[NLA] Media Alert

[AWilder106@aol.com]

Vicki,

I guess in my quest for information I am calling a lot of things "news."  An 
example:  a recent book by Barbara Ehrenreich (?) set out to examine the life 
of the working poor to see if it was possible  to live on minimum wage.  
(Someone correct me if I'm wrong, here.)  It is almost impossible, but she 
detailed exactly what she did and what she learned along the way.  Now her 
"findings" could well become part of public policy, if we were in a different 
political climate.  Think of Michael Harrington and Pat Moynihan and the 
books they wrote in the '60's--very influential vis a vis public policy.

On my desk right now I have an article from the Center on Budget and Policy 
Priorities, "The Widening Income Gulf," from 1999.  I got it off the web, 
maybe from a reference on this list.  I have also, from Annual Review of 
Public Health, 
"Literacy and Health Status in Developing Countries."  

The economists duke it out on the op ed pages and if I know enough I can 
"chose" who to go along with.  It's sexy, it's political, everyone can take 
sides.  A lot of issues are treated NOT AS ISSUES IN THEMSELVES but as points 
to be scored by one side or the other.  FEW SAY "This is garbage thinking," 
they just parrot press releases.  Even my favorite Washington Week in Review 
seldom asks about the VALIDITY of contested claims.  I can't really choose 
unelss i have better information, and as it is now, that takes digging and a 
lot of reading.

I am usually more knowledgeable about k-12, university and special education 
because of my background, so I can scream BOGUS about an article, knowing the 
reporter missed the story.  Or I can say, the reporter got it.

I learn from lots of people on this list and others.

However, there is a dearth of easily available news/information about the 
issues and policies that drive this country.   In adult literacy there is 
NOTHING OUT THERE. I ought to know, it is my business to fill in some of the 
gaps!

Does anyone out there have useful sources of information?  High on validity, 
easily digestible, but not pablum;  I think I can take reality.  
Bibliographies included.
  

Andrea