Posted on 05/29/2005 9:46:51 AM PDT by quidnunc
In his recent column ["Media doing a poor job, but maybe not for the reasons you think," May 22], Rick Mercier said "there's nothing wrong with slamming sloppy journalism." Mercier then uses one of the weakest weasel words in journalism — "may" — as the linchpin of his argument: "And then let's acknowledge that the Newsweek article was not the first and only report of U.S. interrogators desecrating the Quran — there have been several others by U.S. and British news outlets and by groups such as the International Committee of the Red Cross. So American interrogators may indeed be defiling the Quran and resorting to other forms of religious humiliation."
No solid citations, no solid sources, just "may," and "such as." "May" is a weak tool used to "prove" things to undiscerning readers.
Here, Mercier tries to defend the indefensible: Newsweek. Newsweek and I are capable of making factual errors. However, when one finds a long-standing, clear, and consistent pattern of blatant anti-American content and supporting "mistakes," then the Newsweek-bashing is amply justified.
Just like much of the Arab press, what Newsweek says depends upon the audience. A recent Japanese edition cover featured a soiled American flag sitting in a garbage can in a desolate alley. The headline reads, roughly, "America, the dream country, is rotting away." Hey, you want to talk about desecration and working like a tireless but cowardly termite to undermine America's image abroad?
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at fredericksburg.com ...
Heck if the MSM could just be neutral as they claim rather than against the US side, I would be pleased.
Newseek racks have a tendency to get knocked over and spoiled with spilt coffee whenever I walk by. [shrug] Airports news stands, 7-11's, supermarkets, etc.
I am *such* a clutz :)
What is sometimes forgotten by those wbo support the media's "holy duty" to expose every American pimple is that the legacy media are private enterprises that manipulate informiation in order to maximize profits. If we must hear about "corporate responsibility" on the part of Halliburton, Enron etc there is no reason that we should not expect the same sort of responsibility from the NY Times, Newsweak, etc.
Kudos to Bob Seargent, he nails Newsweek for what it truly is, a fellow traveller in the destroy America crowd.
I thought that was just happening around me.
Rick Mercier may be a serial rapist. Some say he prefers children.
Facts supporting these allegations? My, aren't you picky.
essentially the MSM has reformed since dan rather to support
fake but accurate journalism.
THAT is the new standard. Make it up then argue it could be true.
(reminds me the John candy SCTV comedy sketch where he plays a scientist intervied by the "national inquisitor" type mag)
fake but accurate story...
Journalists need conflict in order to attract attention. Journalism has a natural affinity for the underdog. Israel wore a white hat only until it got too successful, and America as the "superpower" must be portrayed as the "opressor" no matter how many mass graves it uncovers in Iraq.
And where do our journalists learn the tenets of Stalinism? Why, the lemmings learn them at our universities.
belated BRAVO to the author!
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