Friday, February 18, 2005

If you don't like the message, smear the messenger.

Paul Krugman listened to Alan Greenspan's comments about Social Security, and then went on a powerrant.
Farewell to Diplomad.

The Diplomad, a well-crafted journal of foreign affairs, takes a bow and makes its exit. Job well done!

Monday, February 14, 2005

Move over, Ford, Dow Chemical, Enron...

Perhaps the message of Rathergate and Easongate is pretty simple: the MSM is an entity which is not immume to the normal laws of behavior of corporations or large human organizations. Despite the claims of priestly conduct, journalists are subject to error and bias and require oversight - just like lawyers, doctors, stock brokers, and meat packers. The MSM has demonstrated this necessity for other human organizations and institutions, now the shoe is on the other foot and they are, of course howling in pain. This is completely understandable behavior.

This oversight should not be the domain of government - certainly not! - but can be provided by ... competition. And we're now entering an era where competition to provide information and to check facts on a rapid global scale is possible. To call all the bloggers involved in the Jordan fiasco morons and vigilantes would be like, well, saying all columnists are like Maureen Dowd. And that's not fair.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Longing for Old-Timey Journalism.

The MSM is now launching the counteroffensive against the blogosphere for bringing Eason Jordan down. Bill Press, former columnist and Dem operative, and who now sports a "Kiss Me, I'm a Journalist!" button, believes that the ultra-right bloggers were out to get CNN (I guess after exxing-out Dan Rather). Press, appearing on "Realiable Sources with Howard Kurtz, David Gergen, and Jeff (BuzzMachine) Jarvis, ranted on how bloggers aren't real journalists.

Well , Mr. Press, I offer my examples of what is and what is not journalism. These description may disagree with yours.

An Example of Real Journalism:

Des Moines, Iowa - The cat owned by Mr. and Mrs.
Stanislaw Dupa of 101 Maple Street was found dead today, apparently struck by an automobile sometime last night. The Dupas normally let "Pooky" outside for a few minutes each night, "to powder her nose", said Mrs. Dupa. However, last night Pooky did not return to the door, and a frantic search into the early hours of the morning failed to find the cat. Pooky was found on the side of nearby State Route 56 after daylight. The Dupas say they are not sure whether they will get another cat to replace their beloved Pooky.

Example of MSM Journalism:

Des Moines, Iowa - Irene Dupa sips coffee at her kitchen table on a Monday afternoon, the strong plainswoman seeming to restrain a torrent of grief, doubt, and fear that entered her life this morning.

Irene's companion, Pooky, a mixed Siamese-Angora, was found dead after mysteriously vanishing Sunday evening. Authorities' questioning now centers on Irene's husband Stanislaw Dupa, the last family member to see Pooky alive, and who claims to have no knowledge of her demise.

Yet a troubling chain of events, perhaps coincidental, yet perhaps more sinister, may link Mr. Dupa's supressed rage, his failing business, Bush Administration policies, and Des Moines' historical insensitvity to animal rights.

Carla Zlagg, spokesperson for the Central Iowa Animal-Womynist Alliance commented, when informed of the tragedy, "it's clear that people who seek a dignified life for all creatures should become informed on the basic facts of this case. Mr. Dupa is an independent meat producer, and faces increasing competition from the factory farms sponsored by George Bush's cronies. Men such as Dupa were never taught about dealing with feelings and stress, and in this part of the country, much violence is focused on animals. But there is no excuse for violence of this kind. Our group can provide support in a nuturing, safe environment if Irene feels she is at risk."

Calls to the White House on a possible link to Pooky's death were not returned.