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Save/ShareToday in Washington, D.C., the Newseum opened on Pennsylvania Avenue diagonally across from the National Gallery of Art. It's a 250,000 square-foot museum honoring journalists, who many Americans feel are out of touch with their fellow citizens, and the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of the press. (On the side of the modernist façade, the First Amendment* is etched in giant letters.)
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In all the hoopla, the roughly $450 million project was criticized by media gadfly Jack Shafer on NPR as a "vanity operation." (He's calling for a boycott, and recommends that travelers instead go to the Paley Museum in New York City.)
Still, the Newseum might be worth a stop, especially for families looking for a different type of attraction on the National Mall. The Newseum uses the latest technology in its displays. And c'mon, taping a "report" in front of a simulated White House? That's just cool. (It may become even cooler for kids after MTV launches its new reality TV show about journalism, The Paper, next week.)
Decide for yourself with a virtual tour. Tickets are $20 apiece.
*Corrected 3:02 p.m. ET: The First Amendment is printed on the side of the building, not the Fourth, search and seizure (as originally posted, due to an editing error).
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The Washington Post offers tips on navigating the Newseum.
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I disagree with Jack Shafer's call for a boycott of the Newseum. I visited the museum before it officially opened and found it to be a great addition to the museums of DC. The 9/11 exhibit is very moving. The museum isn't for young children - older children will enjoy the interactive displays. And, yes, it is expensive. But you can spend quite a few hours touring the museum - so you do get your money's worth. I think the problem will be that many tourists are used to all the free museums in DC. But the entrance fee at the International Spy Museum in DC hasn't kept people away.
Posted By N. Jerdan on April 14, 2008, 1:36 PM
I read Jack Shafer's article on Slate (cited above) and was not surprised to find nothing of substantive value. I see no problem having a museum dedicated to the subject of journalism. At least it's based in reality--they have a science fiction museum in Seattle! The difference between me and Mr. Shafer, however, is that I am reserving my judgment until I actually visit the Newseum. If you read his piece, you'll find that it is full of p*ss and vinegar, but doesn't have a single fact upon which it is based. As is usual with some of the political windbags you'll find on NPR, they don't bother actually experiencing something before they b*tch about it. Could it be that maybe Mr. Shafer is jealous he wasn't given a wing to his own exploits, and thus he feels the need to deride the place?
Posted By Anthony F on April 16, 2008, 12:04 PM