A Few New Year’s Resolutions for the MSM
The ClimateGate emails? The Pigford farm scandal? All either ignored or brushed aside by the MSM for days, sometimes weeks, before they got around to reporting them.
Get mad, and then go investigate these stories and break fresh news from them. That’s what you’re supposed to do. And don’t complain about not having enough bodies to do the necessary digging. Pull a few reporters from either the Kate Gosselin or Tiger Woods beat and have at it.
6. Follow through on stories that matter: This one’s aimed at the Washington Post, but other outlets should also take heed. If you’ve got a killer story, follow up on it. When the Post reported on Sen. George Allen using the term “Macaca” to describe a member of his opponent’s team in 2006, the newspaper followed it up with literally dozens of stories across the paper — from A1 to the Style section.
How many stories has the Post run in the wake of its first-class expose on racist behavior in the Obama Justice Department?
7. Try a little consistency: Media outlets piled on Andrew Breitbart for (allegedly) taking Shirley Sherrod’s NAACP speech out of context earlier this year. Reporters used the incident to attempt to discredit the provocative Internet journalist. But where’s the outrage when more entrenched outlets like MSNBC routinely do the same, if not worse, to conservative targets?
8. Watch Fox News: If you made widgets, and a fellow widget maker beat you in sales nine years in a row, it might be smart to examine that company’s business model.
9. Don’t ask Palin if she’s running for president: Former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin may seek the presidency in 2012. But you can be darned sure she’s not going to reveal her intentions off the cuff to an MSM reporter. So stop asking. It’s not cute. It’s desperate and offers the news consumer nothing of substance.
10. Plug it in: Here’s a resolution specifically for The Gray Lady. Way back in 2009, New York Times managing editor Jill Abramson vowed to assign a colleague to peruse the conservative side of the blogosphere so it wouldn’t get beat on stories like the ACORN scandal.
In 2011, please connect said editor’s computer monitor to the Internet.
“6. Follow through on stories that matter.”
You may want to follow that up with at least TRY a little objectivity in reporting. I know, I know, with the main stream media that’s impossible, but I can hope a little for 2011. For example, the main stream media did a great job piling on to Sarah Palin this year, calling her every name in the book. Yet she managed to sell about 2 million copies of her book and she influenced a major mid-term election (most of the candidates she recommended won). So maybe, just maybe, she is NOT this country rube that just likes to shoot animals. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, she’s actually smart as a fox and a really talented politician.
Also, when talking about stories that matter, I would love to see a lot, and I MEAN A LOT, more stories on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. If you look at the main stream media these days, it’s as if we’re not even fighting two wars at all (yes, some American troops are still going out on combat operations in Iraq, even though the bulk of the combat troops have left). We have men and women fighting and in some cases dying in these two crapholes and it would be nice to know how we’re doing and how the wars are going. I know, the president is a lot to blame for this since he himself rarely even talks about them. It’s as if he just wants the wars to go away. But the sad fact is that we’re still there and I’d like to know what progress we’re making. And if the war is going badly in Afghanistan, I’d like to know that, too. Wouldn’t any of the networks want to have their “Walter Cronkite Moment” in Afghanistan saying that “The war is lost?” Ooops, sorry, I forgot. Obama is their guy and any news that would make their guy look bad just isn’t allowed.
Now you know why people are not watching the main stream media anymore.
This editorial and this comment irritate me slightly, because their underlying argument is as naive as asking Hilter to make a New Year’s resolution to be kind and generous to the Jews, and to surrender war- time Germany to the Allies for no particular reason.
It is very clear that journalism no longer really exists in the U.S. The large MSM outlets have long since been completely over-run by extreme liberal ideological zealots, who are actively and eagerly abusing their power in order to force America to become a totalitarian socialist/communist state (it will not happen over night, of course). The large MSM outlets are full time agents of the extreme left elements of the DNC, and they should be treated as such.
The only reason they bother maintaining a weak pretense of being journalists, is they know their credibility would plummet to zero if they actually admitted the truth, and that would slow their push towards a totalitarian socialist/communist state.
I would suggest that rather than giving MSM tips for New Years Resolutions that we continue to boycott and avoid their worthless news products. After all we are consumers and that is our right. If you buy a car and it continues to break down and not perform, do you ever buy the same car again? Not likely. The MSM needs to get some serious truth Rehab!If you come to this business with a certain mindset and agenda, and simply push these tired ass ideas on the public instead of seeking the truth, well that is what we have been served up for years. I say just say no to the MSM. Put these jerks out of business and while we are dragging them down, make them pay the price in humiliation! They richly deserve it for setting supporting and spinning lies to promote the most destructive presidency and liberal congress in history. I kid you not!! I say it is time for them to go along with their liberal partners in the congress and soon to boot out this president in 2012.
Exactly, just ignore them. Do not let the New York Times set the agenda that we then all talk about for the next week. I don’t care one bit what some provincial, poorly educated, bigoted leftist has to say about anything.
Here is another one, how about some real investigative journalism, like how could Bell County afford their commissioners for so long and no one ask any questions? I am betting there are a lot of places in CA and the rest of the country where the numbers don’t add up, but who is looking? You have to wonder why no one is looking into this type of corruption. You would think at least a dozen journalist could make careers out of outing corrupt politicians, but it is the people that are doing it via the internet. So one has to wonder what these other “journalist” are doing. I know celebrity news is all the rage, but I thought their job was to keep the government honest (my mistake). Happy New Year to all and we can only hope that there are more concerned citizens taking to the airwaves(internet) to expose corruption wherever they find it.
How about this New Year’s resolution for the New York Times and the Washington Post – just take a serious step towards saving the planet and stop publishing. This would save whole bunches of trees and help accomplish your left wing agenda. As an added benefit all your leftie employees could truly join the poor and start collecting unemployment checks for as long as they last.
Here’s another tip: don’t regurgitate emailed talking points from the White House or the Democrat party and present them as “news.” It’s very unusual for a member of the press to confront or question statements presented as fact by ANY Democrat. The MSM has shown its colors repeatedly. I don’t think any of us can expect any unbiased, straightforward reporting from these clowns and former jornolisters – especially as they work hard to re-elect the fictional president they created in their fawning coverage.
I’m with you, Gunn. I wish everyone would refuse to watch anything MSM. They are an absolute joke.
Add Katie Couric to the list. The fat little pig bemoaned the flaming hatred that Americans hold towards muslims this week.
Please note, there are mo qualifiers for either group named. Meaning, no Americans who do not hate all muslims, and no muslims who may hate us or the West & engage in or support militancy.
Read on Mediaite.
The media is compelled to see what Normal People believe, then prove their own wisdom by going in the opposite direction. Yes, it’s sick.
And she is not alone.
I very much resent your personal insult directed toward Katie Couric.
She is NOT fat!
(She’s not even plump! You’ve been warped by Hollyweird!)
When a prominent Democrat is arrested, or indicted, or caught in a raid on a whorehouse, don’t make your readers play “Guess the Party.”
Are there some actually watching the msm??I gave up on them ages ago and they have done absolutely nothing for me to reconsider.
Oh for God’s sake stop with the suggestions! Nobody takes these seriously anymore.
Rupert should just buy the NYT, turning it into the sister paper of the London Times.
For God’s sake, why?
The NYT does its job admirably, ignoring the stories lefties don’t want to read about, allowing things like the Tea Parties to sneak up on the left completely unawares.
If Rupert bought the NYT, lefties might actually start reading other papers or watching Fox News, and might be forewarned about what conservatives are doing, and take steps to stop us.
The NYT, in short, keeps lefties right where I want them, deep in their ideological bubble, clueless about the changing of the political winds, and therefore helpless in the face of voter anger.
Hmmmm. Studied a bit of Lao Tzu, have you?
You ain’t as dumb as I look.
Resolutions for the MSM, will they do anything other than these?
1. Renew BHO fan club membership. Give campaign contribution legal limit this year and even more next year (remember to omit address and use funny name).
2. Every fifth day remind America how wonderful Michelle Obama is and once a month quote the statistics from the JournOlist survey about how well liked she is. Remember to send bribes to make sure she says on the “best dressed” lists for 2011.
3. When the Precedent holds a press conference, only ask the questions in the easy and softball categories. Ditto for Gibbs.
4. No pictures of the Precedent without his shirt or with “the body”.
5. Cash bonus check from Soros and remember to return half to the “smear a patriot” fund.
6. When you get talking points from the White House daily, spend at least 20 minutes trying to find different words so the message sounds like your own.
7. Eat your vegetables or Michelle will put you on the “no access” list.
8. Access to the Precendent depends on your absolute loyalty to HIM. Consult his enemies list often, negative stories for the “stupid clingers” and positive stories for his “enablers”, er, supporters.
9. Never, ever include the teleprompter in a photo of the Precedent–we don’t want people to get the wrong idea. Reminder: every story must include how brilliant he is.
Basically I’m with Gunn and everyone here, until the MSM finds a bit of objectivity and stops sounding like a fan club convention, I’ll find alternate sources and hope their readership/viewers continue to dwindle.
Your assumption is that the MSM’s main objective is truth telling. That is simply not true. Their main objective (for many years) is to be the story tellers of the left and far left.
There are very few stories where they won’t slant the information, not report information that does not benefit the left, repeat false information that might damage conservatives, etc. This is their main objective and will continue to do so.
Instead of resolutions whast is my MSM fantasy? That they would cover Obama as if he were a Republican. Where would he be now? Certainly not in the WH.
Dumb article! Journalists are exactly like prostitutes; pay them and they’ll do whatever you ask.
You make them sound well intentioned but misguided. They are not! Their objective is to destroy the middle class in America and disrupt the basic concepts of American culture.
… and regard the Birther question with objectivity.
Simply piling denial asnd ridicule on this affair hasn’t helped at all – continuing to do so won’t doi it, ’cause…
… there simply is something rotten there, no matter how the WH tries to obfuscate the issue -
MSM ? “Media” ? “mainstreammedia” ?
I am sorry, we don’t have anything like that any more.
What we have is a regime, and the idiotic (and power-thirsty)puppets of the regime.
Stop talking about the crowd of ignorant marxists, nihilists, islamic supremacism supporters AS IF they were decent human beings.
They are rotten, to the core.
Mr. Toto, you seem to misunderstand the mission of the msm.
There was a time, of course, when people in the media saw their mission as reporting the news.
This is no longer even remotely true. Their mission now is to be the vangauard of the new order, which they have been taught to believe is marxism.
So your advice not only will go unheeded, it is irrelevant. Go back to the drawing board and come up with items like:
- find new and more creative ways to portray Sarah Palin as stupid and dangerous, and to counteract her ability to circumvent our journalista stranglehold on information.
- resolve to write not a single word in 2011 about the AGW deniers.
- contrast every Republican as a buffoon, clown, ignoramous, idealogue, nazi and/or tool of private enterprise. Never slip, not even once.
You can do a better job than myself, just make sure the theme is valid.
For 2011, can we stop calling them the MSM and reassign that to Fox News and outlets like Drudge? They ceased to be mainstream years ago. I agree with Rush’s term “Drive By Media.” Their reporting style is just hit and run.
I agree with Margaret in Austin, since DBM is more appropriate.
Why has the DBM been pro-left for so many years? Their business model, based on ad revenue, certainly prevents some news, but it did not account for their lack of coverage on JFK’s sex life; Since FOX has hit the scene, proving that investigative journalism = increased viewership, there HAS TO BE an in-depth explanation for DBM’s continuing leftism in the face of falling numbers of readers/viewers.
This bias appears to be paralleled in the colleges and public schools, and it would be interesting to see an in-depth trail for both the DBM and education.
You guys leave those MSM guys dudes and chicks alone. They are doing the absolute best they can. Snark,Snark.
Even FOX News is difficult to watch, with Hannity and O’Rielly and theier dribble about themselves. , and then listen to Huckabee and Rivera , and you can only head toward the Sports.
Top it off with a little bit of Juan Williams and I wonder why anyone still watches these programs.
After more than 30 years, have dropped the Wall Street Journal, other than a occasional Conservative editorial, the newspaper is full of Elite Liberals and they have become a haven for Illegal Immigrant Issues, including “Dream Act” as a responsible position.
I can remember when the tabloids at the super market check out were very entertaining, and could make you laugh out loud, once in a while. What’s called the “MSM” today can’t even get my attention.
It’s more like “Look! Dick! Jane’s having an affair with Spot!;”
Within every ones comments we see that despite an astonishingly radical first two years in office, which has awakened unprecedented voter outrage and caused Obama’s popularity to plunge, the lame stream media largely continue to ignore the reality of who Obama is, what he really stands for, and who influences him. During this time most of the media’s top publications and personalities refused to read the No. 1 best-selling non-fiction book in America, Aaron Klein’s “Manchurian President: Barack Obama’s Ties to Communists, Socialists and Other Anti-American Extremists” a blistering, thoroughly documented account of Barack Obama’s extremist connections, because they “found” the subject matter “offensive”. We now know that the media were our enablers, that our political opposition is funded by us, that Acorn and the welfare-entitlement complex is funded by us, that the Marxists in schools are funded by us. We now know that the MSM not only failed to do their job–asking important questions and informing the populace in a balanced way–they have also lied to us over and over again. We now know that we can’t depend on the MSM for information. We now know that Barry Hussein is a mere symptom of what ails America. We now know that liberalism is not only intellectually incorrect but also an affront to common decency. We now know that liberals simply hate Americans, especially when they won’t go along with such obviously good things such as President Obama’s healthcare law, “economic stimulus” spending, nationalizing student loans, unilaterally disarming American nuclear weapons, or raising taxes in an anemic economy. After watching the Glenn Beck rally and the news aftermath, we now know positively that the lame-stream media will never be objective. The rally stort is a simple one, a story of one man with his own money who collected a lot of money for a worthy charity and brought a large group of people from across the country to one place to listen to white, black, American Indian, Christian,Mormon, Jewish speakers talk about faith, hope, charity, and God. Al Sharpton had a rally on the same day. You know, Commie Fest. So why was Mr. Sharpton’s rally so unsuccesful as Mr. Beck’s? Mr Sharpton thought he had claim to “everything Martin Luther” simply by the color of his (Sharpton’s) skin? Don’t you think Martin Luther would be happy to see a celebration of his life by a gathering of people of all skin colors? Of course he would. MLK is a piece of American History. I am American. I am white, so why can’t I embrace him too? Wasn’t Maritn Luther King all about “character rather than color of skin”? Mr. Sharpton’s has made his existence and notoriety as being dependent on the continuation of racism, so he has a stake in making sure that racism continues to exist, or at least portraying it as such. Glenn Beck made his existence and notoriety as dependent on the issues of our Progressive leaders taking God out of the halls of our Congress. I know that many of us can find faults with Glenn Beck’s agenda . I know he is not a minister or a priest so (like he says) he made some religious mistakes. I welcome that he (like Franklin Graham) had a rally on Washington DC’s footsteps. I am surprised they got the permit considering our Admministration’s attitude towards Christianity (not to mention the world’s attitude). But, what no Christian should like is news like this: Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Georgetown University says it covered over the monogram “IHS”–symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ—because it was inscribed on a pediment on the stage where President Obama spoke at the university on Tuesday and the White House had asked Georgetown to cover up all signs and symbols there. Ah, there’s the rub. God help us all who perchance to dream that it is still possible for something to come out of nothingness. Nothingness is were our Progressive leaders and Godless representatives have taken us.
Since the list starts with economics, and the brilliance of economists, a few quick quotes are in order here:
“An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn’t happen today. Laurence J. Peter
“If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion.” George Bernard Shaw
And finally:
“There can be no real individual freedom in the presence of economic insecurity.” Chester Bowles
It doesn’t matter what the MSM does–I won’t be reading or watching. Why give their sponsors a chance to try to sell me stuff while their propagandists are trying to sell me other stuff? If I watch TV news, it will be the Weather Channel or Fox News, which I don’t entirely trust either. (Ever noticed how the “no spin zone” guy keeps campaigning for Mitt Romney???)
“the mainstream media continues to act against its core principles”
Wherever did you get THAT idea? On the contrary, they are very consistent in acting in accordance with their core principles.