I once watched The O’Reilly Factor. Indeed, it was a No Spin Zone, and Bill covered events and people that nobdy else did.
He has fallen far. Just over a year ago I quit watching him with any regularity Now, I almost cringe when I hear his voice.
One of the primary reasons is that his ego is on constant display. He cannot simply cover a story without interjecting himself into it as a prime player. And he likes to thump his chest that he “broke the story.”
Well, maybe not.
Andrew Cline does his best to explain to Washington political journalists how they need to change their ways in covering a White House which has often shut them out: Do your own research and quit relying on quotes!
As I commented there, it is precisely what the blogosphere have been saying for some time.
Jay Rosen has some thoughts from the journalists perspective about the conference both he and Hindrocket attended. It is worth a good five-minute read as MSM seems to be catching on.
Jay also points to some conclusions drawn by those at the conference at The National Debate:
Many of the non-blogging participants came away with a better understanding of blogging, bloggers and what (some) bloggers want from journalistic enterprises and institutions (known beyond the confines of Harvard Square as “MSM” or “mainstream media”).
For those of you interested in more on the topic, check Media Bloggers Association web site.
Quite a headline. On MSNBC.
Is this a Blue-State perspective, or am I simply too old-fashioned to agree with the premise? I think freedom is invaluable, but tend to agree with Neal Boortz that too many in our nation will trade their freedoms for a handout. When the title question can be asked in all seriousness I have to think we’ve become far too complacent.
Jim equates embedded reporters to the Soviet model of Political officers.
Condoleezza Rice goes before the Senate today for confirmation. This morning, an NPR reporter stated, “Condoleezza Rice has close ties to the White House.”
I’m glad they’re all over that story.
I just saw a CNN report on the number of women who have died in combat in Iraq. They cite the number as 25. That “is the largest number of women who have died in combat since World War Two” according to the reporterette (to use a Limbaugh word for all those who believe I’m a right-wing fanatic).
The story focused on one female Army Staff Sergeant who was 39 years old when she died after falling into a bomb crater just three weeks prior to rotation home. She was an administrative clerk.
Those are all the facts as presented. Additionally, her father claims she had been pressed into service doing house-to-house clearing due to the shortage of personnel. To nobody’s surprise, he doesn’t support the war.
A lot of military people out there are now raising their eyebrows in a decidedly Spock-like manner. For the rest of you, let me explain.
As an E6 at 39, she is not a fast-burner. Many things may have contributed to that, and we know nothing more from the report. Secondly, if Birdie ever takes an admin clerk with him to clear houses without first integrating them into his platoon with some intense training, I’ll personally kick his butt. That’s a good way to get some good people killed. Finally, a woman of that age who is not in good physical condition (I’m basing that on the photos shown on television) has no business being anywhere near a fire-fight.
Now, the fact she died after falling into a hole has me wondering where this crater was, and why was she there, and why she was not aware of the crater. And did the crater have anything to do with clearing houses? The reporter didn’t say. She was too busy telling us our military is so weak that we must used untrained women to do some of the most dangerous work in the country.
Sorry. My bullshit meter is pegged.
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