Today's press culture would wither at a Watergate

[EC]

http://www.richardreeves.com/columns/latest.html

2/18/05: IMAGINE WATERGATE 2005

<snip>

The most disturbing thing about the two days of re-living the events of the early 1970s and the role of journalism -- or non-role, as some historians argued -- was a nagging question that hung there unanswered: If two young reporters came up with unproved evidence and incomplete testimony of dark doings today at the higher levels of government power, would that information be published or broadcast for more than a few days or even a few hours?

<snip>

The journalism of Watergate was more than a movie about intrepid and ambitious young reporters. It was about the willingness of The Washington Post (and later other outlets) to continue publishing less-than-sensational stories attacking or chipping away at the power of government -- week after week, month after month. That was done even as the government denied it all and threatened the owners of the Post with the loss of things like the Federal Communications Commission licenses of Post-owned television stations.

<snip>

The journalism of Watergate was more than a movie about intrepid and ambitious young reporters. It was about the willingness of The Washington Post (and later other outlets) to continue publishing less-than-sensational stories attacking or chipping away at the power of government -- week after week, month after month.

<snip>
The American press is barely being protected by its own owners, many of them entertainment corporations prone to erase any facts inconvenient to those who write tax laws and approve mergers and acquisitions. The straight American press, and most of it is, is being nibbled to death by a Greek chorus of know-nothing mouthpieces mocking anyone brazen enough to question the orthodoxy of the day or the cut of the emperor's wardrobe.

Imagine Watergate 2005, with Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly preaching their sermons on the patriotism of a 29-year-old reporter who was close to being fired for forgetting where he abandoned rental cars (private property) and whose parents were both communists -- that would be Carl Bernstein. Disney and Viacom and Fox have their virtues, I'm sure, but they are no Graham and Bradlee. Graham bet the company on journalism. I think she would be laughed off the business pages today -- and, in fact, over a lifetime she did decide to (or have to) plead for Wall Street's forgiveness for her own brave brand of Americanism.

more.....................a MUST READ

[tom_paine]

1. Watergate 2005 wouldn't even be blinked at in Imperial Amerika

Let alone investigated.

We are, without a doubt, the most disgraceful generation of Americans ever to inhabit the land that America used to be on.

We are Amerikans and deserve the 'k' in our name like no other Americans ever had.

[Adams Wulff]

2. I think that is the point.

Republicans have never forgiven the 4th estate for the trashing of Nixon and their party. The Clinton scandals were payback for Watergate, and now, the RNC, Karl Rove, and this administration are going to see to it that the Republicans can rule as they see fit. Without all of the pesky questions and investigations into the tactics they use.

Oh, and by the way, it's working perfectly.

[EC]

3. No, kidding....

No Balls, No Glory............

[lala_rawraw]

4. You should see the C-Span

Discussion on this right now, where all the notables and one monkey are present.

[Demeter]

5. Such Stuff Comes Up Twice a Week

and sinks without a trace. There is no 4th Estate. The independent press is whatever GWBushCo says it is. This goes along with the wholy captive Legislatures and Courts, a matched set.

But then Social Security, the third rail of American politics, starts to sort things out. It's called over-reaching. All megalomaniacs do it.