Fark.com is a news-surfing Website devoted to finding and pointing at strange and goofy news items. It earned its founder, Drew Curtis, a following and, ultimately, a book, which I’m happy to join Jack Shafer of Slate in promoting here. In his article today, Shafer praises Drew’s book as an effective indictment of the news media. It’s Not News, It’s Fark: How the Media Tries to Pass Off Crap as News is mainly an extension of the site, and thus is full of the same stuff it decries. But it needs to be said, and paid attention to. I’ve been listening to my new hometown’s radio stations lately, looking for real local radio, and real news. Unfortunately, I’m finding neither — on KIT Yakima’s midday newscast yesterday the lead story was a brief interview clip with Ellen Burstyn, who was in town for a lecture series appearance. There was a City Council story following it, read by the news jock (NJ) in a way that made it obvious he wasn’t at the meeting and could care less. Radio’s going to have to rediscover journalism if it’s going to climb back to the top of our minds. That’s my soapbox. But I like what Jack Shafer says about the true purpose of Curtis’s book–to educate readers, listeners and viewers. Are you seeking out what’s good, or just leaving it all on in the background. There are better books, TV shows, and, maybe, radio stations out there. It can’t all be fark. I’m lookin’. 

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