Disclaimer: I read the horoscope daily. I have done so for as long as I can remember. Yes, I have a favorite astrologer: Walter Mercado. I find Walter’s predictions for my day daily in Miami’s el Nuevo Herald. Indeed, Walter is a colorful personality with over the top outfits, many rings on his fingers, and a dramatic delivery if you see his predictions during his TV shows. Take a look at Walter here. His advice for me today:
“Purify your environment and all that surrounds you.”
Disclaimer #2: I see the horoscope reading as part of my morning ritual and I admit that it is a rather ephemeral experience for me. I don’t remember a thing of what Walter has predicted for me the moment I get out the door.
Like today:
On this day your intuition is highlighted. Your “bewitched” side manifests itself and whatever you wish for, you will get.
Well, on this day so far I have discovered the answer to one of the questions that has been present in my mind for decades: Why is it that the venerable New York Times does not carry a daily horoscope?
The explanation has come in the way of an article published as part of the Inside the Times column, an occasional look into the inner workings of the newspaper:
Although many newspapers run a horoscope column, The Times never has. Mr. ( Jeff Roth, who manages the files of newspaper clippings in The Times’s morgue), said he believes this is because it is not supported by science.
The Times does cover astrology, even if it does not publish a daily horoscope:
Astrology, as a subject, has appeared throughout the Times archives for decades. In the early 20th century, the topic was grouped in the same category as ghost stories, told to amuse readers; later, it contributed shock value and a sense of satire to political and news stories, like a series of articles written about the use of astrologers by Nancy Reagan, the former first lady.
I know people who feel strongly that the Times is right NEVER to have published a horoscope. They see this as part of what makes the Times a unique, serious and highly credible newspaper. Anything not supported by facts (and, in this case, by science) has no place in the pages of the Times.
I respect that. However, in my 46 years of sitting through more focus groups than I care to remember, I was always quite interested to hear from the large legion of readers who said that they turned to the daily horoscope in their newspaper to help them guide their day.
Horoscopes provide entertainment and escape.
Entertainment and escape are KEY words here. That’s how I see it, or , how else could I explain that my Spanish horoscope may tell me that a stressful day is in store for me, then the English language one promises a day full of adventure, relaxation and exciting moments? That’s entertainment, friends.
As long as you don’t take them seriously, they can be as funny as the comics on the same page.
My interview with CNN en Español
I was a guest in the program Encuentro, hosted by Guillermo Arduino daily at CNN en Español. The interview was about how we read on mobile devices and my introduction of my new mobile storytelling book, The Story, to a Spanish-language audience.
Mario’s speaking engagements
Keynote Luncheon Speech: Ad Club of Toronto, Newspaper Day
October 25, 2019
Keynote presentation: Business Information & Media Summit (BIMS).
November 12, 2019
Order print edition of The Story from Amazon
You can order the print edition of my new mobile storytelling book, The Story, from Amazon already here:
Pre-order The Story
The newspaper remains the most powerful source of storytelling on the planet. But technology threatens its very existence. To survive, the Editor must transform, adapt, and manage the newsroom in a new way. Find out how, pre-orderThe Story by Mario Garcia, chief strategist for the redesign of over 700 newspapers around the world.
Order here:
https://thaneandprose.com/shop-the-bookstore?olsPage=products%2Fthe-story
The Story will also appear in print
I am happy to announce that we will, indeed, have a print edition of my mobile storytelling book, The Story. I thank you for expressing your interest to our publisher, Thane Boulton, of Thane & Prose. Now the print edition will be a reality, and you can already see the cover and back cover here:
An interview of interest
http://www.itertranslations.com/blog/2019/3/11/fd60ybflpvlqrgrpdp5ida5rq0c3sp
TheMarioBlog post # 3105