I once had a lot of respect for journalists, newspapermen especially; I always thought that writing for a living was a noble profession; that the press was truly the Fourth Estate -- the guardians of democracy, that the founders of this country viewed as a check & balance against the 3 official branches of government.
Somehow that idea has become "quaint."
In just the past few years, something important has gotten lost. The once-proud profession of journalism (think Woodward & Bernstein) has now become utterly tainted. Once-great newspapers have become little more than corporate propaganda mills. We know Armstrong Williams was on the Whitehouse payroll. It begs the question: Was Judy Miller or any of her ilk who lied us into war also on the Whitehouse payroll?
On Wall Street, the media mergers forced newsrooms to kowtow to accounting depts., who began to shape corporate "News" into a "product" to sell advertising.
Murdock's empire, and groups like Sinclair and Clear Channel, Swift Boat Vets, Jeff Gannon, USA Next ... have all become an endless barrage of propaganda.
And now, from the NY Times all the way down to the National Enquirer, there is an amazing news blackout on the Gannon story. The silence, as they say, is deafening. Even the TABLOIDS?!? Silent about a SEX scandal?!? That is just tooooo weird.
Judith Miller and her ilk railroaded this country into war from the front pages of the NY Times, because many people trusted that she was telling the truth. As the administration prepares us for war with Iran, will the public believe the posturing of the NY Times again? The profession of journalism is starting to pay a steep price for their acquiesence to their corporate bosses -- their Integrity.
The price we have all paid for their warmongering is counted in bodybags.
You would think that the true reporters would have more respect for their profession. Many of them have trained hard for their jobs, and are gifted writers and newshounds. How can they just sit there in their cubicles and not raise their voices in defense of journalism and its proud history? Especially the old salts that are still around from the pre-arbitrage days.
Alas. The editors at Pravda would be proud.