Truth From a Horse's Mouth

In a post I mentioned in the previous post, Roger Abramson, a longtime professional journalist, confirms what conservatives have long held and the profession of journalism has long denied:

Mind you, I have no problems with what we might call "hit-jobs" in journalism. Part of good journalism is lighting a fire under the behinds of people and/or taking someone down a notch or two who deserves it. Some of the best journalism in history does just that, and--often--to very good effect overall.

But one of the things that make for a good journalistic hit-job is having a subject worth hitting, someone (or something) worth severe public condemnation via the power of the pen, with all that ultimately entails, including the loss of personal and/or professional serenity. You know, people like elected officials and others with great power and influence, not regular people...

So, Roger, who decides who "deserves it?" Who decides who is "a subject worth hitting?"

It happens in the closed and secretive cardinal's college of newspaper and television newsrooms. The very folks who demand openness and accountablility and access yet, when called upon to practice what they preach, get closed-mouthed and defensive.

The very folks who know a whole lot more than they'll ever let on, but prefer to keep [some of it] to themselves. Because, you know, they're the ones who have the judgment and qualifications to decide.

Like the folks at the Commercial Appeal where Washington Bureau Chief Bartholomew Sullivan can write three longish pieces about campaign finance irregularities involving Representative Marsha Blackburn. Has he ever done the same or similar for the other Representatives of West Tennessee? Of course not, as they are Democrats and Blackburn is the Republican. And he lifted the substance of the story from a Washington newsletter; to do the same for the others would require, like, investigation. Work!

When City Councillor Rickey Peete is caught using inelibigle funds from a community housing project to build his grandmother a house she's not entitled to with your money, does the Commercial Appeal investigate that with the same diligence their ace Washington guy brought to the Blackburn story?

Of course not! It's been ignored completely and left to languish. Only ordinary citizens like Joe Saino and Thaddeus Matthews have followed it.

On the one hand, the press has long touted themselves as neutral, objective and impartial. Readers and citizens have long known this was a lie. Nice of Roger to confirm the truth for us.