Posted on 02/16/2005 2:23:55 PM PST by Congressman Billybob
I did not realize I was a “salivating moron” until Steve Lovelady, Managing Editor of the Columbia Journalism Review, informed me of that fact. His full quote was even harsher. Regarding the abrupt resignation of Eason Jordan, chief news executive for CNN, Lovelady wrote about us bloggers, “The salivating morons who make up the lynch mob prevail.”
I think he meant to write “prevailed.” His statement has become the signature quote in many publications from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal on l’affaire Jordan. However inaccurate, that quote does embody the attitudes of the MSM (“mainstream media”) toward the “new media,” known as the blogosphere.
I sent a remarkably polite note to the Editor of the Review pointing out that I have 1.5 doctorates, and a long and successful career in such areas as writing, and practicing in the US Supreme Court. I suggested that Steve was an “incompetent journalist” for attacking an entire group without doing any homework on the people in that group -- like me, for instance.
Back came a reply from Steve that acknowledged and defended his “slavering morons” quote. (He prefers the “slavering” version, as do I. Evokes the classical mastiff-on-a-chain image. But I digress.) He said he didn’t mean me. He wrote, “...believe me, for every one of you, there are 100 of them out there yammering away with mob-like glee.” I do not so easily abandon my colleagues to gain the praise of a MSM journalist.
As with all movements, the blogosphere has its distinctions between those who think through and lead the efforts, and those who either join in later or cheer from the sidelines. The difference is much the same as between English footballers, who can be sent off for minor infractions, and their fans, who can be head-cracking hooligans. Separating one from the other is a matter of research on bloggers.
Although tens of thousands, if not more, participate actively, the leaders of the blogosphere number no more than a couple hundred. My experience with these people is that they are much like me. Most have graduate degrees, and are professionals. There are lawyers, engineers, teachers, doctors, and reporters – among other professions. I have listed those in roughly the numbers they appear, and yes, there are reporters and editors who are members of the blogosphere.
It may be galling to Steve that some of his own have “gone over to the dark side.” But the reason is that some reporters still remember the purpose of their profession. The long version, which Steve has apparently forgotten, is: who, what, when, where, why and how. The short version is: get the facts right, first.
Are there “crazies” on the Internet? Absolutely. They come in hard right and hard left varieties, and we veterans refer to them collectively as the “tin foil hats.” But those people are like the football fans. WE are the players. And we are not “slavering morons.”
Let’s touch on Steve’s “lynch mob” comment. We did not necessarily want Eason Jordan fired. It would have been far better for him, for his profession, and for CNN if he had recognized his error in accusing US soldiers of targeting journalists, apologized, and reformed his ways. But as long as Jordan thinks that is a proper remark (and remember, he’s the same guy who slanted the news from Iraq so Hussein would let CNN kept its Baghdad bureau), Jordan does not belong in journalism.
The very use of the phrase “lynch mob” implies that we “killed” Jordan, and that he might have been innocent. The available facts indicate that Jordan was guilty. He apparently agreed, because he “resigned” to avoid “embarrassment” to CNN. And by the way, we STILL want to see the tape from Davos so everyone will know exactly what Jordan said. Unlike the MSM, we are in the truth business; Jordangate isn’t finished yet.
How sad that the Review, the voice of Columbia and purported voice of the journalism profession, does not think the pursuit of the truth is basic to reporting.
Steve’s last e-mail to me explained where I could post an objection to his quote, and ended with “See you around the quad.” Well, Steve, I see no reason to visit your quadrangle, among journalists who view themselves as the high priests, guarding the mysteries from the hoi polloi. Instead, welcome to my quad, where all are welcome, and truth is the highest goal. I think you’ll find it strange at first, but try to adjust.
About the Author: John Armor is a First Amendment attorney and author who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
Bloggers are under attack now, as we all know, but recently FR has been pushed into the role of scapegoat.
An excelent strategic decision. VP nominee Jack Kemp abandoned his colleagues (and his constituency) to accept the praise of Al Gore (something like, "For a Republican, Jack, you aren't much of a racist") in their VP debate. In that moment he destroyed his own viability as a contender for national office. But for that failure, Kemp might be POTUS today.
Nice post. Bump
I think he should have been fired after he caved in to Saddam -- or at least demoted to the level of his competence.
The legacy media were read-only to us, essentially write-only to the "high priests."The vast number of people with motive and (now) opportunity to blog or post on FR inevitably will include some who are more knowledgeable, on practically any given topic, than the journalists are. In the old days those who knew a given topic and were offended at the facile errors and easy assumption of superiority of the journalism were limited to writing indignant letters to the editor which the editor did not have to publish.
Now in FR and the blogs we get to compete on much more even terms with those "high priests" for the opinion of our fellows. Our "letter" can be read by the editor but also by others who read the original piece. On any given topic some, perhaps most, of those who comment may have little of substance to add to the discussion. But on any given topic some of the posters will have real substance to add to the discussion.
The net effect is that the journalist is exposed as "the man behind the curtain" rather than the huge and awe inspiring image. Many journalists find the posture of humility which this situation demands more than a little off-putting. But the more Steve Lovelady and his fellows assume a posture of superiority the more their lack of superiority will come to look like inferiority. The world is changed, and they will just have to get used to it.
That's exactly the line I take when replying to these crybabies. My closing statements:
"This is why the Old Media fear the bloggers and try to smear them - reporters are now actually being held accountable for what they write or say.
That equally applies to any blogger who hypervents or makes bogus claims. On numerous occasions the more lurid tinfoil-hatters have been shut up with the simple one-word question 'Source?'.
The Old Media is facing a Brave New World, in the better sense of the term, and are terrified."
Great column! Worthy of passing around.
I guess all that salavating gave you the shivers.
He is the managing editor of the CRJ website (known as CJR Daily), not of the CJR magazine itself. He thought I was accusing his weblog of being part of the MSM. When I noted that it was a blog, and therefore part of the "new media" though still dead wrong, IMHO, we reached an agreement to disagree.
There is a possibility that I may be invited to Columbia to debate on the "new media." Steve will recommend me, with a note that says I am solidly on the other side from everyone at Columbia.
There is no more hostile audience than a panel of appellate judges who are inclined to reject your argument. So, speaking at Columbia will be a piece of cake, as it were. If that's offered, I'll accept, do that, and report back.
John / Billybob
Jordan, at the height of his influence, needed someone whispering into his ear like a slave whispering to the conquering Roman generals of old - "You too are mortal". Since no one at CNN did it back then, we have to yell it at him now. And if he falls because of it, it is not because of our longing for his downfall but because his hubris made such an outcome inevitable. It's really that simple.
The MSM got so powerful that they felt they could shape and control the news - and that power completely clouded their judgement and separated them from reality - to where obviously false memos can still be true and the Swift Boat Vets can be declared liars without actually having to prove such. And bloggers are declared to be wild-eyed lunatics spewing lies and innuendo - when the MSM has become a parody of their description of us.
What we are basically seeing now is the lashing out of MSM tyrants who are losing their grip on power to the rabble on the street - something they must find both astonishing and humiliating, given the vastly-exaggerated sense of self-importance they have built up over the years. And like the fading tyrants of old, they will label us barbarians and savages even as our organization, technical saavy and commitment to our cause eclipses their empire and dismantles it brick by brick. So we'll still see the occasional cascade of journalistic boiling oil from the MSM ramparts - as we call in verbal JDAM strikes upon their pointy little heads.
Billybob
So he rips into bloggers - from his blog - and he has impeccible MSM credentials - and is a high priest at the top MSM J-School - but isn't part of the MSM.
Otay....
We'll see if the invite holds up. It's interesting that he would feel compelled to note that you are on the other side, so to speak - as if this debate was symmeterical. I see the entire information picture becoming more and more asymmetrical after the cautionary reaction to Jordan's resignation across the board from large media outlets, including Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and columnists such as Kathleen Parker. The blogsphere is a threat to all of their power, not just to what we consider liberal mainstream media.
This situation is evolvoing so quickly that by the time the establishment media finally comes to grips with the old media/new media divide, that paradigm will already be obsolete and there will probably be more of a Balkanization model where media influence and power devolves into ever smaller fiefdoms, with shifting alliances and interests and a whole lotta backstabbing going down. And I can't see the Loveladys of the world being able to keep up.
And, speaking of which, you ought to invite him to this thread and see how good a swimmer he is. We'll be gentle. We promise.
Afternoon bumperoonie...
Just read your repsonse. Great! Closing arguments Outstanding. It was linked from here...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1346793/posts?page=14
Shows what he knows. I would give him far more deferance than the average FR newbie. Because I would know in advance that he was already at a disadvantage, given that he was used to telling people what to think, not proving that he has a good thought.
He has no clue about how hot and detailed the disagreements here can become, nor did he care to find out. A lack of curiosity is a poor trait for anyone in journalism.
Basically, it comes down to the fact that he can't handle the truth. And so he must label anyone speaking such as a heretic.
Keep us posted as to whether he has the guts to invite you to his new media symposium. It will give at least a preliminary indication as to whether he is serious about trying to understand the new media.
bttt
Lovelady wrote himself way out onto thin ice. The statements by Jordan were unretractable due to their spectacular shock effect, and because there was no way to brush them off as misstatements. (And he has made similar comments in the past.)
If one assumes Jordan actually believed what he said (I'm one of those), it demonstrates a bias so deep, or a delusion, as to make him unfit to run a news agency.
If one assumes Jordan was lying just to smear the troops (et al), then he is a liar, also unfit to run a news agency.
He was gone as soon as he made the statement.
MSM is upset that the story of Jordan and Davos got out. MSM wrote nothing, the tapes were held, and only an independent attendee (forget his name) put the story on the web, scooping MSM because it wanted to sit on the story.
That's why Lovelady is mad....not because Jordan destroyed himself, but because the blogs got the word out. The blogs were kind of like the ear in the forest that heard the tree fall, while MSM hoped there would be no ear so no one would be aware that the tree had fallen.
Given what blogs have accomplished lately, it's my opinion that Lovelady could be described as a "slow learner".
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