Mallary Tenore Tarpley

Helping to Put Together Poynter’s Book of Election Front Pages

Recently, I helped put together The Poynter Institute’s new election front page book, which features 75 newspaper front pages from around the world. My editor, Julie Moos, thought of the idea for the book and led the institute’s efforts in putting it together in just two weeks. The goal was to have it published inContinue reading “Helping to Put Together Poynter’s Book of Election Front Pages”

The Story Behind NPR’s ‘A Changing Frontier’ Series

While surfing the Internet the other day for diversity-related stories, I came across National Public Radio’s five-part series on the U.S.-Mexican border. I was particularly struck by the way that NPR correspondent Jason Beaubien described the tension that exists between the U.S. and Mexican cities that straddle the border. They are so close geographically, butContinue reading “The Story Behind NPR’s ‘A Changing Frontier’ Series”

Combating Loneliness and Its Myths

I was surprised to open my mailbox Tuesday night and see a New York Magazine cover story with the headline: “The Loneliness Myth.” The word “loneliness” stuck out at me because it’s a word that I’m forever trying to understand. New York Magazine provides some background on the history of loneliness, saying that it “evolvedContinue reading “Combating Loneliness and Its Myths”

‘What’s on Your Page 56?’

One of my friends recently started a thread on Facebook called “What’s on your page 56?” She offered this brief description: Page 56 Rules: * Grab the book nearest you. Right now. * Turn to page 56. * Find the fifth sentence. * Post that sentence along with the book and author. Yay. I wasContinue reading “‘What’s on Your Page 56?’”

Having Fun with Wordle Word Clouds

My friend and fellow journalist Matt Thompson talked about a site called wordle.net during a blogging seminar at The Poynter Institute this week. Wordle takes keywords from blogs and creates a cool, colorful word cloud that can help give bloggers a better understanding of the types of topics they typically write about. I created aContinue reading “Having Fun with Wordle Word Clouds”

A Visit to the Book Doctor Turned Into a Story

I stumbled across the Book Doctor’s shop while walking around Dallas’ Bishop Arts District one day. It’s a tiny shop, nestled in the corner of a strip of stores. I went into the store and started talking with the shop’s owner, Julie, a.k.a. the Book Doctor. She told me fascinating anecdotes about her customers, manyContinue reading “A Visit to the Book Doctor Turned Into a Story”

Listening to Grandma’s Stories About the ‘Olden Days’

My grandma, who I unabashedly refer to as “gramz,” is perhaps one of the best listeners I know. I call her a couple of times a week when in need of advice, a pick-me-up or a good laugh. Regardless of what she’s doing, she sets aside time for me and makes me feel as thoughContinue reading “Listening to Grandma’s Stories About the ‘Olden Days’”

In Search of Some Good, Easy-to-Make Recipes

The long weekend has prompted me to open some of the many cookbooks I’ve been given throughout the years. I gravitated toward Giada de Laurentiis’ cookbook because I learned a lot about the stories behind the recipes when interviewing her this summer for a Dallas Morning News story. I bought ingredients for Giada’s fresh tomatoContinue reading “In Search of Some Good, Easy-to-Make Recipes”

Baking Pies, In a Makeshift Kind of Way

I convinced myself that I was well-prepared. Nutmeg? Check. Flour? Check. Six plump peaches? Check. I had everything I needed to bake two pear pies, or so I thought. When my friend and I started baking pies at my apartment Wednesday night, we soon realized that I was missing measuring cups. I thought I hadContinue reading “Baking Pies, In a Makeshift Kind of Way”