Changes in the Media Are Not Changes We Can Believe In
By PCMCK on July 24, 2008 at 12:30 AM in Media, Media Bias, Obamedia
A guest post by Pcmck.
Today’s youth are witnessing history unfold before their eyes. This historical event will not be documented in textbooks or logged in our country’s archives. Yes, we are in a big election year, one which thus far, is unlike no other I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. However, the history in the making which I’m referring to is not the election or its results. It is the demise of investigative journalism.
Election Year 2008 marks the end of the true investigative journalism which has uncovered scandals and corruption, exposed unethical people and illegal activities, and contributed to keeping political and corporate leaders honest. These investigative journalists were known as the watchdogs over local, state, and federal governments, businesses, and prominent leaders, institutions, and organizations.
The media is a powerful entity. It has the capability to make or break careers, expose criminal activity, or wreak fear in persons when the slightest whisper of wrongdoing is detected. But that is the media of yesterday. True investigative journalism has disappeared, along with young boys holding the latest edition of the breaking news on city corners, shouting “Extra, Extra, read all about it,” drawing masses of people to their side as they sought to learn the latest breaking news.
When I think of investigative journalists, I think of someone on a quest for the truth, regardless of the consequences. This quest runs in their blood, constantly digging one step further to find the missing link or to verify their suspicions. They had an unquenchable thirst to be the first to expose shocking news, and an unshakeable will to protect their sources of information. The story became a part of them, inbred into their being, and was protected at all costs.
This election year has revealed that true investigation journalism has died. Journalists no longer own the stories or utilize an uncanny ability to expose details significant enough to entice a newspaper to run an extra edition. These stories are no longer the lifeline and blood of American journalists, but are owned by the corporations who issue their paychecks. When news is dictated by corporations, it is no longer journalism, ladies and gentlemen. It is merely reporting of the news. There is a difference.
Much like the proverbial weathergirl who has no background in meteorology, but merely points to a picture of a yellow sun plastered over southern Florida, today’s so-called journalists are not skilled or paid to expose news, just to report news which has already been exposed by others. Senator Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East is just one example of the moderated and watered down version of what we used to call news. It is a blatant expose’ of a media which has allowed the very corruption it used to investigate to overtake its industry and change the face of our televisions and front pages into a mere recital.
I wonder if the media is proud of their role as emcees of Senator Obama’s press opp. What we are witnessing is not reporting of the news, but rather an opportunity to be associated and viewed worldwide next to a United States Senator. They have been given rules, what to wear, what not to wear, as well as what they are allowed to hold and display. They are told who they can and cannot talk to by the Obama campaign, and then their corporate stakeholders dictate the viewpoints they are allowed to report.
Media is well versed on the international front. Foreign correspondents have traveled the world over and back again, risked their lives, and sometimes, sadly, lost their lives, in their quest to report a story. They’re well aware of what is acceptable or unacceptable dress and behavior in every country across the globe. They don’t need 300 campaign advisers to give them the rules, and under usual circumstances, would find it laughable and degrading to be told by a Senator (who is not yet an official nominee or President) what is allowed or not allowed while reporting their news story. It makes one wonder just whose story it is when the media’s job is nothing more than to recite the news, rather than expose it.
What is even more shocking than a United States Senator dictating the appearance and activities of the main stream media is the media’s compliance with those dictates. Journalists were once the very people who created fear among politicians, holding them to their word for fear of public embarrassment and exposure. Their adherence to these dictates, however, has become an embarrassment to the main stream media and a profession which was once respectable and ethical. Has there ever before in history been a time when a United States Senator told the media what to do? In decades past, journalists would have had a field day with these rules and scrambled to be the first to uncover just what the Senator doesn’t want exposed, rather than obediently reporting what he does want the public to know.
As our watchdogs are now politically and corporate owned, we can only expect more reporting of what is allowed and less investigation into what we should know. At a time when we need it more than ever, today’s generation will never know true investigative journalism. History has, indeed, unfolded before our eyes as we’ve witnessed breaking news being broken.
Journalism, particularly investigative journalism, has indeed changed. Unfortunately, it is not change I can believe in.
Absolutely! Did you see this:
http://www.slate.com//id/2195914
(Why the media is not covering the Edwards story - on Slate)
The MSM didn’t have a problem getting their story out about HRC’s oh so newsworthy RFK gaffe. Within hours ever major publication and news network was reporting it, with the shocking headline, “HRC wants Obama dead!”
Now Edwards cheats on his sick wife, has a love child and gets caught in action at the hotel and that’s not front page news?!
How can these “journalists” live with themselves.
Yep - and let’s not forget the McCain “affair” with that Vicki woman that they put on the front page of the NYT (I can’t believe I feel sorry for a Republican!!)
and then of course, there’s the Larry Sinclair/Obama thing - which HELLO - could at least be investigated.
I mean they spend TWO years on that girl who was missing in Arbua - why can’t they spend 2 days looking into whether or not Obama did crack cocaine in 1999 (NOTE - while Bill was PRESIDENT!)
bill and obama probably did drugs with each other back then ,,,they are both liars, and admitted drug users, id love to see them take a drug test, by an independent dr on obama, and the rest of the senate congress,,see how many are using..
Tish, you’re always such a Republican booster–do you really want to see how many Republicans are drug users, adulterers etc? How many of them were fooling around with young male interns? Why are you here?
Don’t forget testing George Bush!
The youngsters at the Cheeto site are calling anyone trying to talk about Edward’s scandals trolls over there. I use to think dkos was reality based, but THEY cannot handle the truth about Edwards or Obama. I’m dumbfounded that so many progressives like the right wingers who still think Bush is a good POTUS, refuse to see the TRUTH when it is right in front of them.
The damage of the propaganda MEDIA in America to the populace/citizens goes deeper than even I ever thought possible. When did the average joe start believing that people were god-like?
Why is it so hard for us to admit we were wrong in our collective judgements about certain politicians when we are wrong?
roseeriter, it (DKos) really was reality-based at one time, but that was BEFORE the late 2007-early 2008 influx of “new users” (primarily with 150K+ UIDs) who, I swear, must be paid online operatives. That crowd, which has given DKos its “cult” image, posts more comments than seem possible for an average person (working or not). Sardonyx did a post the other day over there, showing the top commenters all-time at Daily Kos and the top 10-15 consisted of about half relatively new users and notable for their 24/7 presence there on behalf of The One.
Markos doesn’t know it yet (or if he does, is complicit), but his site can now be described accurately as a “cult site”, with no semblence of reality. I watched (and objected) as they were chasing Larry and Susan out. It was at that point that I knew the cult had won.
I’m aware of that influx as I was a day a diary poster since 2003 and the Edwards, then Obama thugs stopped me in my tracks and I followed Alegre during the strike us Hillary supporters participated in.
Kos is complicit and he betrayed many of us over there. It is NO LONGER a reality base blog.
LB- you wouldn’t be larry bailey would you?
I miss many of my old friends from dkos- most are no longer there.
“rosee”, me dear, I’ve been reading you and smiling (and thinking of the good old days). I’m hanging in at Kos for the time being, mainly because of some other old friends who seem to be there occasionally. I’ve been “encouraged” to leave several times by young thugs, and have been resistant to let the little shits win; though I suspect that my time of departure is nigh.
You know, I really loved Susan and Larry’s work at DKos and when they were ushered out, I should have left then. I knew a pogram was underway and should have done a GBCW telling the Mob to go f themselves. May still write that diary.
HI LB!
So happy to ’see’ a friendly face.
You must have a thicker skin than most, lol. Those little thugs need sane voices to remind them now and then so good luck with that.
But the misogyny got so bad over there it triggered my PTS symptoms and I honestly could no longer physically ‘fight’ back.
I’m heart sick that Obama may represent what we all just went though the past 8 years with Bush. But I get to YELL safely here. LOL!
Take care, my friend.
You too, my online true-Democrat buddy. We’ll both yell AND raise hell — which is something we CAN do here without the Thought Police checking our every word, trying to sniff out dis-allegiance (if that’s a word) to The One.
And rosee, wait til Trix shows up here (if he can pry himself away from his low UID there). Then, we’ll have some real fun. Remember the Saturday night he made such a big deal of revealing himself to be a man? I believe you were a part of the repartee and I was the jester, and had a great time.
That one and the ‘we’re all bitches’ diary was a hoot:-)
sad day when we have to get the truth from enquirer
Yes, but they are meticulous at checking out their stories since they have been sued by celebrities who won big for printing false stories; which actually makes them a more accurate source than the mainstream so called “journalists” reporting on our presidential candidates!
Yup. CS you are correct.
Please pass this around to all the media.
http://nativeamericansagainstobama.wordpress.com/
Yes, this story is a good example.
If this is true, he is finished in politics. A lot of people like his wife and she’s sick, for God’s sake. Hillary’s critics and opponents are dropping like flies. Last week, Chris Dodd, before that Tim Russert and just from the teaser for McCain’s documentary, it might be the end of Chris Mathews. maybe there is divine intervention.
We can only hope, its the end of matthews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdQYX3_EsWE
Maybe the papparazzi are the real investigative reporters now.
The corporate owned media (and congress) only want our money, (every last cent) need us dumbed down and as self medicated consumers.
I’m surprised we haven’t been forced to sign loyalty oaths like Bush’s admin and probably Obama’s Bots.
But we watched the Bush group have an illegal war, lie about it, be responsible for hundreds of thousand murders. We watched Catholic priest pedophiles be protected by the biggest church and we want real honesty? From who?
Most people just give up (which is what the corporate media, government want) Some of us are still alive enough to keep yelling about the wrongs we see the only place we can- on the internet. But that will probably disappear if Obama gets elected.
Excellent points. No accountability anymore.
Please, please. This is not investigative journalism. This is scandal. Investigative journalism involves important issues, which affect the lives of real people and the health of the nation. Love children and reporting outrage over deliberate misinterpretations of a candidate’s words are merely the circus of journalism which we endure today.
Sorry, I misspoke in the above on the misinterpretation part. It was the promoting of the misinterpretation that was the outrage.
Ugh. It’s early here.
I was being sarcastic about the papparazzi, but the politician scandals should be investigated by real reporters and they aren’t. The politicians are suppose to WORK for us and we deserve honest, wholesome candidates. We’ve had too many cheaters, liars, druggies and money hungry scumbags in congress and running the country.
Obama is another scumbag.
I think Obama will do as much as he can to silence us..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdQYX3_EsWE
Roseeriter, I never thought I’d live to see this country come to this. The integrity of elections in question, the control of the press is beyond question, the compromise of the judicial system, the financial plundering and tax bailouts of same… If you had told me 25 years ago that this is where we’d be, I wouldn’t have believed it. I have long known that looking to the Dems to do anything about it was a long shot, but it is really hard to not just give up.
Most people just give up (which is what the corporate media, government want) Some of us are still alive enough to keep yelling about the wrongs we see the only place we can- on the internet.
Do you really think there is not enough yellow dog journalism? When the morning and evening news cover Lohan and Spears and exclude hard news, you want more, more, more?
If I read one more time that this media behavior only started in ‘08 I am afraid I will have a stroke. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE BILL CLINTON WAS IN OFFICE!!! WAKE UP FOLKS!
Whitewater was a bogus scandal and the ONLY source for it was a con man, David Hale, who had been caught embezzling a couple of million dollars from the government. He made up dirt on Clinton as a bargaining chip and the NYTimes gleefully went along with it.
The media lied repeatedly about Gore because they hated him. They gave Bush a pass on all kinds of troubling things - bankruptcies, AWOL, insider trading (for which there was a lot of evidence unlike Whitewater).
They mocked Kerry and you all saw what happened with Hillary.
Please go to dailyhowler.com and read some of the archives. (Search farm chores, love canal, love story) Rent the DVD “The Hunting of the PResident” or, better yet, read the book. We need to wake up to what has been going on for years. The media and the right wing have been bringing down our best people and our leaders have just turned a blind eye.
I agree with all that you say. My question is why is Obama getting the rock star treatment from the Media - he says he is a Democrat?
because he is not a real democrat. he is not a threat to the power that be. he is just a fake plastic. Clintons are the real democrat. they will do what ever it takes to destroy them. america; take no immitation, be smart.
It goes back further than that; all the way to Ronald Reagan who destroyed the California economy before he moved on to destroy the U. S. economy. If you don’t believe it, look it up. The greatest crime in history occurred after his deregulation policies destroyed the Saving and Loans institution that was founded in the 1800s. Reagan appears to be the first naked emperor to receive the same slavish praise as Obama.
You must have enjoyed Pres. Bush just messin with ya about Wall Street getting drunk (reminded me of his WMD skit). Wall St. got drunk, huh? Well, who unlocked the liquor cabinet for them? Then he has the nerve to say he doesn’t know how long they’ll sober up for. Right. They’ll be back. Heck, they’re already profiteering off us at he gas pump. Cute, aren’t they?
Have to agree with you there….I remember that the SCARY TREND of Newspaper Consolidation ( Murdering the Competition ) is what seemed to kick the whole thing off….I mean what city/town really needs opposing coverage and Op-Eds. Seemed to coincide with the rise of RANT RADIO disguised as News Radio….
It used to be a legal or was it just a quaint custom that only US Citizens could own our media….Kinda like Regulating/Preventing Monopolies….Those were the days…( sigh )
Exactly! I have been saying this since the beginning of the primary season, the MSM will go down in history, and not in a positive light, as being the driving force behind electing possibly the most dangerous president in all US history. The stake of another 6 million Jews in Israel lies in the balance, but the media care not. It is time to take this country back from the big corporations that drive the press, the housing industry, and especially the energy crisis affecting this nation. PUMA and JUST SAY NO DEAL are a great start in this national revolution/rebellion, and thanks to sites like NO QUARTER, many of us are getting the real news, but I can’t help but worry about those who are not internet connected. How to get the word out to all of them requires money for advertising, and that is why we all need to support PUMA, et al, as much and as often as we can!!!
So true…and so sad. We don’t even bother turning on tv news anymore, and barely scan a couple of newspapers. The msm have become obama’s groupies. It’s revolting.
Very well written post, PCMCK. Thank you.
So untrue.
Point 1. These were not foreign correspondents. They are the press assigned to cover Obama.
Point 2. The Obama campaign did not tell them what to wear. They simply do not have the authority to do that. They passed out a list of tips to be used as guidelines in case some of the press had not been to the middle east. It was a favor to them. While folks at NQ attribute everything to Obama, if member of the pres wore something inappropriate, it would not reflect badly on Obama, it would reflect badly on that person and their employer. The press do not work for Obama.
Point 3. McCain has always referred to the press as “His base” because of the special treatment he has received from them over the years. He has parties for them at his various estates. Sadly for McCain, Obama is just plain more interesting.
So is a train wreck interesting. We’re electing a president, not buying a steam locomotive. Although, one could easily conclude striking similarities between Obama and the previously mentioned train wreck.
Great logic there. You sure got me. A train wreck is intersting. That really takes the steam out of the argument that the press is covering Obama because he is more interesting than McCain.
Not really. I heard his Israel comments on the radio, and he said nothing they don’t all say. Standard Israel is our friend stuff.
Why the press finds him fascinating is racial, I think. It’s just different to have a black man running for president.
But he is actually not very innovative or interesting.
No he is not
Assuming “interesting” is a legitimate criteria for determining what or who gets coverage in the news, this would open the door for the media to ignore important financial news, including the messy details of the current financial problems because it is boring. If “interesting” decided what is on the news, why aren’t the network anchors in France interviewing Angelina Jolie about the birth of her twins. I guarantee you that is more interesting to most viewers than Obama playing basketball in Afghanistan. Do we really want to make interesting the basis on what gets covered?
“Interesting” is one of those vague criteria that can be used to excuse questionable behavior and choices. It is like the school or job “interview” that justifies decisions that by more objective standards would be inexplicable like sending network anchors to cover Obama’s international trip, but not doing so for McCain. Posting Obama’s Iraq op-ed piece, but rejecting McCain’s Iraq op-ed piece.
What is your point, Ted. you are really tiresome. Have you personally seen the directive from his campaign? Are you a secret agent for the msn presently stationed here at noquarter as a mole? The memo also said only clear nail polish and hose and scarves should be worn.
No, he has no authority to tell them what to wear, but the next trip, there many be another shortage of seats on the Obama plane.
As far as #3? Sooner or later there has to be a debate. He can’t stay in Europe forever. All that glitters is not gold and Sen. Obama is chalcopyrite (fools gold).
you go girl
For your information, Obama, whether he “controls” his people or not is responsible for what they do in his name. These correspondents, reporters, press, newsmongers or whatever you call them, are professionals at what they do and have far more experience than Barack Obama or his “people”.
He, and his staff, issued “guidelines” like they were the chaperons to a bunch of rowdy high schoolers on a field trip! If he does this to professionals who didn’t have to accompany him on his sightseeing tour, imagine what he could do with the unchecked power (thanks to GWB) of a president!
the authority??
Obama is just plain more interesting
So was Lucy or frogs under a microscope.
If being humorless and thin skinned is more interesting then I guess you right. That makes being grandson of one of the true heroes of World War 2 and a prisoner of war uninteresting.
Our local news tonight had the story:
obama leads mccain by 7 points.
Graphic showed:
bo 47
mcain 41
Even in bomath isn’t that 6 point difference?
News reader did not notice.
New, new math?
After all:
Michigan + Florida + all other Democratic candidates ÷ by Obama = victory.
The dumbing down of the educational system was the start. Now the dumbing down of journalism follows. They are all just characters in the Truman Show now.
LOL….How ( sigh ) True, Uppity. Even Reality Shows have lost that Reality Edge.
OH THE IRONY !
Great and thoughtful article. Thank you!
The media is involved in psychological manipulation of a whole nation — what the hell do they care about the news?
Artful manipulators can, “control small groups and large populations, not through coercion, but through the control of information and powerful techniques of communication.”
From the Preface to the second edition of “Snapping” by Flo Conway & Jim Siegelman.
The media is being a helpmate and a WHORE to Axelrod in his selling of his product — Obama.
That book Snapping was excellent! I keep waiting to hear a huge collective SNAP from the Democratic Party- maybe at the convention- when they finally realize they have been duped by the Obama ‘freshness’.
I am noticing some snaps, crackles and pops as some Obamabots finally snap and see what those of us anti-Obama people have already seen. This would have happened before the DNC RBC meeting if we had a real news media and being an investigative reporter was honorable.
I’m constantly amazed, though, at how dumbed down the majority of the American people are. It is so sad.
Everyone should read “Snapping” — you can get a used copy — cheap.
Even many in the so called Mental Health professions refuse to recognize cult personality shifts. There are so many religious cults churches in the Northwest — and most of them aren’t considered cults.
Obama is sure to crash and burn — when people realize he is a con man. Then his cult followers will be in need of mental health intervention — and I doubt there are enough trained deprogrammers to get Obamabutts to snap out of their “believe” in messiah Obama.
Unfortunately the cult mentality is all around us. I worked for a computer software company years ago owned and operated by scientologists and when I finally realized what was going on I filed a law suit with the ACLU for reverse religious discrimination as one could not progress in that company unless they became (or allowed to be brain-washed) a scientologist- classes were held at the work place during the work day. That’s when I started researching scientology and found the book SNAPPING which became my lawyers handbook for reference. I won but the lawsuit was put under a gag order, but I still tell everyone I meet precisely because of the DANGER of cult behaviour.
And I can spot a phony and cult behaviour when I see it. We all have seen how whistle-blowers were treated in the Bush Admin and in the government.
Since when did TRUTH become the enemy??
And Obama is a phony and his bots do exhibit cult-like behaviour.
Since when did TRUTH become the enemy? When it was decided that secrets should be kept from We the People even thought it was Our duty to keep absolute power from corrupting our Democracy.
Because without the power of Truth there is no Democracy.
If we are not free to pursue the truth, free to debate the best course for our nation, free to express our conscience with an honest press, if “elections” are only manipulations, then we are not free.
Me too. People still repeat to me that “Obama voted against the war” and I want to scream. It’s just like “Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11.” These are just BASIC FRIGGIN’ FACTS PEOPLE! Creeps like Cheney and Axelrod know how to use this corrupt system to their advantage, and it works like a charm. We now have a completely unqualified, unvetted novice at the brink of the presidency. It makes me sick.
Don’t go crazy. those people obviously just repeat what they werre told. Most likely they don’t know the facts. It will be most productive if u tell them that he wasn’t a senator at the time when the vote was taken, and then tell them all his subesquent votes in the matter since he became one. It will take time for them to admitt that they have been had, but the truth will come out.
Dead on! And my question is: who chose the setting for the press interviews the other day? You know the one, that cave-like room in which Obama’s voice echoed like he was a god?
That’s manipulation worthy of government-controlled media!
Creepy!
aaaannnnnddd…..when those that participate wake up to the New American Fascist Regime….They will be in SHOCK as they shuffle towards the assigned Indoctrination Camps…..
What the MSM is giving us is not Journalism. It is propaganda. I will not let some animated “Barbie” and “Ken” tell me what to think.
Travesty that mainstream journalists have lost their purpose and the respect of the public for becoming bought and paid for by a politician.
Greater surprise that it is now the tabloids that are practicing investigative journalism and uncovering truths!
Obama and Edwards: Birds of the same feather, flock together.
I actually used to watch the news and Olbermann, read the papers, the Nation, The Progressive….all canceled. It’s really depressing. I found myself agreeing with Charles Krauthammer, for God’s sake, in last Friday’s WaPo
http://tinyurl.com/55rav4
I just can’t believe what we’re witnessing. And since I don’t feel the hype I just don’t get what everyone’s swooning over. He leaves me cold. Can’t stand his voice (just like Bush!)
Thanks for your post.
Highly paid and highly visible sycophants. Then, every time they are accused of being sycophants, they put a highly paid, highly visible panel of “expert” sycophants together to “analyze” themselves and conclude, “No, we are not sycophants!”
Don’t forget - David Axelrod is a FORMER JOURNALIST - that is part of how he manipulated so much…
Ya, he wrote for the Chicago Tribune.
It’s worse than that! I don’t remember where I got this url, might have been this site, but everyone should check it out. Axelrod is a very sinister character!
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2008/db20080314_121054.htm
He is also a former human being.
That’s a question I’ve been asking. If the Corporate owned media love Obama why doesn’t that raise any red flags?
Corporate America does not support a candidate they think will go after them. They fought tooth and nail to keep FDR out of nomination at the Democratic convention. The same thing is happening with Hillary.
Let’s say I’m wrong and Obama suddenly becomes a champion of the people if he’s elected. You have to be very naive to believe Corporate America would stand for that.
An occasional mild criticism from the Corporate owned media does not equal the venom (b*tch, wh*re, c*nt) that Hillary Clinton faced.
The press is being told what to report and what not to report about Obama, just as they were with Bush, and not a peep from so-called liberals and progressives.
Alice, we’re through the looking-glass.
Well said. You would think this would be a big clue.
EXCLUSIVE: Who is Mohammed Al-Churbaji?: Key Al-Qaeda Terrorist “Abu Salim’s” Son is Barack Obama Fundraiser; Islamic Terrorist “Mr. Mom”
Read more here!
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archi…e_who_i_1.html
ABSOLUTE PROOF OBAMA TOOK MONEY FROM A TERRIOST!
It was reported by one source Debbie Schussel that she found a true honest unbelievable link that forever ties Obama to Al-Queda. A top fundraiser in Michigan is the son of Mohammed Imad Al-Churbaji who is one of Al-Qaeda’s top terrorists in America. His connections at the top of Al-Qaeda are tight and span the global Al-Qaeda network, from Syria to Hamburg to Spain to Afghanistan to Peshawar to Ein El-Hilweh and Dunniyeh, Lebanon, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to HAMAS operations in Richardson, Texas.
[Repost From Larry Sinclair's site, where investigative journalism lives on.]
JUST BREAKING!!!!!
Obama caught lying on his bar application. Claimed he never used drugs and other misrepresentations. Could possibly be disbarred.
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/official-complaint-filed-obama-lied-on-bar-application/
We will soon be informed that disbarring Obama because he used drugs and lied about it on his Bar application is racist.
…or, that simply filing the bar complaint was racist
The website below is reporting that someone has filed an official complaint with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission alleging Obama lied on his bar application based on the following:
1. Used illegal drugs and concealed his drug use by lying about it; and
2. Failed to report unpaid criminal citations, including parking violations where the fines totaled more that $200 or remained unpaid.
The requested action is to disbar Obama.
http://factsfirstok.blogspot.com/
I don’t think a complain filed by Anonymous is particularly official.
Cannot wait for the Official W.O.R.M. on that one….LOL
PCMCK -
That is a powerful piece! Both poignant, and accurate. Thank you.
Thousands of people have been laid off in NP industry since the 80’s. Zell owns the Chicago Trib and LAT.
The NYT just refused to run McCains op-ed.
Very bad. But, Larry is that, now! (Plus all you others) hugs all around. And kudos.
For better or worse, perhaps the ‘old-time’ journalism you describe no longer commands the power it once did, and perhaps this is due to corporate controls over content; but this does not mean the news cannot get out. If this election has taught us anything, it is that conscientious citizens armed with even a rudimentary understanding of technological innovations can obtain information and get out the news when old standby’s like t.v. networks and big city dailies, fail us. Hopefully, we realized in time that the news is not what it used to be; and established alternative distribution channels to get the news out, in time to save our democracy.
That’s where I think we have to hit is corporate America. I think a lot of us are the shoppers in our home. We have to pay attention to which companies are doing their advertising on these news stations and let them know through our wallets that we want to see some real investigative reporting. Enough with the propoganda. We have become a nation of consumers and as comsumers. Corporations are only as strong as we allow them to be…we just can’t be all over the map with we’re going to boycott a 100 products.
What used to be watchdogs that looked out for the truth have now become yapping lap dogs.
They are noisy , annoying , and serve no good purpose.
COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMA RULES
Don’t insult dogs — the tiny dogs. NO fair.
Little dogs can be watch dogs.
Few real Journalist exist in America — most want to be in front of the camera making tons of money. So they all are being to good soldier — doing as their masters demand just for the chance to have some face time in front of the camera.
Anyway you can’t believe what you read in the newspapers — or even what you see “presented” on the evening news — not enough background to explain what has happened — and only a few seconds to tell complicated stories.
With the “advent” of the Internet we can check different sources and do our own background research. Then this information can be shared as bloggers explore the story.
Unfortunately with blogging there are also the ignorant bot — trying to defend the indefensible like the current Obama-jerk. Before the zero there was the bush idiot.
Also remember that the media who follows Obama may be drinking the koolaid — they may really believe that Zero is the “one” — they may have been bamboozled by the jerk. Group indoctrination or speaking in toughs — c