Atrocious Reporting Showcased in The Sun (swift boat vets)

The Baltimore Sun ^ | August 9, 2004 | Alice Cherbonnier

[Cincinatus' Wife]

.....On Friday, August 6, the Sun published on page A-6 a story from the Los Angeles Times by Matea Gold called "McCain condemns ad criticizing Kerry war service," with a subhead reading "Spot by veterans group runs in crucial states, says he lied about wounds."

Considering that this headline and story spanned six columns, it's amazing what's not reported. The gist of it is that an attack ad campaign is running in the "toss-up" states that has some other Swift boat Vietnam-era military men claiming John Kerry was not injured in Vietnam.

The story isn't about whether or not the ad's claim is true--a report that would have been a public service. Instead, the "hook" is that Sen. John McCain "rose to the defense" of John Kerry, saying that the 60-second ad "misrepresents" Kerry's record. This passes for news?....

[RebelBanker]

I would not expect anything approaching facts or integrity from the Baltimore Pravda.

I rather liked a comment a while back from Gov. Ehrlich - he said he does not read the Sun, he has a staffer (who gets hazardous duty pay) do so. If the Sun praises him for anything, he stops doing it immediately because he knows he screwed up!

[Congressman Billybob]

I had to read to the end of this critique of the Baltimore Sun to figure out WHY the writer was upset with the newspaper's coverage. She was concerned that the Sun repeated the charges from the ad, in the article. The writer of the critique seems to be a hard lefty who wanted the article to conclude factually that the charges were false.

That's the best I can dope out of that ill-written critique. However, it sounds like the Sun may have done a better than average job in the lamestream media, by at least reporting the charges made, rather than making the story solely about the Kerry defense to the charges.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Says the Wuss: Ma, He's Touching Me"

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ha! You found me out!

The columnist, of all things, believes it hurt Kerry.

But I too join with this columnist and ask for the FACTS, just the FACTS ma'm.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[backhoe]

Cincy, this sort of psuedo-reporting has become the norm rather than the exception.

It used to be that reporters walked a beat, like a street cop, and often rather than getting the job after getting a degree in "journalism," they learned on the job from more experienced writers.

In other words, they had practical training, hands on, and they learned a fair amount of cynicism and street-smarts along with it all.

Nowadays, they go from college into a protected, corporate environment, and may never rub elbows with the lesser classes- and they lose a lot by doing this.

The old standby of 5 "W's"-- Who, What, When, Where, and Why?-- are still the classic guidelines for writing any sort of descriptive or investigative story.

A willingness to ask hard or embarrassing questions is vital, and so is an instinct for evasiveness or lying. Frankly, the scandal rags do as well or better than the "mainstream" when they get serious about investigating a story.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

John Kerry needs help getting ALL of his military records.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1188078/posts

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You are so right. The same thing could be say about schools of education that are true about schools of journalism.

Bump!

[longtermmemmory]

Partisanship used to be set aside for the "glory story". Reporters are MASSIVLY stupid.

The reporter who brings home the story proving a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LIED about THREE PURPLE HEARTS and a BRONZE STAR could write their own ticket. ESPECIALLY with over 30 years of concealment exposed.

(s)then again what reporter wants to be the next Woodward or Bernstein. The fame, the glory, who needs it. (/s)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry gathers his thoughts behind the stage just prior to being introduced for his remarks at a late-night campaign rally in Flagstaff, Arizona, August 8, 2004. Kerry has begun speaking more openly about his faith, a move political experts say is crucial to chipping away at President Bush's advantage among churchgoers. Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters

____________________________________________________

Jerry Fawell tells the story about a photographer asking Ronald Reagan to stand and pray with Fawell for a photo. Reagan told the reporter no, that he regarded prayer as private and personal, not something to be used as a photo-op.

[Joe Boucher]

Initially when I saw poor reporting by the Sun I immediately thought of the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel.
What a liberal rag this one is too.
I wouldn't use it to train my dog.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wouldn't use it to train my dog.

Or wrap fish.

[what's up]

A main complaint in this article is that the Sun reports that what McCain says is law.

She goes on to say, why don't the reporters find out why the story is not true (ferret out the facts), rather than just relying on McCain's words?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes. She does and I agree. But she's coming from a, it hurt Kerry position, and I'm coming from a, they're trying to shout down the vets position.

[tobyhill]

Kerry is scared of this book not because of his claim of inaccuracies but that if even one claim is substantiated then he's toast. The media will jump on it like a fly on (well you know). They will have no choice! They have to give equal time to how much time they gave Michael Moore. Michael Moore is already a has-been and new news is new viewers.

[GarySpFc]

I heard O'Reilly today talking about having Steve Gardner on tonight. It was very obvious O'Reilly already has his mind made up, and doesn't see any proof the Swiftboat Vets are right. He said, "All the proof is on Kerry's side."

O'Neal is going to be on Hannity tonight, and Nightline is going to have a special.

[afnamvet]

I heard O'Reilly today talking about having Steve Gardner on tonight. It was very obvious O'Reilly already has his mind made up, and doesn't see any proof the Swiftboat Vets are right. He said, "All the proof is on Kerry's side."

This is yet another example of a pompous ass entertainer's feeble attempt at journalism. No effort is shown on his part to search for the truth. Gutless.