Posted on 07/29/2009 6:51:49 PM PDT by NoobRep
Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather called on President Barack Obama to form a White House commission to help save the press Tuesday night in an impassioned speech at the Aspen Institute.
“I personally encourage the president to establish a White House commission on public media,” the legendary newsman said.
Such a commission on media reform, Rather said, ought to make recommendations on saving journalism jobs and creating new business models to keep news organizations alive.
At stake, he argued, is the very survival of American democracy.
“A truly free and independent press is the red beating heart of democracy and freedom,” Rather said in an interview yesterday afternoon. “This is not something just for journalists to be concerned about, and the loss of jobs and the loss of newspapers, and the diminution of the American press’ traditional role of being the watchdog on power. This is something every citizen should be concerned about.”
Rather, who has been a working reporter for more than six decades and currently hosts “Dan Rather Reports” on HDNet, pointed out that there are precedents for such national commissions, which have been used to help other at-risk industries.
Corporate and political influence on newsrooms, along with the conflation of news and entertainment, has created what Rather called “the dumbing down and sleazing up of what we see on the news.”
It has also thinned the amount of investigative and international journalism. The latter loss of correspondents covering America’s two foreign wars, Rather opined, is both a critical detriment to the nation and a disservice to our troops.
Tears welled in the lifelong reporter’s eyes as he discussed the dwindling number of war correspondents.
“I feel particularly strong about coverage of the wars,” he said, noting that covering the war in Afghanistan is his top priority on his HDNet program. “No apologies, both as a journalist and as a citizen I just can’t stand to leave those guys out there, fighting, dying, bleeding, getting torn up and say, ‘Look, it’s page 14 news.’ Or ‘Sorry, not on tonight’s newscast.’ It’s an example of the problem, that and not having the watchdogs.”
The free press, as established by the First Amendment to the Constitution, ought to operate as a public trust, not solely as a money-making endeavor, Rather argued, and it’s time the government make an effort to ensure the survival of the free press. If not the government, he suggested, then an organization like the Carnegie Foundation should take it on. Without action, he predicted, America will lose its independent media.
“If we do nothing more than stand back and hope that innovation alone will solve this crisis,” he said, “then our best-trained journalists will lose their jobs.”
It could be called the Ministry of Public Information...
The MSM is so biased it isn’t worth saving. Good riddance, you won’t be missed.
Is “our best trained journalists” code for fools who make up stories?
Dan...Media Czar.
I lol’d, earlier, when I read that. LOL!
Bahgdad Bob oh sorry Bahgdad Dan
It is people such as Rather that killed the news media. Intelligent people do not trust the MSM. News organizations no longer report the news, they create the news. Facts only get in the way of the stories that they broadcast. If the truth makes you free, then freedom demands that the MSM fail.
...and we could rename AP Tass and the NYT Pravda.
Well, they needn't worry. There's a stiff, cool, and refreshing breeze kicking up from the north. It's very clear air and serves to clear the mind of all the smoke, haze, and smog these liars and frauds are generating.
“It could be called the Ministry of Public Information...”
Yes, and it will be consolidated into one corporation called
PRAVDA.
Look, however, at today’s Pravda, from Russia. It is very interesting.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/
The MSM got ole Obama elected now they want him to rescue them. Maybe they made a big mistake working so hard for the to crown Obama King of the world.
A truly free and independent press is the red beating heart of democracy
ummmmm sure
All I can say is, "Dan, you helped make the media what is today. You should be proud."
![](http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/-/Z/rather_egg.jpg")
"Even I laughed at that one."
Can you say Pravda?
"Legendary" only in his own demented mind demented mind.
Ok. It passed.
Dear Dan Rather — that’s an awful lot of words to simply say “Please help me. I need a job.”
Dan wants more stories to be “false but accurate”.
>legendary
LOL!
Jeez Noob, next time don't candy coat it!
OMG - no one to go over and undermine our soldiers? No one to call for pity for our enemies? No New York Times boys to share classified information and put our guys in harms way? I'm crying alright - just like Rather - laughing so hard tears are falling out of my eyes...
Dan Rather makes my all time top 10 worthless, gutless losers in American history. I’d put him right up there with Keith Olbermann, George Soros, Nancy Pelosi, Al Sharpton, Markos Moulista, Jeanine Garafalo, Sean Penn and Barack Obama.
And we had the "distinguished professor" and the cop this week. Whenever they write about themselves, they pile on the "puff"... Shameful.
He IS a legend, but for all the wrong reasons. When is the last major anchor to be fired instead of retired?
Isn't the Weekly World News or MAD Magazine hiring Danny Boy?
Ministry of Truth: Like the other ministries, it is housed in a huge white pyramid-shaped concrete building. It is in charge of creating and rewriting all news, education, entertainment and art. 1984 - George Orwell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkwm1FVHEIE&feature=related
So many losers, so few numbers!
Sorry but IMHO the last thing in the world that needsa bailout is the news. I’m surprised they still can call what they report “news” with a straight face since it is 99% propaganda these days.
So you think some MSM reporter would refer to Nixon as a "legend"? I don't think so...
LUDDITE ALERT!!!!
caps intended
His statement there is truth.
His actions show a mercenary purpose to his agenda though.
Dan WHO?
Dan WHO?
According to Dan Rather our best trained journalist is Dan Rather.
Pretty darn good list, bravo!
Courage from Dan Rat
Yes, yes - what we need is a Media Commissar (ala Josef Goebbels) to get those public perceptions straightened out. He can hit it off with Dr. Mengele over some schnapps.
He’s *still* looking for a job?
Damn, time flies! :)
...this is Rather Pitiful
Dishonest Dan will depart this planet with the same good vibrations Robert MacNamara received. He did the left’s bidding, it blew up in his face, and he has been left to live out his life as a despicable wretch.
It was so ironic that the press blew their gas and smoke out on Michael Jackson for days, and could barely light the lamps for the passing of their beloved old communist, Uncle Walter.
Yes. Somehow I doubt that Dan will ever apologize in the way McNamara did. Dan will go out as a true believer.
Is Rather asking Obama to bail out the typewriters-without-proportional-type industry? I hear they took a hit a couple of years back and never really recovered.
Old man Dan, it’s over. When the bias switched to agenda, the patient was long dead, no one believes a thing you all say.
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