On journalism

[airiefairie]

From a 2003 Eric Alterman article:

The current historical moment in journalism is hardly a happy one. Journalists trying to do honest work find themselves under siege from several sides simultaneously. Corporate conglomerates increasingly view journalism as "software," valuable only insofar as it contributes to the bottom line. In the mad pursuit for audience and advertisers, the quality of the news itself becomes degraded, leading journalists to alternating fits of self-loathing and self-pity. Meanwhile, they face an Administration with a commitment to secrecy unmatched in modern US history. And to top it all off, conservative organizations and media outlets lie in wait, eager to pounce on any journalist who tries to give voice to almost any uncomfortable truth about influential American institutions--in other words, to behave as an honest reporter--throwing up the discredited but nevertheless effective accusation of "liberal bias" in order to protect the powerful from scrutiny.

Courtesy: peristaltor.

Comments

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

And for a moment I thought he was talking of all journalism.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Follow the money. Always follow the money. This extends to journalism particularly much.

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

I recommend reading the whole darned thing (http://www.thenation.com/article/what-liberal-media#). It's worth a scan.