Dear national media, Washington press corps, news industry insiders, you are embarrassing yourselves. Breathlessly turning a nothing story into a “scandal” because … appearances. (read: Clinton Rules) But really, your access isn’t what you think you’re entitled to so you’re miffed. Now twisting yourselves into pretzels to impose an equivalence on insult-flinging that everyone knows is bunk, claiming “both sides do it” when it is obvious there is no comparison. You know it. We know it.
John Stoehr has an excellent column today in Washington Monthly: Clinton Foundation Reporting is Why Americans Still Hate the Media. In a few short paragraphs, he elucidates the current bad example of the breathless (lazy, shallow) reporting of State Dept. emails regarding the Clinton Foundation.
In it, he brings down to date a 20 year old James Fallows essay in The Atlantic: Why Americans Hate the Media. Fallows asks,
Why has the media establishment become so unpopular? Perhaps the public has good reason to think that the media's self-aggrandizement gets in the way of solving the country's real problems
In his superb essay, John Stoehr explains
Doug Band, a chief executive at the Clinton Foundation, emailed Abedin about meeting with a Crown Prince of Bahrain. According to the Wall Street Journal, Abedin chided Band for not going through “proper channels.” After doing that, the prince got a meeting with Clinton. Nothing was reported of its substance.
Band contacted Abedin on behalf of U2’s Bono and sports executive Casey Wasserman, both foundation donors. Could Clinton help Bono promote an overseas charity event? “No clue,” Abedin said. Could Clinton help fast-track a visa for a British soccer player? Abedin said she had reservations. Band said never mind. No visa resulted.
That’s the story. In other words, there is no evidence from these emails to support claims by Judicial Watch, a right-wing group, or Donald Trump that the Clinton Foundation was rife with pay-for-play.
Yet our media isn’t saying this.
Please read the column about how the press is reporting the story, instead of how they should. Its clarity will help you speak back to the press.
Colbert underscores the point
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As a start, news media, you could start with determining what is a thing: Tax Returns from presidential candidates; as opposed to what is not a thing: sending emails but getting nothing from State.
...
Reporters, tell the truth, is this what you went to journalism school for? Stop. Get your priorities straight. The American public deserves better. Take care that the frustrated public does not conclude that, because you no longer serve us with the facts and truth we need, we will no longer guarantee your special privileges.
And we news consumers? We have to object. Call. Write. Let them know you see what they are doing and it is not satisfactory.
Media contacts here, and here, and below is the short list of top outlets. Let them hear from you.
AP 212-621-1500, tweet @ap write info@ap.org
ABC 212-456-7777
CBS 212-975-4321
CNN 404-827-1500
NBC/MSNBC 212-664-4444 (reach all shows, news desks)
PBS 703-998-2150
NPR 202-513-2000
NY TIMES 212-556-1234, DC bureau 202-862-0300, lettes@nytimes.com, public@nytimes.com
Washington Post 202-334-7410
Wall St Journal 212-416-2000