Since we will be talking about audio and podcasting today in class, I thought I would point out this ongoing conversation/debate about truth in what you write and say to a national audience.
As you probably know, David Sedaris is a hilarious writer and commentator. His audio essays on This American Life are classics that people talk bring up years later. Well, in a story (subscription required) in the most recent issue of The New Republic, journalist Alex Heard questions the veracity of a number of Sedaris' pieces.
For the record, Sedaris has admitted to exaggerating for comedic effect.
More recently, J. Peder Zane, writing an opinion piece for the News and Observer newspaper, defends Sedaris and attacks the spirit of the Heard piece. Now Heard has written a letter to Romenesko, defending his own piece.
It brings up a very good question: Even as it applies to humorists, where do you draw the line on truthfulness?
Also, Jack Shafer at Slate looks at this little episode as part of his piece in Slate, titled: Lies and Memories: When Stories Read a Little Too Good.
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