Editorials

521 results
Page 1
A huge, bright rainbow against a luminous peachy sunset sky over South Philly rowhouses.

At BSR, our values do not change based on elections.

Justice is not a self-improvement project.

We offer a huge range of opinions here at BSR from journalists who know what they’re talking about. But this diversity of opinion is built on the value of respect for our shared humanity. We will keep that respect no matter what. Will you join us?
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 5 minute read
View from the audience of a standing ovation at the Wilma, with the cast and stage manager lined up joyfully under the lights

The Wilma’s Tony reminds us to keep fighting for Philly’s arts community

The future is collaborative

Philly’s theater community rejoiced at hearing that the Wilma will receive the 2024 Regional Theatre Tony Award at this year’s ceremony on Sunday, June 16. It’s a huge reason to keep fighting for Philly arts, but certainly not the only one.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 5 minute read
23 storytellers of different ages, genders & races pose onstage with hands folded and heads lowered.

Mural Arts and First Person Arts present Embracing the Light

Philly storytellers tackle suicide stigma

Mural Arts and First Person Arts teamed up for a show tackling stigma around mental illness and suicide—unusual topics for public storytelling. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Alaina Johns reviews.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
Black & white vintage photo of five coiffed young ladies sitting in a row in the library reading newspapers.

Six tips for news and social media sanity in the 2024 election cycle (you won’t believe #6)

The news is stressful. Here’s how to stay engaged while keeping your cool.

Our democracy, our climate, our rights, our health, our wars and protests—it’s hard to look at any news at all without feeling like the world is ending. Spend seven minutes with Alaina Johns now and get six tips to help you navigate today’s media.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
Miller, wearing a kilt and holding a bloody knife, dodges away from Parkinson, who sits downstage & turns back toward Miller

Quintessence director Alex Burns addresses community concerns about his “all-male” Shakespeare productions

“When does the community get to abort someone else’s creative impulse?”

When Quintessence artistic director Alex Burns announced plans for his latest all-male Shakespeare production, he struck a nerve with the local theater community. He talks with Alaina Johns in defense of his vision.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 9 minute read
Close-up of Tom, an elderly white man, with glasses, a tan cap, white goatee, and calm smile.

The man who called me an optimist: remembering writer Tom Purdom

“This is my editor.”

In January, the BSR community lost one of our founding members: science-fiction and music writer Tom Purdom. Near the end of his career, he never balked at having a youngster for his editor. Alaina Johns remembers a treasured friend and colleague.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read
Black & white close-up photo on a laptop keyboard with a magnifying glass held closely over it.

I’m an editor, but I want 2024 to be the year we stop harping on typos

Everyone makes mistakes. Why are we so anxious to point them out?

One drawback of working in the media is that your smallest mistakes are extremely visible to the public. Everyone loves to point out typos and errors, but only some of us are helping. Alaina Johns wonders why it matters so much.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 5 minute read
Neil, Alaina & Kyle lean on the railing of a 4th-floor roof-deck on a sunny day, the Philly skyline behind them

BSR Behind the Scenes: An inside look at our editorial process

Going backstage at BSR: How do we publish so many writers?

Did you know that BSR is Philly's top destination for professional arts journalism ... and that we're a small, independent nonprofit made up entirely of remote-working part-timers? Here's how we do it.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 4 minute read
A multi-racial group of smiling colleagues posing together in a lofty coworking space. Alaina holds a tiny dog on the left.

BSR Behind the Scenes: Why do we need arts criticism?

Going backstage at BSR: The truth about reviewing

In our experience, some people opine that the critics are just dragging the cultural scene down—especially when a review is mixed or negative. But is that true? Not at all. Alaina Johns explains in this BSR Behind the Scenes editorial.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 6 minute read
A smiling, sunny outdoor selfie of Alaina, a white woman, and Kyle, a Black man. They're both wearing sunglasses.

BSR Behind the Scenes: What does public relations have to do with arts journalism?

Going backstage at BSR: The PR connection

What does arts journalism have to do with PR? As arts writers and editors, we often work closely with PR people. How do we collaborate? And what are the boundaries between our roles? Alaina Johns explains in this BSR Behind the Scenes editorial.
Alaina Johns

Alaina Johns

Editorials 7 minute read