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Well, the jig's up for bloggers. Adam Cohen writes in the Sunday, May 8th Times:
"A few bloggers have begun calling for change. There have even been fledgling attempts to create ethical guidelines, like the ones found at Cyberjournalist.net. Defenders of the status quo argue that ethics rules are not necessary in the blogosphere because truth emerges through "collaboration," and that bias and conflicts of interest are rooted out by "transparency." But "collaboration" is a haphazard way of defending against dishonesty and slander, and blogs are actually not all that transparent. MSM journalists write under their own names. Someone would be likely to notice if a newspaper reporter covering a campaign was also on the campaign's staff. But it is hard to know who many bloggers are, and whether they are paid to take the positions they are espousing."
My, my. When Cohen preaches that "..."collaboration" is a haphazard way of defending against dishonesty and slander..." it makes one wonder if he feels even the slightest embarrassment that he's describing, perfectly, Karl Rove, aka the Bush Administration. It's truly ironic that the MSM refuses to "report" the "slander and dishonesty" that are the primary, fine-sharpened tools of this bunch, yet Cohen implies, without proof, that bloggers are the guilty ones.
he goes on....
"Many bloggers who criticize the MSM's ethics, however, are in the anomalous position of holding themselves to lower standards, or no standards at all."
So.....because there are no written rules of ethics for this relatively new phenomena called Internet bloggers, he accuses all of having little or no standards? What was that you were saying about slanderous accusations, Adam? Talk about a broad brush.
and finally....
"Bloggers may need to institutionalize ethics policies to avoid charges of hypocrisy. But the real reason for an ethical upgrade is that it is the right way to do journalism, online or offline. As blogs grow in readers and influence, bloggers should realize that if they want to reform the American media, that is going to have to include reforming themselves."
Gee, thanks for the tips Cohen. But, as one who used to devour newspapers for news I have found many blogs, if not most, painstakingly check their news for accuracy and provide solid sources for their reports and stories. Where are your examples, Adam, to back up the accusations you make that they care so little?
The real problem is that, due to the cowardice of the MSM, the void created by a lack of honest and comprehensive journalism is being filled by those who DO care for truth as opposed to those complicit in the whitewashing of news rampant within today's MSM.
The reason the Times and other papers are losing market share to the bloggers has more to do with the blogs honestly and transparently reporting news and events the MSM would never touch. There was a time the MSM would hold the President's feet to the fire if he strayed from those things considered good for the country. Not today. As a matter of fact, they've given Bush carte blanche to rape and pillage at will and have adopted Rove's tactics to attack the messenger when THEIR feet are being held to the fire as partners in crime with these fascists.
I doubt DU's Skinner worries too much about receiving a call from doughboy Rove after revealing them for the shits that they truly are, whereas the MSM lapdog hacks, like Adam Cohen, quiver at the very thought.
It's high time for the mainstream media to admit and declare that "We have met the enemy and he is us."
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