Scribble Scribble: Notes on the Media

Scribble Scribble collects Nora Ephron's essays on media and journalism from her time as a columnist for Esquire magazine in the 1970s. Her observations cover major news outlets, magazines, and television networks during a transformative period in American media. The essays examine specific media figures and organizations, including The New York Times, CBS News, Ms. Magazine, and notable journalists of the era. Ephron draws from her background as a reporter to analyze how news gets made, packaged, and delivered to audiences. Through profiles and criticism of media institutions, she documents the internal workings, power dynamics, and decision-making processes that shape what Americans read and watch. The book captures both day-to-day newsroom operations and broader shifts in how information flows through society. These collected works reveal tensions between truth, commerce, and influence in American journalism while highlighting enduring questions about media ownership, objectivity, and the public interest. The themes and critiques remain relevant to contemporary discussions of news media and its role in democracy.

Readers appreciate Ephron's sharp media criticism and humor in these collected essays, particularly her takes on journalists and news coverage from the 1970s. Multiple reviews note the essays remain relevant despite their age, with commentary on media sensationalism that applies today. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear, conversational writing style - Behind-the-scenes look at newsroom dynamics - Analysis of how publications shape stories Common criticisms: - Some dated cultural references - Focus on 1970s New York media scene feels narrow - Collection feels uneven, with stronger and weaker pieces Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (178 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (11 ratings) "Sharp and funny but definitely of its time" notes one Goodreads reviewer. Several readers mention the essay on The New Yorker's fact-checking department as a standout piece. Multiple reviews note this isn't Ephron's strongest collection but praise her ability to dissect media practices with wit.

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📚 While working as a media columnist for Esquire magazine in the 1970s, Nora Ephron wrote many of the essays that would later become "Scribble Scribble" - her sharp critique of American journalism and media culture. 🎬 Before becoming known for romantic comedies like "When Harry Met Sally," Ephron began her career as a journalist at the New York Post, giving her unique insider perspective on the media landscape she critiques in the book. 📰 The book's title comes from a quote attributed to the Duke of Gloucester, who allegedly said to Edward Gibbon about his masterwork: "Another damned, thick, square book! Always scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh! Mr. Gibbon?" 📺 One of the book's most memorable essays focuses on how People magazine transformed celebrity journalism, predicting the trajectory of personality-driven media coverage that would explode in subsequent decades. ✍️ Dorothy Parker served as a significant influence on Ephron's writing style in "Scribble Scribble," particularly in her use of wit and satire to expose media absurdities - a connection Ephron herself often acknowledged.