Comments on: Woody Allen Revisited at the Columbia Journalism Review

By: jukeboxgrad

jukeboxgrad — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 17:08:05 +0000

It's pretty ironic that ambisinistral made a comment above about "somebody daring to fact check and question them" since as far as I can tell, he made up a phony newspaper headline. Speaking of irony and fact-checking, and since Powerline has been mentioned, there's an often-overlooked example of Powerline having their own issues with fact-checking. The irony is that while pointing fingers at CBS for ostensibly not being careful with the truth, Powerline is quite willing to trample on it themselves. Further detail in a comment I posted here.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 13:32:56 +0000

Apparently Corey Pein contacted the Powerline guys to let them know about his piece. They have responded:

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/009118.php

By: jukeboxgrad

jukeboxgrad — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 23:33:16 +0000

Yesterday ambisinistral said: “I was walking down the street the other day, looked over at a newspaper box and saw the following blaring headline, ‘Bush admits Iraqi policy a complete failure.’”

That sort of caught my attention. I’ve looked around in the usual way, and can’t find that headline, or anything even close. Anyone (including and especially ambisinistral) have any clue where I can find it?

My sincere apologies to all for being somewhat off-topic.

By: Mark Poling

Mark Poling — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:22:13 +0000

The problem for Old Media is disintermediation. It’s the same problem faced by the music “industry” really. The producers of the product can now directly reach consumers of the product. Sure, CBS got burned, and Pein has managed to cover himself and CJR in the ashes, but the story isn’t fact-checking and arrogance; it’s more about how Old Media Culture is mimicing the decline of urban centers after the development of the modern highway system. Unless the institutions being bypassed can adapt, expect the Old Media Blight to worsen.

Damn, I love stretching an analogy.

By: Ariana

Ariana — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 20:04:33 +0000

Pein produced junk journalism; but combine his Goebbels-like strategy to sell the great lie, in combination with continual, underhanded attempts to discredit Blogging which grow nastier each week. It appears several Media Lords regard this challenge to their monopoly as a fight to the death.

For instance, I noted the NYT attempted to equate the quality of Blogging with the insane tsunami speculations posted at Democratic Underground forum. Apparently, media barons hope to discredit, drown-out and destroy Blogging through the drip drip drip sounds of little droplets of media poison.

By: chuck

chuck — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 17:24:49 +0000

… and I was stressed out by the idea that I might screw something up.

That’s your problem right there. You have the wrong temperament and values for a career as a pundit.

I stopped because it was bloody hard work for next to no pay…

But with the right temperament, being a pundit would be far less work than being a reporter. It is easy to see why so many journalists make the switch.

By: Mark Poling

Mark Poling — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 17:10:27 +0000

ambisinistral:

However, it is vastly entertaining watching them engage in such a magnificent flapdoodle over somebody daring to fact check and question them. I expect much more foolishness out of them as they adjust to the new reality. Eh, what can I say... I'm easily entertained. [emphasis added]

This is the part I absolutely do not get. Back in the early 90's I wrote a dozen freelance articles for the Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle, covering technology and business. I did it as a hobby, and I stopped because it was bloody hard work for next to no pay, and I was stressed out by the idea that I might screw something up. How the hell do these "journalists" face the mirror each morning?

By: Mark Poling

Mark Poling — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 16:58:37 +0000

Maybe a bit off-topic (and maybe not) I wonder if any of the loyal opposition will make fun of Dan Rather wearing a flight suit, or if flight suits are only ridiculous on Republican Presidents.

By: Pat Curley

Pat Curley — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:45:33 +0000

What I found amusing was the defense of Bill Burkett’s internet writings as no loonier than your average Democratic party gathering. Talk about damning somebody with faint praise!

By: Dave in L.A.

Dave in L.A. — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 04:55:58 +0000

Roger,

You’ll be amused to know that the first two Google ads on your right sidebar as I’m reading this are for the CJR.

As to Pein’s piece, it’s the witless labor of someone who’s in love with his own writing. It’s an interesting window, though, into what journalism students think about their craft. It appears that length, emotion and a condescending tone are considered acceptable substitutes for an understanding of the subject at hand. Unfortunately, this will probably impress someone enough to hire him.