Everything this article states, I’ve heard before. I’ve met no open conservatives since I began working in newspapers, yet somehow the right-wing machine dominates the news, according to all the junior Eric Altermans I’ve encountered. I walk around the newsroom, I see Obama tributes on a few desks. The day after the Inaugural, I needed a copy of the daily for an article, but none were to be found because the newsroom ransacked them all. I’ve seen two pictures displayed of conservatives, both were of Sarah Palin and both were defaced in some way (keep in mind, we have a policy of no political displays on shirts, etc. due to reasons of objectivity). That evil conservative conspiracy sure is tightening the screws.
The whole newspaper business is being swallowed alive by its own arrogance. I hear rant after rant about bloggers, when blogs have done nothing but made their online content more available. The killer is Craigslist and advertising, yet nary a word from a fellow reporter on that, because the blogs are taking the glory. These people don’t have enough common sense to manage a Kool-Aid stand, yet they consider themselves the gate keepers of democracy.
Virtually all the people I’ve met in media are hard-working, decent, great people. But you could easily drown in all the group-think dumb-ass-ery on display at times. It’s like that line from Men In Black: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, stupid creatures.
Usually when someone is talking about right wing media, its because they are leftists. In my humble experience with the denizens of Pacifica, et al, they view America politics as either right wing, or loony right wing (Lib and conservative). They are upset that, for some reason, American’s doesn’t care what Castro, or Jaques Chirac, think about issues.
Another reason for them to be happy with the Rise of the Community Organizer. “They” have finally cracked the rock open. Only instead of honey they’ll find an ooze of stinky slime.
Great idea putting a photo of Rather up there, BTW. He is the avatar of media bias. His response after being caught making up stories was (paraphrased) “It’s not true…but it should be.” That seems to be the motto of the media. They should carve it in granite above the doorway of the NYT.
Pacifica — holy crap! Mr. Sid — “Pacifica” is like “Frau Blucher” — just hearing/seeing the word causes a visceral reaction. Come to think of it Amy Goodman looks a bit like Frau Blucher (cue horses).
Oh and John… great story — you should write for a living.