www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16193.html
highlighting some of the unusually bad coverage of the presidential campaign from the Associated Press. It's been striking, in part because it's unexpected -- the AP has not exactly earned a reputation of being the Fox News of wire services. For the AP to do so many poor reports in such a short time made it seem as if the outlet had undergone some kind of deliberate shift.
Ron Fournier says he regards Sandy Johnson, his predecessor as head of The Associated Press's Washington bureau, as "a mentor." Johnson, though, regards Fournier, who replaced her in a hard-feelings shake-up in May, as a threat to one of the most influential institutions in American journalism. "I loved the Washington bureau," said Johnson, who left the AP after losing the prestigious position. There's more to her vinegary remark than just the aftertaste of a sour parting. Fournier is a main engine in a high-stakes experiment at the 162-year old wire to move from its signature neutral and detached tone to an aggressive, plain-spoken style of writing that Fournier often describes as "cutting through the clutter." At first blush, this sounds like an exciting and encouraging development. According to Fournier's new approach, it includes more first-person writing, emotive language, and abandoning the forced, false neutrality (he said, she said) that has dominated AP reporting for years. As Michael Calderone explained, AP reporters are now "encouraged to throw away the weasel words and call it like they see it when they think public officials have revealed themselves as phonies or flip-floppers." I've long believed one of the reasons more news consumers turn to blogs is that traditional news outlets refuse to "cut through the clutter." But I've seen the results of Fournier's work lately, and while the idea may have merit, there's a problem in the execution.
wrote an item -- whether it was a news article or an opinion piece was unclear -- that said Barack Obama is "bordering on arrogance," "a bit too cocky," and that the senator and his wife "ooze a sense of entitlement."
It was basically the Republicans' "uppity" talking point in the form of an AP article. But the AP's coverage has deteriorated since -- and it goes beyond just the AP giving John McCain donuts and McCain giving the AP barbecue.
Batocchio said: Fournier's written some pretty weak pieces in the past, too. I remember one last year where he attacked Hillary Clinton of a flip-flop which wasn't. I'm not familiar with all of Fournier's work, but what I've read to date has often been headline-grubbing without much substance or sense behind it.
Haik Bedrosian said: In principle, I couldn't be more pleased. In principle and in reality- this very destructive to what little semblance of an informed public we have left in this country. If it isn't, then it's biased, untrustworthy propaganda, If it isn't neutral and detached, it isn't journalism. It is not "neutral and detached" to give a factually false argument equal and context free weight with a factually true argument. That is what a lot of political journalism has been doing for far too long.
Memekiller said: This is the problem with claiming the things the Press do are related to something other than partisan Republican Partisanship. You gripe about the "scandal mongering" under Clinton, they give Bush a pass. You bitch about the SBV, they protect McCain from any attempts to campaign (no whines when the Swiftboating was done by Rove in 2000). Then they make a point of Hillary calling to release her records quicker than required to under Bush's new executive order. Then there's great controversy regarding global warming. The Press will operate according to any journalistic guidelines you place on their profession, and worth within those confines to benefit the Republican Party. So what happens if we insist on ending the double-standard, and allowing liberal columnists on roundtables, unapologetic critics of the GOP in our newspapers, stories that call BS on Republican lies? As it is now, the Republicans abuse the system, the Dems cry foul until they give up and join the game, then get punished for Republican crimes as they change the rules to make sure the GOP can benefit from them. And freeing them from the confines of objectivity only allows them to stop pretending they are not biased and wear their McCain love on their sleeve. Which is an improvement, in that we can now see what their biases are.
SF said: At #2, from Spero: Steve, once again you're too kind. Also: dishonest, cheesy, manipulative, disingenuous, condescending, arrogant, slanted, false, bought and sold, and very, very dangerous -- an ethical crime and a public misdemeanor -- to the health of a democratic republic where citizens require accurate info. And too kind, also, not to list the full roster of the shameful "journalists" who have bylined these pieces of reportorial crap for their corporate masters.
On July 14th, 2008 at 2:18 pm, Jesse said: As long as the stories were fact-based, why not? If you enjoy reading Carpetbagger, then you'd probably enjoy seeing articles coming from an objective, prestigious news organization that don't strain to edit out any shred of personal opinion. The problem is that there's a difference between opinionated and biased, and the AP has clearly crossed that line and chosen to take an active role in the debate rather than just reporting on it.
On July 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm, Molly Weasley said: Even more disturbing is the fact that Fournier was e-mail buddies with Karl Rove and told him to "keep up the fight." This is from a Raw Story report today: In its investigation of the misleading accounts that initially surrounded Pat Tillman's death and Jessica Lynch's rescue, the House Oversight Committee on Monday shed some light on the White House's press-management apparatus and the chummy relationship between Karl Rove and AP scribe Ron Fournier. The report details the Bush administration's exploitation of Tillman's death and suppression of evidence that the former football pro who joined the Army Rangers after 9/11 was killed by friendly fire. In the day's after Tillman's death, on April 22, 2004, the committee examined e-mails from the White House's communications team, including some exchanges with reporters. Commentators and reporters contacted the White House to offer advice. For example, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan e-mailed the White House's Director of Strategic Initiatives, Peter Wehner, recommending that he "find out what faith Tillman practiced and have the president go by that church and light a candle or say a prayer." Karl Rove exchanged e-mails about Pat Tillman with Associated Press reporter Ron Fournier, under the subject line "H-E-R-O." In response to Mr Fournier's e-mail, Mr Rove asked, "How does our country continue to produce men and women like this," to which Mr Fournier replied, "The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish.
On July 14th, 2008 at 2:31 pm, cred said: Journalism is supposed to be "neutral and detached." If it isn't, then it's biased, untrustworthy propaganda, If it isn't neutral and detached, it isn't journalism. I don't mind journalists having opinions as long as they aren't passed off as "news." The problem with anything else is, as with this case, what if the other person has a different opinion or agenda? This instance is so bad because AP has such a reputation for factuality (if that is a word) and neutrality.
On July 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pm, tomj said: Hmm, accountability journalism would start by recognizing that each party has a vested self-interest in what they say to reporters. In addition, many of those giving quotes are professionals. What the AP is described as doing is to replace the talking heads with the journalist's world view, stated as fact, minus the attribution to a particular partisan, and minus the balance'. For more accountability, a journalist would have to learn about the issues, including past history. If they had trouble understanding something, they might seek out experts from all sides, ask them for help, and ser...
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