Lessons in newsroom decorum (newsie caught cheering Rove's departure apologizes - sort of)

Seattle Times ^ | August 17, 2007 | Nicole Brodeur

[abb]

That was me.

I was one of the people who cheered in The Seattle Times news meeting Monday when it was announced that presidential adviser Karl Rove had resigned.

The reaction to this bit of national news made national news, kicking off a Web-based debate about whether journalists should bring their personal views to the office. In the beginning, the Times' own David Postman and The Stranger's blog weighed in. By Thursday, The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz was calling the episode an "embarrassment." Rove himself laughed about it on Rush Limbaugh's radio show.

Times Executive Editor David Boardman was dismayed at our outburst.

In an internal memo to the newsroom, he wrote, "A good newsroom is a sacred and magical place in which we can and should test every assumption, challenge each other's thinking, ask the fundamental questions those in power hope we will overlook.

"... It is about independent thinking and sound, facts-based journalism," he continued, "the difference between what we do and the myopic screed that is passed off as 'advocacy journalism' these days."

Not buying that? I can't blame you. The hallowed halls of journalism that I was privileged to enter more than 20 years ago are looking more and more like the New York subway. The walls covered in bloggers' scrawl, the platform crowded with any yahoo with a camera and an open mike. All are headed to your computer screen or television for the 15 seconds you'll give them before moving on to the next hot spot.

That's not how we do things at this newspaper.

Here, every morning, some 20 smart, educated, well-read and diverse people gather around a table and talk. We offer opinions on how stories were approached, written and presented.

snip

[abb]

I didn't do anything wrong. I just got caught.

[eyespysomething]

**rolls eyes**

[abb]

ping

[ClearCase_guy]

Here, every morning, some 20 smart, educated, well-read and diverse people gather around a table and talk.

I bow before the almighty opinion of my betters.

[ishabibble]

Preening elitism AND a solid Bush bash. I give this piece four barfies!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Here, every morning, some 20 smart, educated, well-read and diverse people gather around a table and talk.

We have Marxists, communists, socialists, ultra-liberals, liberals...and even one independent.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

"We offer opinions on how stories were approached, written and presented."

That isn't journalism, that is expository writing resulting in literature. Goebbels wold be proud.

[Biggs of Michigan]

I would have suspended the whole lot of them for 3 weeks with out pay. maybe even fired the lot of them.

[avacado]

"I cheered in that meeting because I think Karl Rove is a dangerous man who has done enough whispering in President Bush's ear."

Typical moronic liberal! She "thinks" Karl Rove is dangerous. So much for facts!

A liberal: "I think I know, I feel I know, therefore it is fact"

[laotzu]

The hallowed halls of journalism that I was privileged to enter more than 20 years ago are looking more and more like the New York subway.

I doubt this 'journalist' appreciates the link between his being there 20 years, and the toilet the place has become.

[ontap]

Here, every morning, some 20 smart, educated, well-read and diverse people gather around a table and talk.

If they are diverse where were the ones showing sadness. There is very little diversity in the MSM despite admitting such for the past ten years. They keep on with their bias reporting and their numbers keep going to hell.

[roses of sharon]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003829916_brodeur10m.html?syndication=rss

Barf!

[JZelle]

There’s no difference between a biased reporter who shows it, and one who hides it? I think it’s good they leave no doubt where they stand. It just backs up our claim.

[ontap]

heered in that meeting because I think Karl Rove is a dangerous man who has done enough whispering in President Bush's ear. We are at war. Some $37 billion in federal funds have been spent just for the "reconstruction" of Iraq, even though a majority of Americans want their sons, daughters, spouses and tax dollars out. Bush's resolve proves we're screaming into the wind.

I thought journalism 101 was that a true journalist has no opinion, or at least never shows it! How can you possibly report in "Objectivity".

[Badeye]

‘Nicole Brodeur’

I appreciate the notice I don’t need to bother with anything this shallow, unprofessional woman writes in the future.

[abb]

These people aren’t newsies or journalists. They’re Ad Men for the Democrats.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The last line in the Boardman memo “If you believe this, I’ve got a bridge to sell...”

[bert]

I don’t understand the problem. They are who they are.

Presstitutes are leftwingers and produce leftwing propaganda. To expect them not to cheer would be naive

[OCCASparky]

well-read and diverse people

I had to replace my keyboard after I read that line.

[abb]

ping