Smut

Hamilton Nolan · 05/16/11 02:10PM

In your overcast Monday media column: a new yuppified AP Stylebook, NewsBeast's ad troubles, HuffPo keeps on poaching, Carol Smith to Hearst, and Glamour's iPad revolution.

Bill Keller Orders Us to Discuss His Stupidity

Hamilton Nolan · 05/12/11 02:52PM

In your peerless Thursday media column: Bill Keller twit-muses, Jim Lehrer is leaving, a National Magazine Award is controversial, more on the NYT's Week in Review revamp, and the internet spawns another millionaire.

Missing Al Jazeera Reporter Found in Iran (in Jail)

Hamilton Nolan · 05/11/11 01:54PM

In your harrowing Wednesday media column: an Al Jazeera reporter is held in Iran, Chattanooga newsman in Nazi cop row, Uganda's tabloids go hard on "Homos," the NYT's web traffic inches downward, and Bill Gallo dies.

Good News: New York Times Still Popular Enough to Spoof

Hamilton Nolan · 05/10/11 02:00PM

In your blazing Tuesday media column: a new NYT parody, the NYT scores a good columnist for once, the news on the news in jail, the AP wants the bin Laden death photos, and HuffPo bloggers won't put up, so shut up.

Breaking: Twitter Is Crap

Hamilton Nolan · 05/09/11 02:21PM

In your wheezing Monday media column: Matt Drudge lives, the WaPo union gets cheeky, Robert Lipsyte snipes, CBS cans its Early Show producer, Phillippe Dauman is overpaid, and Ann Curry is happy.

Will Katie Couric Kill General Hospital?

Hamilton Nolan · 05/05/11 02:00PM

In your pokey Thursday media column: the latest Katie Couric rumors, The Daily's quite unprofitable, MTV's CEO resigns, more Bill Keller columnizing, and some WaPo departures.

Chris Matthews' Right-Wing Pundit Crush

Hamilton Nolan · 05/04/11 01:26PM

In your brash Wednesday media column: Chris Matthews' wacky idea of "influential journalists," Alex Kuczynski strips, AOL's momentary earnings lapse, Adam Moss's reading list, crazy UK libel laws, and Newsweek's subtle Bin Laden cover.

Bin Laden Saves DC Reporters From Annual Dose of Ridicule

Hamilton Nolan · 05/03/11 02:06PM

In your moody Tuesday media column: Bin Laden saves the White House press corps, HuffPo people moves, Andrew Sullivan's traffic, a missing Al-Jazeera reporter, and Michael Wolff speaks (some more).