Posts Tagged ‘Bob Woodward’

Michael Walsh

Sweetheart, Get Me Frank Ross: Crouching ACORNS, Hidden Cameras

by Michael Walsh

On Monday, I discussed some of the background in the ongoing journalistic argument about the tactics used by James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles in their ACORN takedowns, first released here at Big Government.  This is part two of that discussion.

Since the freewheeling days of the 1920s celebrated in The Front Page, there has been a profound shift in the way journalists view themselves and their societal role.  We might locate its origins in the 1947 report by the Commission on the Freedom of the Press, known today as Hutchins Commission after its chairman, Robert M. Hutchins, of the University of Chicago, and funded by Henry Luce of Time Inc.   In answer to the question, “is the freedom of the press in danger,” the commission answered yes, and issued “five ideal demands”:

Lippmann - Time 1937

1) A truthful, comprehensive, and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning.

2) A forum for the exchange of comment and criticism.

3) The projection of a representative picture of the constituent groups in the society.  (“The Commission holds to the faith that if people are exposed to the inner truth of the life of a particular group, they will gradually build up respect for an understanding of it.”)

4) The presentation and clarification of the goals and values of the society.

5) Full access to the day’s intelligence. (more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | | Bookmark and Share

Tags: , , , ,
Posted Dec 2nd 2009 at 8:11 am in ACORN, Culture, History, Media Criticism, Obama, Politics | 16 Comments

Maura Flynn

ACORN Scandal in The Washington Post: Ready…Aim…Scrub!

by Maura Flynn
Yesterday I picked up The Washington Post from my doorstep and scanned the front page for coverage of the latest ACORN scandal. Call me naive if you want to, but The Post is my hometown paper and I maintain high expectations. Yes, even from well-educated liberals in the elite media.
 
This turns out to be ”my bad,” as the kids say. Apparently I had failed to take into account what a huge news day it was. The Washington Post couldn’t possibly make room on page one for a story about a taxpayer-funded organization conspiring with a “pimp” and “prostitute” to create brothels for underage sex slaves from El Salvador. If they had done so they would not have had the space to publish a 5 by 7 inch photograph of “Principal Judy K.” squirting hand sanitizer on six-year-olds at Matsunaga Elementary School. The photograph is accompanied by an article titled, “Ready…Aim…Scrub!” Kids have germs? STOP THE PRESSES! Bob Woodward is doubtlessly kicking himself for missing that one. (Sorry Bob, you snooze, you lose).
 
bubbles
Another front page stunner (column one, nine inches), informs the reader that grocery stores are slashing prices. It’s not an irrelevant story — something one might expect to find on page three perhaps…
 
But no, there on page three is a story about ACORN: “ACORN to Review Incidents.” It’s tempting to dwell on that gripping and informative headline, but let’s dive on into the content.

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | | Bookmark and Share

Tags: , , , ,
Posted Sep 18th 2009 at 12:40 pm in ACORN, Media Criticism | 121 Comments