Posted on 11/09/2005 8:17:40 AM PST by Grampa Dave
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/print?id=1292736
'Truth and Duty' Producer Argues She Was Abandoned By Mainstream Press and Attacked by the Right
Nov. 7, 2005 - Last year the world of broadcast news was rocked when Dan Rather stepped down as CBS' evening news anchor after questions emerged over a network report on President Bush's National Guard service. The documents used in a segment of "60 Minutes II" were discredited; segment producer Mary Mapes' impressive career came crashing down -- she was fired from the network.
In a statement CBS News said: "Mary Mapes' actions damaged CBS News as an organization and brought pain to many colleagues with whom she worked. As always, revisionist history must be tested against the facts."
Mapes thinks otherwise. In the upcoming issue of "Vanity Fair," she argues that the campaign to discredit the story she produced was little more than a political slime-job organized by Bush backers.
"I think I'm somebody who got fired for trying to do their job in a difficult atmosphere," she said. "I don't think I committed bad journalism, I really don't. I don't think I've done a good job for 25 years, woke up on the morning of September 8th and decided to commit professional hare kare." Her book, "Truth and Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power" (St. Martin's Press), details the fallout from the story and how Mapes has struggled to come to terms with the end of her illustrious career.
Read an excerpt of chapter one of the book below.
Chapter One I woke up smiling on September 9, 2004.
My story on George W. Bush's Guard service had run on "60 Minutes" the night before and I felt it had been a solid piece. We had worked under tremendous pressure because of the short time frame and the explosive content, but we'd made our deadline and, most important, we'd made news.
I was confident in my work and marveled once again at the teamwork and devotion of so many people at "60 Minutes." They really knew how to pull together to get a story on the air. I was also deeply proud of CBS News for having the guts to air a provocative story on a controversial part of the president's past.
By the end of the day, all of that would change. By the end of the month, I would be barred from doing my job and under investigation. By the end of the year, my long career at CBS News would essentially be over, after a long, excruciating, and very public beating.
Excellent!
Mapes was truly delusional before she got caught lying, and she has moved over to the dark side of being delusional.
fyi and ping lists
"I love it that Mapes is out there whining."
Me, too! You also have to love the fact that Mapes is a dem/lib/socialist/feminazi (I am woman, hear me roar) that wants to play hardball with the guys. Yet, when she is caught, knocked down and has to pay the piper, she whines and is a wussy! Can't have it both ways, Mapes!
fyi
Mapes said:
"I don't think I've done a good job for 25 years..."
Funny, neither do I!
"My story on George W. Bush's Guard service had run on "60 Minutes" the night before and I felt it had been a solid piece. We had worked under tremendous pressure because of the short time frame and the explosive content, but we'd made our deadline and, most important, we'd made news."
"We'd made news" Hmmm....And here lies the problem, wench. You aren't supposed to MAKE THE NEWS...you're supposed to REPORT IT! Idiot! You'll make the news again, as soon as you process the first bag of fries at your new job with MacDonalds.
Spot on, condemned herself from her own mouth.
Yes, she'd "made news" - made it out of whole cloth, hadn't she!
She just doesn't get it.
Journalists don't "make news" journalists report the news made by others.
What an idiot! Doesn't she have an editor? It's 'proportional', not 'peripheral'!
Finally, something Mapes and I can agree on.
Here it is again, Mary, you dolt, it's 'proportional', not 'peripheral'!
A dissent editor is hard to find.
You should be an editor for the truth:
"Mapes said:
"I don't think I've done a good job for 25 years..."
"Funny, neither do I!"
Both of you nailed it re reporters/journalist don't "make news" they report it.
Of course they have been getting by with it since the Nam War.
She needs an editor doesn't she.
Calling Mapes a woman might be stretching it a little.
Finally, something Mapes and we can agree on.
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She spent FIVE YEARS on this story and still got it wrong.
What short timeframe? too short to confirm facts but in time to impact the election?
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