Does this seem to you to be a new journalistic low?

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf / Fr. Z's Blog ^ | June 9, 2011 | .Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

[onyx]

Does this seem to you to be a new journalistic low?

Posted on 9 June 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I haven’t ever heard of anything like this, except in my sometime-interest in astronomy, when people were recruited to monitor big listening arrays or perhaps help map the genome.

The Washington Post has asked for 100 volunteer readers to go through some 24K emails from Gov. Sarah Palin’s tenure as Governor of Alaska.

Can we imagine they are looking for the good things she did as Governor with the purpose of praising her?  Surely there will be some.  If they find those things will they report them?  Do we expect stories about how, as Governor, she – say – helped a vet get a new wheelchair?

My initial reaction is one of contempt.  And I am pretty sure I would have the same reaction were this about a politician whose career I find loathsome, such as an aggressively pro-abortion “catholic”.

Enlist volunteers for this?

Does this seem to you to be a weird journalistic low?  Am I wrong?

[Joe 6-pack]

"They’ll quietly drop it as soon as they realize people are learning good things."

If people were smart they'd use this as leverage to insist on the release of more records from a certain Kenyan marxist.

[JoeProBono]

[cripplecreek]

FReepers research everything. Within minutes of finding that John Bryson was being named commerce secretary we knew all there was to know about him and a few things about others that crossed his path.

[buccaneer81]

Nah! You aint seen nothin’ yet.

I agree. God forbid, if Obama is reelected, then by 2015, the MSM will simply come out and declare us (conservatives, Tea Party, FReepers, most veterans, white rural dwellers and small business owners) "enemies of 21st century America and her people."

[RedMDer]

We need to file a FIOA to determine just who is funding the ʇsod uoʇbuıɥsɐʍ. Soros Maybe.... Obama..... Hmmm .....
I dont think they are making it on circulation.

[greene66]

Well, no. Actually the journalistic low came earlier this year, when the media tried to tie Palin in with the mass-murder in Arizona.

Showing non-stop footage of the crime-scene, followed by the snapshot of the little girl killed, then old file-footage of Palin walking on stage somewhere and news-anchors pondering over her ‘violent rhetoric.’ Over and over again. It was like an old Soviet propaganda film, constantly juxtaposing those images. The absolute nadir of journalism.

[Pharmboy]

Oops...sorry. I had just always thought that Fey’s legs > Palin’s, but I was oh so wrong. I ask your forgiveness...but I’m always the kinda guy who likes to present data.

[penelopesire]

I’ve never seen worse in all of my years. Been writing comments at the WP and NYT saying as much all afternoon. PLus I phoned them and ran them down a country road.

They are just detestable human beings.

[Rational Thought]

Media out of control. But, they truly aren't journalists anymore. This is targeted harassment and an attempt (as they hope) at character assassination. I don't ever recall a Media organization going to these lengths to investigate a former Governor, a Governor who isn't under any sort of investigation. Her “crime” is being a Conservative woman who did take on an establishment, and now is considering running for higher office.

Unfortunately, The Media has no controlling authority. In many cases, they are employed by political parties or Government as a weapon against their perceived enemies, with almost limitless power.

What would happen if concerned citizens employed these same "investigative" tactics on individuals in the Media? Since the Media now has such power in our society, shouldn't they be thoroughly vetted, just like our elected officials?

[onyx]

L.A. Times to post database of Palin emails

[onyx]

I agree with your every word.

[vox_freedom]

Yes, indeed. And throw some more dung on top of the pile that is the WA Po.

[vox_freedom]

B T T T ! ! ! ©

[calex59]

I don’t have any issues with them wanting people to go through the stuff. They’ll quietly drop it as soon as they realize people are learning good things.

You don't see that this will be used by Palin haters(left wing nut cases)to make shit up and distort the truth? This is an open invitation to left wings idiots to trash Sarah. The lies will be printed on the front page and then later retracted on the back page, if at all.

[cripplecreek]

They’re going to do it whether you want them to or not.

End of story.

[calex59]

They’re going to do it whether you want them to or not. End of story.

Well, sh** for brains, my answer to your comment had nothing to do with what I want or don't want. I was pointing out that you having no problem with this is not the brightest comment I have ever read on FR, as there is a huge problem with it whether you recognize it or not.

I was trying to be polite but a snarky response from you deserves a snarky answer from me. Dip sh**.

BTW, the Washington Post has received so many negative comments about this move they have decided not to do it, it is so posted on their website. So I guess I am not the only one who sees this as a problem.

[NikkiB]

Amazing how one woman can send them into such a tizzy. News outlets are creating searchable databases like they did for Wikileaks. It’s crazy!

[cripplecreek]

Well, sh** for brains

And the rest of the post was worthless. LOL

[Art in Idaho]

Nothing short of a declaration of war by WaPo. I say bring it on! We have just begun to fight!

Sarah, November 6, 2012. . Make it happen!

[GOPJ]

Wait, didn't the New York Times and Washington Post do this with John Edwards? And Clinton? And they scoured Chicago looking for anything on Obama... Anyone remember that? JUST KIDDING - dems have the press in their pocket... and the press has endless 'passes' for dems.

Anyone charmed yet? It's not pretty... I wonder what excuse they have for only doing this is Sarah. You know they have an excuse that everyone in the MSM will believe. And every dem WILL BELIEVE. And an excuse that we'll roll our eyes at...