Why Read The New York Times?

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7118

Why Read The New York Times?
by Barry Yourgrau | Apr 28 2007


Just to add a quick note in fairness about state of The New York Times.

Someone (?) described the Wall St Journal as the newspaper whose editorial page doesn't read its own reporting. Meaning the news reporting is sharp and legit, whereas the editorials read like outtakes from Dr. Strangelove: too over the top to make the final cut.

Over the last couple of years the NY Times editorial page has been, in fact, increasingly terrific, first under Gail Collins and now Andrew Rosenthal. They have been calling out Bush and company in hearteningly blistering terms. Adam Cohen writes acutely and deeply on "quaint" legal issues.

I'll leave aside the obvious strengths and weaknesses of the Op-Ed page, just noting that Krugman was one of the earliest to twig that the emperor had no clothes and that his naked flesh stank. Bob Herbert has been great and tough too. Frank Rich keeps hauling the Wizard of Oz out from behind his flapping flags.

A further unsung virtue is the Times' Letters to the Editor, which I find myself reading every day; I urge you to too. They add fresh notes to a lot of what the editorials are saying.

But do the news guys over there read the editorials?

The Times news reporting and news commentary seems to exist in a strange quasi-land where no dots about how the administration operates are ever connected or considered cumulative. So you get reporting as if this was still just one more administration pursuing its agenda as administrations always will. Just the newest form of the old ways of politics.

Except it ain't. Really it ain't. This is a RADICAL administration. Very thoughtful people are using the F-word more and more. Or hinting at it. Whether or not the term exactly applies, the point is: Something pretty damn hairy is going on over here in liberty land. Are reporters--are their editors--up to the challenge of properly reporting it? Gee, lemme think that one over and get back to you....
_

[speedoo]

1. Remember Roy Appel?

He used to write wonderful "News Analysis" pieces that always connected the dots, which, as the linked comment correctly asserts, is no longer done in news the pages of the NYT.

Roy died not too long ago. I really miss him.

[Rageneau]

2. Yeah, the good old NY(w)T, who sold us both Iraq and Whitewater.

The Times reports news like I shoot pool. Mostly, I'm mediocre to lousy, but occasionally I do something right.

[Daveparts]

3. Grimm Fairy Tales

The other day as I headed into the local Kroger I was greeted by an elderly gentleman. He was obviously trying to augment his retirement income with a part time job as he asked, “Are you interested in a subscription to the Atlanta Urinal Conflagration newspaper? Today we are offering a chance for a $500.00 Kroger gift card just for registering.”

I explained that as promising as his offer sounded I had already received a better one, I had been offered a chance to split millions with the widow of the Nigerian foreign minister who had absconded with a fortune in gold that was locked away in American bank vaults. It was indeed providence alone that had supplied her with my Email address and references as to my good character.

The newspaper industry scrambles as readership declines and as luck would have it I have made a study of why readership is on the wane. I have discovered a very simple answer, they don’t tell the truth! If I want fantasy I’ll read Harry Potter. Sometimes they’ll tell a little truth or part of the truth and sometimes just a flat out lie to keep from telling any part of the truth. It has reached the point to where even sports scores are to be questioned.

Last year the Urinal Conflagration printed a front-page story about the new 200 bed homeless shelter, it was a wonder, marvelous, a model to the world, praise be and laurels to all responsible. Only neglecting to mention that it was replacing a 500-bed shelter that was being closed down or that it was located in an industrial area making it more difficult for the homeless to reach. It was for all intents and purposes a camp, out of sight out of mind and when it comes to the subject of politicians out of mind is the operative part of the sentence.

This week Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich brought forward his articles of impeachment against the Vice President. Dennis Kucinich is a rarity in Ohio politics these days because he’s not under any indictments or tainted by scandals of any kind. Kucinich has stood against the war on his principles from day one his arguments have not changed one iota unlike the President’s. He stood against the Patriot act and warned before it’s passage that such far-reaching powers would surely lead to abuses. He thinks America needs a single payer healthcare plan.

He made these same arguments when the President’s popularity was in the 80% range even if you disagree with his positions the rarity of a politician standing up on principle alone should earn him some respect.


Here’s what that liberal bastion the New York Times said, “Ohio Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich undoubtedly would like to be one of the front-runners in the 2008 Democratic presidential nominating campaign, but being a distinct longshot does give him the luxury of saying whatever is on his mind.” Did I sleep through the convention?

“Kucinich’s staff on Monday confirmed that the six-term congressman has scheduled a news conference at the Cannon House Office Building for noon Tuesday to introduce his impeachment proposal.


An item in a blog published by the Washington Post included a letter dated April 17 from Kucinich to his House colleagues stating he intended to level charges against Cheney. The announcement was postponed because of the April 16 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.


The brief “Dear Colleague” letter did not elaborate on the alleged high crimes and misdemeanors of which Kucinich plans to accuse Cheney.” I guess they have a right to their opinion but this wasn’t an opinion piece this was a news piece titled, Kucinich's Pending Call to Impeach Cheney Fits His Style. So the news was about Kucinich’s style not the articles of impeachment. I don’t know maybe it’s me what would you call the newsworthy item here?


“Kucinich undoubtedly would like to be one of the front-runners,” So this is all politically motivated they said so, undoubtedly! The state of Vermont has passed their own resolution calling for impeachment, are they running for President too?


“The move appears highly symbolic at this juncture, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and other Democratic leaders have said they have no interest in pursuing the impeachment of either Bush or Cheney.” Is Vermont so small they haven’t heard of it at the New York Times? Highly symbolic how? Kucinich and John Conyers have both talked impeachment for several years. Highly symbolic is Nancy Pelosi who stopped talking about impeachment the moment she was elected Speaker of the House.


So what does the rest of the liberal media say?

Ohio congressman files articles of impeachment against Cheney
Washington Examiner

Democratic Lawmaker Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Cheney
Voa News

Kucinich: Impeachment is the Right Response -
Yahoo Daily News

Rep. Dennis Kucinich plans to pursue impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney
Contra Costa Times


They left out the style part! They went on an on about his reasons for impeachment they ignored his blog and published the full text of his articles of impeachment. I wonder why The New York Times didn’t publish it, probably too busy looking for Vermont.


This was published as a news article in the news section of a newspaper yet after the word impeachment in the title there was no news in it. The story was about slamming Kuccinich, there were moments of truth spun into the fabric of opinion but the thrust of the article was to paint Kucinich as the longshot and an outsider. Portraying him as out of touch with his party’s leadership when it was the party leadership backing down not him.


A majority of Democrats and a climbing number of Republicans favor impeachment, and at this point it makes no difference what the style of the person might be. If Bozo the clown or Charlie Brown and Snoopy were to bring them it would still be long over due.


The newspapers buy television spots and offer give aways of food cards and vacation trips to sunny destinations but it is for naught. I thought about quoting Lincoln here about some of the people, aw bullshit. I think the street vernacular is far more appropriate, Tell the God damned truth and you’ll sell a lot more newspapers! You won’t make many politicians happy or your friends at the country club and maybe that’s just not your style.


Authors note, I make it a policy whenever I find myself in agreement with Ann Coulter to stop and do a through evaluation of my position. And I was in the process of doing that when it occurred to me; It takes a whore to know a whore so I abandoned it.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. GREAT POST!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Their horrific REPORTING and refusal to actually cover some of the news that ran counter to

Pres Shit-for-Brains' talking points is why I finally cancelled my subscription.
I just read the good parts online now.