The Palin Effect and the Death of Political Journalism

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Unbiased? No axes to grind? No opinion? Perhaps just an inability to dig for facts when Robert Gibbs feeds them kibbles and bits, Palin is asked about her shoes and not how she would solve problems, or the President is asked about what he puts on hot dogs. Oh, I see, the phonies from the papers all think they are writing for the feature page?
This piece reminds me of Evan Thomas' piece in Newsweek on March 1, 2008, when which he asked, "Is the mainstream press unbiased? No, but we aren't ideological. What we really thrive on is conflict." Sounds like the old KGO radio, doesn't it?
Now Schlesinger bemoans the fact that he and his colleagues have made themselves less indespensable than they thought they were. And is he surprised? I am not.
When Hearst and his pals controlled the papers perhaps they had one thing in mind: making money. The publishers today ought to be thinking of the same thing instead of cozying up to the pols. If the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (my hometown paper that used to be more than a birdcage floor) has "improved" it has done so at the expense of creative writing. There are a few good folk left, but the "rip and read" syndicated pap found there is not worth much. And the beleagured NYT and WaPo and the rest have only themselves to blame: they cannot keep hard news and opinion separated. But...
when was the so-called "golden age" when newspapers had integrity? And the teevee and radio had integrity? [Although I was a Huntley-Brinkley and Cronkite aficiando, along with Nessen and others, because I believed them to have scruples and some sense of humor...]

velville of sandy springs of GA 4:38PM July 30, 2010

This column, including its huge swath of political bias, comes about five years too late. The decline of old media has been reported on, by others obviously, for over a decade. Newspapers have been dying since the late 60's.
In spite of the whiny tone of this article about the decline of the "top-down" we're-smarter-than-you so read and believe us old media, there is plenty of good and great reporting out there--in fact, because of the ease of publishing, the rise of the Internet, the rise of Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, Comedy Central and other cable outlets, an increasingly vital and responsible blogosphere, it's impossible for anyone to get away with anything. This simplistic reporter already reported on Sharon Angle, Sarah Palin, and Paul Rand trying to get away with stuff--and others from the other side have cornered Sen. John Kerry trying to get away from paying $437,000 in taxes in Massachusetts, the state he supposedly represents, on his new $7 million yacht berthed in Rhode Island. The end result--Kerry will pony up the taxes. We've also managed, after a lot of political pressure--especially from the new media--to corner Charlie Rangal, so maybe he, too, will pay his taxes. But I digress...
The point is that there is plenty of reporting and plenty of information. What we won't miss are articles like this from people like this who want people to only think the way that they do--and who used to work at one of the few media outlets that people had access too. Now, with new media, we have plenty of choice of what to watch and who to read and listen to.
As government is trying to narrow our choices, technology is widening our choices of media. So watch carefully--and we can already see it with proposed "campaign finance rules" (rules to stifle speech from unfavored parties)--there will be an attack on the First Amendment. If that is successful, we're all in real trouble.

SherlockHolmes of NH 10:59AM July 28, 2010

he said if my people who are called by my name (christian) would humble themselves and turn from their wicked way and seek my face. then would i hear from heaven and heal their land.remeber the order of things in God...God the farther,God the son(jesus) and God the holy spirit...then man woman and children..that is the order..God the son Jesus said the only way to the father God is thru him..he said if you come any other way..you come as a thief and robber..he said in revelation he was going to take them....the devil,death, hell and the grave also liers and throw them in that lake of fire and brim stone..which is the second death for ever seperated from God...

hgivens of GA 6:20PM July 27, 2010

As a lifelong journalist, all I can say is goodbye and good riddance to political journalists. Go see what your opinions are worth out in the real world. And, yeah, while you're at it, try working a real job. You know, punch a clock, be accountable, find out that no one cares what your opinions are.
If I want political opinion (or any other type), the blogosphere is pregnant enough, and online you're not forced to see everything through the Karl Marx filter. People actually often do think differently than lockstep political journalists. Funny, that.

Gary of CA 2:23PM July 27, 2010

The media blew it on Obama and now has noone to blame but itself.
They let this guy pass without as much as a question, because they loved him! Now that the honeymoon is over and some of the questions have been answered, most of the country has buyer's regret. Too late MSM, the gig is up, the country is on to you and has decided to bypass you totally.

mike of OH 11:21AM July 20, 2010

The vitriolic comments posted below your thoughtful article, while seeming to reinforce the bleak outlook of the story, ironically are as well perfect illustrations of some of the dangers of a reporter-free news culture. I was particularly taken by the comment from Jeff from Wisconsin. Jeff’s misunderstanding of the journalist’s role seems to be informed by his confusion between Truth, facts, and truthful representations of facts. He is also confused about logic, history, geography, among other things. But I digress. I find it delightful that Jeff construes the meaning the Pilate quote “Quod est Veritas?” quite differently from centuries “elite, lamestream” reporters (church theologians). Of course, by the ascendant logic all of this moot since John and his three pals are really just “inside the Eruv” reporters who are too chummy with power to report on the Passion. Until Jesus tweets his side of the story, we’ll never know the truth about truth.
Recent generations of Americans have become so invested in their self-esteem and so enamored of their own opinions that any idea presenting a challenging nuance, or even some previously unknown information, is a terrible affront. Truth is beauty and Jesus, thing that make a person happy. Therefore, any journalism one disagrees with or doesn’t understand or that makes one feel uninformed is horrible and untrue. To (mis)-quote Jeff, “I prefer to think of (this) logic as that of a moron.”

Eric of WA 2:41AM July 20, 2010

There is one very obvious fallacy to your whole article about the coming death of political journalism - and that is that it should be couched in terms of "as we liberal/progressive journalists know it". Your article exposes your incredible blindness to the bias you all hold and the betrayal of your collective responsibility in that you suppose that political journalism dies with you guys. Fact is, "fair and balanced" political journalism is doing just fine and will continue to do so. Journalism is a product on the market just like any other and when the product is found to be tainted in a manner that does not mesh with the taste of most consumers, it fails in the market place. (see Air America) The "lamestream media " (while fox news dominates cable news, it is a newcomer and definitely not a part of the dinasaur media) can continue down their well worn path to oblivion congratulating themselves on how brilliant they are and how stupid we Americans are OR their shareholders/Board of Directors will get the message that maybe they don't get it and maybe "fair and balanced" journalism is the way to go for relevance and survival. Then again, they love being the "elite" and won't likely give that up.

Jersey Mark of NJ 3:05PM July 19, 2010

and this article is what's giving political reporters what they deserve . How many reporters went to Alaska to check out Palin ? How many half a-- lawsuits were brought against her when govenor ? Anyone move in next to Obama during the election ? Anyone go to Chicago to checkout what he did for the city as an organizer ?
You biased reporters are getting what you should get , smoked by Fox News .

Hunter of WI 3:54PM July 18, 2010

No matter who speaks it the content of truth is not corrupt. What is happening with the "Main Stream Media" is the result of their own doing. The phrase give them enough rope and they'll hang themselves applies perfectly. What those in the media and currrent leadership of politicians have forgotten is that this nation was never founded like those in Europe or in Russia. The "masses" are not stupid and will not tolerate lies from the "king" or his messenger. This nation conceived in liberty has always exposed the framework of deception no matter who it is from. Freedom of the press does not limit or give more information than what is available. For B.S. (Robert Schlesinger) to think that there has to be some official outlet for truth exposes his elitism or "inside the beltway" mentality. I prefer to think of his logic as that of a moron.
Pilate asked the question, "what is truth"? If you have to ask.... The real sad part in his question was that he was a man in a position of "power".

Jeff of WI 5:30AM July 18, 2010

No matter who speaks it the content of truth is not corrupt. What is happening with the "Main Stream Media" is the result of their own doing. The phrase give them enough rope and they'll hang themselves applies perfectly. What those in the media and currrent leadership of politicians have forgotten is that this nation was never founded like those in Europe or in Russia. The "masses" are not stupid and will not tolerate lies from the "king" or his messenger. This nation conceived in liberty has always exposed the framework of deception no matter who it is from. Freedom of the press does not limit or give more information than what is available. For B.S. (Robert Schlesinger) to think that there has to be some official outlet for truth exposes his elitism or "inside the beltway" mentality. I prefer to think of his logic as that of a moron.
Pilate asked the question, "what is truth"? If you have to ask.... The real sad part in his question was that he was a man in a position of "power".

Jeff of WI 5:30AM July 18, 2010