Meet the Media

Meet Michael McDonagh, a San Francisco-based poet and arts writer whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Classical Voice and Bay Area Reporter. He is also the official writer for Alex North Music. 
Tell us about your dream assignment.
Each one’s a dream, though some are dreamier than others. 
What is your PR pet peeve?
Not being able to write everything I want to write about. 
Top trend in the industry you’re currently covering or are interested in.
Real interest and respect — among the general public — for the people’s revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East due to in-the-trenches coverage by the mostly young using social media, cell phones and very good, for once, coverage by CNN — not gunning for war when I last looked — and spectacular coverage by Al-Jazeera English Live, which you can see free on your PC.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was very fortunate to have been raised in an artistic / artistically aware family. My mother, who studied music at San Jose State, was an accomplished pianist and church organist, and a superb grade school teacher. My father was registrar of veteran’s affairs at many VA hospitals here in California and Illinois.
I’ve been in San Francisco since 1977, publishing critical pieces on all the arts since 1984 for many places including The San Francisco Review of Books, 3 Penny Review, San Francisco Chronicle, www.sfcv.org, The Bay Area Reporter, Stagebill, Antiques and Fine Art, The Advocate, Provocateur, High Performance, In Tune,www.classical-music-review.org and Printmaker.
I have two upcoming pieces for Bay Area Reporter and at least one for www.sequenza21.com. I will continue to contribute on the arts — mostly film — to www.culturevulture.net— and on music to 21st Century Music, in addition to New Music Connoisseur.
And the poems — whether published or not — continue to come.
Want to connect with Michael? Email him at [email protected].
Want to connect with us? Post your comments and thoughts below and email us at [email protected].
Be sure to check back next time for another installation of “Meet the Media.”