Posted on 09/12/2004 5:32:19 AM PDT by nikos1121
When asked what is the most important part of any news story, Joseph Pulitzer replied, "Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy."
I've always thought that whether it's selling newspapers, a documentary, a speech to the Rotary Club, or used cars, if you want to have viewers tomorrow try deceit, if you want to have viewers ten years from tomorrow, try honesty.
I have read about as much as anyone on the subject of the Bush National Guard memos. In fact, starting today I'll stop the reading. The excellent discussions and technical research presented here and now in several major news sources leaves very little doubt in my mind, that the memos are fakes. In fact, when you weigh the evidence it comes down very very heavy on the side that believes the memos are fakes.
More troubling to me is the fact that a major network, CBS, one that I grew up respecting, is appearing more and more like a tabloid. To put this in simple terms, consider this. CBS based this important story on:
1. Three memos from an un-named source 2. Written by a deceased person 3. That are photocopies and not originals
This alone should have raised red flags. I mean, we're not talking about a story for the STAR or the National Enquirer here, we're talking about CBS NEWS. Is this their new standard of excellence? Is this the kind of reporting that we can now expect on the CBS EVENING NEWS and 60 MINUTES?
I'm not a journalist, but I can tell you that if I had spent years in school training to be one, or years on the job as one, and I found myself in a department at some newspaper or TV station where this was going on, I would say to myself "Something is really wrong here." Maybe I might even get a ping of emotion and say, "it's time to speak up or shut up."
Which brings me to the purpose of this posting. I ask:
IS THERE ANYONE AT CBS, ANYONE WITH ANY INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, WHO WILL COME FORTH AND SAY, "COLLEAGUES, SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. THIS IS NOT THE STANDARD OF TV JOURNALISM THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW. THESE MEMOS ARE "POSSIBLY" FAKE AND THE WAY THEY WERE REVIEWED AND PRODUCED IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO US AND THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE WORK THAT WE ALL TRY TO DO. WE SHOULD RESPOND TO THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE RAISING CONCERNS AND INVESTIGATE THIS MORE FULLY AND IF THE PREPONDERENCE OF EVIDENCE IS THAT THEY ARE FAKE, THEN WE SHOULD RETRACT OUR SUPPORT OF THEM."
IS THERE NOT ONE YOUNG REPORTER THERE AT CBS WHO IS TROUBLED BY THIS? IS THERE NOT ONE WHO WILL COME FORTH, KNOWING THAT THEY MAY LOSE THEIR JOB FOR DOING SO, TO SAY "THIS IS WRONG AND I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF A DEPARTMENT THAT OPERATES THIS WAY."
It is inconceivable to me, that no one at CBS News, (including people like Morris Schafer, Mike Wallace, etc etc.) had doubts on the validity of these memos. I can only assume that no one wanted to go up against Rather or maybe they figured that if given enough rope Rather would hang himself. Either way, this is clearly a crossroads for CBS and the people working there.
Where is that one reporter at CBS with some moral courage? I'm waiting to hear form you.
Nick A. Vlachos
Guess not.
Is this a rhetorical question?
Contact Dan's bosses:
Sumner M. Redstone, chairman/CEO - Viacom
sumner.redstone@viacom.com
Leslie Moonves, president/CEO, CBS -
leslie.moonves@tvc.cbs.com
File a complaint with the FCC:
fccinfo@fcc.gov
The last person at CBS with integrity and courage was Bernard Goldberg.
I would not let CBS moderate any debate. I can imagine the questioning.
Schaeffer to the President: "Bush", CBS has a solid source that writes that you used cocaine you bought from you wife with your gay boyfriend, Bush, what is your reaction to this?
Scaeffer to Kerry: Esteemed Senator Kerry, to be fair and balanced I'll ask you the same question, CBS has a solid source that writes that BUSH used cocaine HE bought from HIS wife with HIS gay boyfriend, what is your reaction to this?
Please, why even bother doing a debate that CBS in isnolved in.
I've written all those and more.
I am going to set my efforts on my local affiliate WGNX Atlanta. I have already hit local sponsors and written a letter for their relicensing file. They are part of the Meredith Broadcasting group (they own 6 CBS stations):
http://meredith.com/contacts/index.html)
Meredith corp also has a link to the code of ethics, compliance person.
(Pssss, Nick, that was a Parody you were reading. But it does show how easy it is to fake documents in this day and age).
I could demonstrate, but it is difficult to type with a sock on each hand.
I agree wiyh you, that this is what they appear to be doing. The NYT has the same marketing strategy, and will thrive because they are the dominant player vying for the left-leaning international english speaking market. CBS, however, is competing in an already very crowded market, repleat with players wooing the lefty viewer. It seems to me that CNN, ABC, NBC and the rest value defeating Bush much more than retaining their objectivity also.
There is room for at least one more player vying for the sane viewer, a la Fox News, this to me would represent the more lucrative move, but these people can't bring themselves to do it.
Give the public a little credit (although I admit it's hard) -- the scenario you fear will only appeal to the rabid foaming-at-the-mouth Dumbocrats whose vote is not in play. The voters the GOP needs to win will be tipped to our side by the attacks -- and the more outrageous they become, the better.
Check with the night janitor in Dan's office. He may meet the criteria and have a stash of crumpled forgery drafts worth looking at.
Is this a trick question?
Presumably they're disposed of during the interview process.
Regards, Ivan
Buckhead and TankerKC can share a pulitzer and we'll all say "We knew them when...."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.