Embedded Journal: "I went over to the dark side."

Poynter Online ^ | April 13, 2003 | Jules Crittenden (Boston Herald)

[WorkingClassFilth]

Contrast this report with the episode I read here (on FR) recently where Mike Wallace was asked during the Vietnam war if he would warn American troops of an impending ambush if he were with enemy forces in position. Wallace said, no, he wouldn't because that would diminish his objectivity.

I can recall in the late 70's, Wallace did a piece for 60 minutes on some bank in the SW that put liens on loans for airconditioning. The upshot was that many minorities defaulted and lost their homes. Wallace aired the piece as a hit-job and trashed the band and it's officers. After the piece aired, the bank contacted CBS and demanded an apology and retraction of the segment. It seems that the banks security cameras were filming Wallace the CBS crew while they filmed the interview. In the unedited bank film, Wallace made racist remarks to the effect that it probably was hard to read the fine print on the loan agreement when it was covered with watermellon seeds or taco grease. Wallace apologize for an unfortunate choice of words and meanings he didn't wish to convey.

Fast forward to the '86 election when Jesse Jackson was seeking the Democratic nomination. Wallace delicately broached the rumors of the Reverend's affairs. Mrs. Jackson went off on him and ripped him a new one. Wallace rolled over like a mining camp whore, backed off and said no more.

When the journalists wear their bias openly, reporting and understanding the facts becomes much easier since a decoding process and political analysis isn't needed. When they spout the sacred trash about their 'objectivity' that's when you know the sh*t is really going to fly.

[CJ Wolf]

I have to hand it to the pentagon on this. It's pure genius, we are raising a whole generation of reporters that now "get it".

[patent]

I’ll keep the argument short. Screw them, they weren’t there.

LOL.

[Gritty]

My guess is this reporter, being from Boston, was a Massachusetts Liberal.

Note the use of the word, "was".

[lawgirl]

Screw them, they weren’t there. But they are welcome to join me next time if they care to test their professionalism.

I do love that line. Exactly.

I love how the tank was named Achtung Baby. A U2 fan, I hope!

[litehaus]

Amazing..is the the POYNTER FOUNDATION...as in St. Pete Times Liberal Rag here in Fla.? If so, sounds like they have
a convert on their hands possibly.....Hope they let him keep his job..

[MudPuppy]

Sounds like Marine terminology has rubbed off on this reporter also :)

OOh-rah!

[A. Patriot]

They ought to arm the reporters with side arms for self defense.

[nhbob1]

They've been carrying this guy's articles in the Boston Herald throughout the entire war. They have all been real good. Makes you feel like you are there rolling along with the 3rd ID.

[js1138]

Speaking of the dark side...

[My Favorite Headache]

Excellent article.

[caisson71]

THIS is what I expected from a reporter "with the troops". "Oh s---" is one of the confirming expressions in a firefight. I love the mental contemplation of "screw them" when he thought of what other journalists might say about pointing out three men trying to shoot at them. Any journalist experiencing the same situation would apperciate his self preserving attitude. I can even hear the "suk,suk,suk" of the 50 (perfect headspacing)on the M-113 than can splatter a body. And he should have been concerned about the track not handling an RPG, especially in the left rear - at least he was in a diesel.

[jbstrick]

That is the BEST line in the article....

[Adrastus]

Sounds like a chap on his way to becoming a real writer. Nothing like the smell of cordite to raise your sense of mortality.Idealism dies when the first round snaps by your head.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I have to hand it to the pentagon on this. It's pure genius, we are raising a whole generation of reporters that now "get it".

I agree. Wasn't that female Deputy SecDef - Victoria Something - the one that crafted this policy of alllowing and encouraging embeds? I could be wrong but that's how I seem to remember it.

[eureka!]

Great post. The purest "reporting" I have read yet....

[Billthedrill]

Someday, with luck, this guy will be sitting behind an anchor desk or in an editor's chair and some brighteyed thing straight from college will bring him a story resplendent with the usual media BS about the military, such as the "it was a walkover, an easy march through an unresisting third-world country" stuff we seem to be getting now. From those who weren't there. May he remember.

[snooker]

>>>They ought to arm the reporters with side arms for self defense.

They had the choice, most chose no. I think the reason was that if they were captured they had a good reason to be left alone, they were press. It might help, but then in some cases it did not.

I think I would choose not to be armed, unless it really came to oh s*** time.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[frodolives]

The title of this article should be changed. I thought a skier had become a snowboarder. That is truly "going to the dark side"!