Media Pundit

Part of mainstream journalism's problem today is that it tries to have it both ways. On the one hand, there is an almost reflexive desire to hide behind the mantle of the objective, just-the-facts, observer of life's rich pageant. On the other, we tend to bristle when it is suggested that we are not doing enough to set the agenda -- or lead the debate. When the New York Times chooses to front a story about potentially illegal eavesdropping by our government -- after choosing to hold it for a year -- it is leading a national debate. The Miami Herald and the St. Petersburg Times chose not to go with a story on congressman Mark Foley's inappropriate behavior toward underage pages. ABC News chose differently. We now have a national debate about the actions (and inaction) of Foley and his GOP superiors in Congress.

Posted by JN on 10.10.2006 at 4:56 AM | Permalink