Podcast of the week

If you get frustrated by professors bumbling about in front of the classroom, not able to find the light switch, the next PowerPoint slide or explain why the TA knows more about the curriculum than they do, The Onion’s latest video podcast is for you.

Famous for their satirical mock-news, The Onion this time pokes fun at news anchors attempting to interpret weather technology (as an obvious hurricane hits South East Asia). A stellar lead to the breaking news, the hurricane is referred to as only menacing concentric circles, followed by long lines of squiggles, which points the viewer to a pretty infographic of a death toll.

But have no fear journalism majors- there is an actual attempt at real reporting: an ‘On- Scene Reporter’ is contacted, but referred to only by the image of a cell phone. This is quickly squelched though, as tragedy occurs during idiotic dialogue between the anchor and reporter.

The podcast finishes up with an attempted explanation by an ‘expert in a suit’ and a bleak look at our nation’s economy via a charmingly interpreted line graph.

(And hint: stick around for after the Starz ad for some thought-provoking journalism.)

Not already the satisfied, snarky owner of an Onion podcast subscription on iTunes? Just visit their Web site for all of the videos.

Published on January 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm