MEDIA: Bloggers' 'Moment' Doesn't Make for a Revolution

Los Angeles Times ^ | Ben Wasserstein is a writer in New York.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

NEW YORK — Early morning Sept. 11, a poster on the conservative Free Republic website exulted, "[A]ll of us can say we were there when a few people from Free Republic kicked CBS and Kerry ass."

The John Kerry part may or may not come to pass, but there is little doubt that a few people using their computers certainly gave CBS News and anchor Dan Rather a beating. Right-wing blogs — "blog" is short for web log — and forums such as Power Line, Little Green Footballs and Free Republic were the first to question the authenticity of four memos released by CBS News, purportedly written by Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian, who supervised George W. Bush's Texas Air National Guard unit in the early 1970s. The memos were part of a "60 Minutes" story reported by Rather, questioning President Bush's fulfillment of his Guard service. The buzz created by the blogs became deafening and the story moved like lightning onto the Drudge Report, and from there to talk radio, cable news and newspapers' front pages — and it's not over yet.

Bloggers cheered that the new-media David had slain the old-media Goliath.

Michelle Malkin wrote a column, titled "The Death Cry of Snob Journalism," that she described (on her own blog, natch) as an "Old Media eulogy." Rather may become the second kill for bloggers; two years ago, bloggers' steadfast attention on Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott's comments expressing nostalgia for segregation led to old-media coverage and, ultimately, Lott's resignation from his leadership post.

Now right-wing bloggers have tasted blood — and they like it.

But Malkin and other bloggers are getting ahead of themselves by asserting that the CBS disputed memos represent the death knell for traditional journalism.

[Desdemona]

The LA Times needs to put some ice on it and get a life.

[Pietro]

the latimes is soooooo yesterday.

[nuffsenuff]

"But Malkin and other bloggers are getting ahead of themselves by asserting that the CBS disputed memos represent the death knell for traditional journalism."

Hey Doofus who made this statement! The fact that you felt the need to make this statement leads one to believe that it is the death knell for traditional journalism. This is the kind of statement one in fear would make.

FYI!

[martin_fierro]

Memo to Mr. Wasserstein:

Whine is made from sour grapes.

[Drango]

The bloggers who first cast doubt on the CBS memos deserve congratulations, gratitude and, of course, their time in the sun.

Uh....OK

[Terabitten]

In other news, the Philistine Prime Minister today called the Israelite slaying of Goliath "just a minor setback in the overall war plan." David, the shepherd boy who killed Goliath in representative combat, could not be reached for comment.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In Rememberance of September 9, 2004. Everyone remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing:

"From Fresno, California, the flash, apparently official, the MSM died at 10:59 p.m. Central Standard time, 11:59 Eastern Standard time, some 38 minutes ago."

(wiping a tear)

[exhaustedmomma]

Doesn't make a revolution? Hate to break the news, but your late as usual, MSM. Revolution didn't start when MSM had no choice but acknowledge "we the people". It started with "we the people" and is ongoing and evolutionary. Where there's a niche, there's a way...

[cynicom]

Don't tell LA Times but the knock on the door that they hear is the friendly undertaker and it is not a social call.

No longer is the media able to massage the news given to the American people and it chaps the hell out of their thin skin. Their lock on the news empire has been broken, and it will never return.

[AmericanInTokyo]

What they are essentially saying is "It was NOT a waste of time nor money for us to have chosen the traditional journalism route and to have shelled out all of that money for J-School", accompanied with "We generalists are BETTER than you specialists. Sit down and shut up."

Fine. Fine. Fine, MSM. Just keep UNDERESTIMATING us!<

:0 Bwaahhaaahhhaaahhaaaaa

[CzarNicky]

I see dead journalists. They don't even know they are dead.

[Rightly Biased]

The Brits didn't recognize when the Revolution started in the 1770's either.And look where the US is now.

We had our Tea-Party a while back Rathergate was just a decisive battle.

RB

[TheGeezer]

Whistling past the cemetery...

[Cboldt]

Well. The author is right, on a fundamental premise. The war between truth and deception is eternal. There will never be a death knell for deception. But in the balance, deception takes a hit when it is exposed, and deception is being exposed more and more, for now.

But thinking people will continue to depart the snob media in favor of more free-wheeling, chaotic sources of information; and will endeavor to figure out the facts for themselves.

[FearlessRightwinger]

"Now right-wing bloggers have tasted blood — and they like it."

HUH? If the L.A. Crimes thinks slapping Dan Rather around is bloody, they'll think again in 2008 with Hillary and crew! That will be a blood sport!

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Ask them about what has happened to their circulation over the last 10 years...

[AmericanInTokyo]

The bottom line is the leviathan American MSM, hopelessly slanted and leftist, has for years insisted on being the unfettered auditor of all things and people: politicians, bureaucrats, musicians, economists, military, foreign leaders, artists, musicians, food, movements, political parties. They have literally brought down Presidents and helped jail some personalities, and yet let others (some actually very guilty) scott-free. All at their simple whim. That is immense POWER. And it can go to their head.

It is only THEY, the MSM feels, who should not have any auditor nor a checker of their facts or of their credibility and power.

Human nature is what it is.

They absolutely HATE it that they have now been assigned one and must now be held accountable, and held to higher standards by We, the People. We have seized technology that most of them could not even have DREAMED of when they were finishing up their undergraduate or graduate work in Journalism many years ago.

Tough luck, MSM. Cry me a frikkin river.

[FReepaholic]

Not only is this a revolution, it has only just begun.

Today the media. Tomorrow the government.

The people will be heard regarding activist judges, elitist Congresscritters, big money special intrest groups and more.

Stay tuned.

[farfromhome]

make that MISUNDERESTIMATING us.