The Newseum’s press kit crossed my desk when I was on my last newspaper job before retiring.
At the time I thought: “This whole project is nothing but the media patting itself on the back, something it does with rather nauseating frequency. But I don’t think the public is going to go for this.”
Self-congratulation is a big part of the culture of journalism. It was when I started my career in the early 1980s, and there seems to be no end to it.
On most of the newspapers I worked for, we’d actually pull people away from their regular duties to put together journalism award submissions.
I always thought this was nothing but a hassle and a waste of time.
I was in the newspaper business for more than 25 years. Daily deadlines were no problem, for the most part.
But special projects — including press association award packets — were a misery, if for no other reason than you were usually also filing daily copy while trying to make time for the project work.
The usual result was a mad rush to complete the award packets — or whatever — a day or two before deadline.
The only good thing I can say about these projects is that, having survived one, you were thrilled to get back to covering zoning commission meetings.
Around 2011, I spent two hours in the Newseum (roughly $20-$25 for entry). At the conclusion, I asked myself what exactly was worth the money, and noted this as one of the bottom five places in DC for any tourist to see. I counted roughly thirty people there on a Saturday (20 of them were kids).
It is in a fine location....between the White House and Capital building, and obviously someone spent a lot of money. But there was nothing to attract people.
LOL!
It’s hard to say which is better at self-congratulation: the press, or Hollywood. Isn’t it about time for another movie about the suffering of Hollywood commies during the “blacklist “ period? We need one of those every 5-7 years so we can admire their courage.