Bookstore's 'Call Me Maybe' video defends reading on paper

By: Andrew Beaujon

September 11, 2012

Staffers and volunteers at Chicago’s Open Books offer a choreographed defense of words on paper with their version of “Call Me Maybe.”

Some sample lyrics, sung by bookstore manager Kevin Elliott: “Paper would start up a chat / More insight than just your cat / Be proud with a paperback / E-reading, what a shame / Sure, you’re still reading / Plastic’s so misleading / You could just be tweeting”

Later in the video, Elliott sings “Books are better” as bookstore coordinator Lizzy Boden and some other folks read copies of The Onion.

Previously: The Pilot newsroom lip-dubs ‘Call Me Maybe’ | NPR performs a version

Support high-integrity, independent journalism that serves democracy. Make a gift to Poynter today. The Poynter Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, and your gift helps us make good journalism better.

Donate

Tags: Call Me Maybe, MediaWire, Top Stories

Andrew Beaujon

Andrew Beaujon reported on the media for Poynter from 2012 to 2015. He was previously arts editor at TBD.com and managing editor of Washington City…

Andrew Beaujon

More News

Opinion | Two newsrooms stand out in their coverage of the nightmarish Los Angeles wildfires

The Los Angeles Times and CNN are providing especially notable coverage of ‘the most destructive firestorms to hit the region in memory’

January 9, 2025

Tom Jones

Opinion | How journalism needs to adapt to the rise of news influencers

Journalists should explore ways to mimic influencers’ strategies to engage audiences — and bring their foundational skills with them

January 9, 2025

Gregory Galant

Opinion | With Trump on his way back to the White House, Meta drops its fact-checking program

Mark Zuckerberg can preach all he wants about censorship and free speech, but it’s easy to see through his words. This was done to appease Trump.

January 8, 2025

Tom Jones

Why more and more journalists are launching worker-owned outlets

Fed up with the media industry’s instability, workers are starting newsrooms where they can govern themselves and reach readers directly

January 8, 2025

Angela Fu

Does crowdsourced fact-checking work? Experts are skeptical of Meta’s plan

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta will adopt a Community Notes model similar to X, where fact-checkers say misinformation often goes unchecked

Bookstore’s ‘Call Me Maybe’ video defends reading on paper

More News

Opinion | Two newsrooms stand out in their coverage of the nightmarish Los Angeles wildfires

Opinion | How journalism needs to adapt to the rise of news influencers

Opinion | With Trump on his way back to the White House, Meta drops its fact-checking program

Why more and more journalists are launching worker-owned outlets

Does crowdsourced fact-checking work? Experts are skeptical of Meta’s plan

Comments

Media Jobs

Opinion | Two newsrooms stand out in their coverage of the nightmarish Los Angeles wildfires

Opinion | How journalism needs to adapt to the rise of news influencers

Opinion | With Trump on his way back to the White House, Meta drops its fact-checking program

Why more and more journalists are launching worker-owned outlets

Does crowdsourced fact-checking work? Experts are skeptical of Meta’s plan

Comments

Start your day informed and inspired.

Media Jobs