[txradioguy]

And the stench is great and growing. I'm embarassed to say I'm in the same profession and some of the civilian guys.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

'twas once in the scribbling profession, too.

[OpusatFR]

What has happened to the mentality of these journalists?

They once were able to ask questions that were informative and insightful. The questions I've heard since this started are just stupid for the most part concentrating on trivia. They don't seem to be able to assimilate information and ask cogent questions. They ask the same silly things in different ways over and over and over.
Even Larry King, that master of the trivial has more insight than these people.

Is it them, or their schooling, or the networks or what???

[prognostigaator]

The intent to deliberately accentuate the negative side of events in Iraq by American reporters of CNN, ABC, NBC, et al is despicable.

Al Jazeera could not be more pleased...

Would that these openly beligerent professionals towards US policy while it is at war suffer a million fleas in their armpits and rashes on their pretty faces.....

[gulfcoast6]

These press confereces are not that at all. It is 'stump the presenter', Arie, Franks. Don't work to good on Rumsfield, he turns the tide on them.

[GOPJ]

Great comment on the state of liberal media thought. A lie is equal to the truth if it's cute enough for liberals to believe.

A few months ago a CBS talking head suggested reporters not tell their political affiliation -- as a way to counter the perception of the press being all liberal. The lie of being "independent" would trump complaints of liberal bias and control. (As thought it's the name, not the rose ... or the skunk -- whatever). Would CBS have suggested telling blacks during the civil rights struggle that white TV commentators would put bags on their heads so no one would know they were all white? That a lie would be better than adding a few black journalist to the staff?

The media lives in a group think bubble. Look at the prizes given out for excellence in journalism. Anti-American stuff wins prizes.

No, Eric, and Alex, what would taint them is a feigned indifference -- you don't overcome a bias by lying about it.

[CaptRon]

analyst Eric Burns mildly chastised Fox's Shepherd Smith for his and other reporters' routine reference to American soldiers as "our troops." Burns said it would be better if reporters didn't taint their objectivity by identifying with America's troops.

This is the latest talking point from the left. There was a "professor" from NYU on O'Reilly last night touting the same BS.

[RobbyS]

It is no accident that an alternative media, in talk radio, the Internet and cable television has graciously risen up with a vengeance to report and analyze the news, without the artificial anti-Western filter through which much of the mainstream media often disseminates its news.

It is interesting that there us no such thing in Germany, for instance, as talk radio. Information, like everything thing else, is in the hands of a cartel. The German people have no tradition of freedom as we know it.

[harpo11]

Excellent article. Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Limbaugh Fire!

David Limbaugh speaks for many of us who believe that if Perjurin' Bill Clinton was running OIF the mainstream press would be on bended kneepad swooning in delight while basking in Clinton's crackling jeans.

Although, Bill Clinton would never endeavor to mount such a worthy and righteous mission to liberate the Iraqi's from tyranny. He could never take on the responsibility as it may have negative political impact on his prospects for remaining in the OO chasing interns with cigar. Dick Morris and Bill SOP would be to poll it and focus group it prior to any engagement, if any.

It makes me sick to see these gutless fools treat our CIC, George Bush, his courageous Generals, and our brave Armed Forces in such a snide and insolent fashion.

Luckily, I do think that most Americans are far more in stride with our President than the mainstream press could ever hope to realize as they have made it their mission to chip away at the support we have for our President.

[Toskrin]

We need to keep in mind that the media outlets all have target audiences. Before FNC, networks like CNN had to apppeal to a broad audience. Now they have lost the conservative viewer and are competing with other networks only for moderates and liberals. The more they appeal to the viewers' ideology, the more successful they are. ABC has staked a claim on the far left viewership. The networks are finding more success with identifying a niche market rather than competing for the broad market. Discussing journalistic integrity is like discussing breakfast cereal integrity.

[ALS]

Dateline 0900: CentCom Briefing Room, Dohaha, "Gutter"

General Brooks: "We've determined that the media is a dual use facility and will be taken out with precision guided munitions at 0930."

Media: "Won't this be playing into the hands of regular Americans the enemy?"

[cgbg]

artificial anti-Western filter

There is another "artificial" about this filter. This filter reveals for all to see the values of the reporters.

Even when terrorists have made clear that the killing of American civilians (including these very reporters) is their top priority the reporters remain opposed to any effort to protect us (including them!)

I am becoming convinced that the major media has become like a Jim Jones Kool-Aid cult working for their own suicide.

I really wouldn't care except they seem intent on taking the rest of us with them.

The administration should view them as enemies in this war. They deserve the same treatment that an Irqi intelligent agent would get.

Feed them lots of disinformation, and if they get in the way on the war front kidnap them and hide them in a dark basement for the duration.

[Carolinamom]

Let's call them the LAMEstream Press. They're not the MAIN source of info anymore.

[IronJack]

Wars are career vehicles for journalists. Dan Rather built his name in Vietnam. Wolf Blitzer and Peter Arnett both were nobodies until Gulf I. Every two-bit mannequin is in Kuwait or Iraq these days, trying to be THE face of the war.

Never mind that the war isn't about faces or journalism careers. It's really about the soldiers and sailors and airmen who are laying their lives on the line to right a grievous wrong. That's where the spotlight should stay focused.

[SteveH]

Even more outrageous is this notion among some in the American media that their obligation to be objective in their reportage requires them to be neutral in the war.

I've specifically buttonholed journalists and editors during the earlier clinton years, asking them why they were biased towards liberal causes and how to justify that bias.

The invariable response (presuming they were truthful enough to admit bias at all, which most were) was that no one is unbiased and so therefore lack of bias is impossible; but they claimed that their bias averaged out to offset each other. Therefore if someone objected to the way that a story was reported, they chose to take that as a positive indication that they were doing their job well {!?!?).

All this was over and beyond the factual errors that they would make. As an exercise, consider running for political office sometime (not as a Democrat) and get a firsthand lesson on just how accurate and fair the coverage actually is.

[facedown]

General Brooks deftly responded, "First, I would say it's your choice." Translation: "There's the door; don't let it hit you in the rear on your way out." As for Tommy Franks, "He's fighting a war right now."

I've watched this guy at the last couple of day's briefings. He is the right man for the job.

[Rockpile]

Since so many in the News Cartel here believe they must not take a pro-American stance then surely they must excoriate Al Jazeera and the rest of the Islamic press for their own biases. Right?

[Rockpile]

You know something I would truly like to see is an enforced IQ test. Let's say that the US Marshals pick a random classroom at the United States Military Academy and at the Columbia School of Journalism, chain the doors shut and administer an identical IQ exam.

Gee, who would return the highest average score?

[bert]

A classic FR media bias discussion thread for the fairpress.org archive.

CCRM  bump

Cogito, ergo FReepum

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[mountainfolk]

One does get the impression that the journalists believe and act as tho this war is all about them. I get a kick out of BG Vincent Brooks answers. I am fascinated at how he couches his replies. I would never be able to deliver the answers in such a manner that is factual and devoid of the disgust I would feel at the self-serving reporter who tried to trip me up. He is quick and smart and seriously outmatches those reporters who encase their questions in anti-Bush/anti war venom.

[an amused spectator]

Their reasoning -- in the case of American reporters, at least -- must be that they serve the unique function of safeguarding the First Amendment, which is the highest patriotic calling.

A number of major American newspapers and American networks have proven irrefutably that they have no respect for the First Amendment.

Period.