In this edition: NYT embarrassing itself again; A real straight talkin’ Senator; A lot of people owe Nancy Pelosi an apology; We need an inquiry into pre-Iraq war reporting; Edwards campaign blogger controversy part of overall MSM v. internet media battle?; Tom Toles interview; Helen Thomas honored; a sensitive Jonah Goldberg; ratings; and so much more...
Thoughts, and Then, the News
What are the odds that the dirty dealings of Dick Cheney’s son-in-law, Philip Perry, will be reported by the MSM? 100 to 1? I mean the Washington Monthly has done all the work for the MSM... Seriously, I think this is more worthy of the media’s time than say half the crap that they put on the air (or in print) anyway. Meanwhile, Anna Nicole Smith’s death manages to get all of the media’s attention.
Now for the news:
One journalist says Webb is a media darling
Why? Many reasons, but somewhere on the list, may be that he looks like he could beat up the Washington Press Corps with his bare hands. And memo to the media: Webb is a real straight talker. McCain? Not so much.
All in favor, say aye
Veteran editor wants serious probe of why press failed in its pre-war reporting
AP lookin’ at the numbers
AP again raises questions about military account of deaths in Iraq
Talk Show Index from Pew: 1/28-2/2/07
Breakdown of what was in the news...
RWCM Watch
- NYT’s Michael Gordon who got Iraqi WMDs wrong now highlights Iran claims. The man probably should have been fired.
- Bill Frist blogs for Fox News.
- I can’t wait for more hit pieces on Barack Obama from Mike Allen’s pen! (That was snark, obviously.)
- I think the controversy of the DoJ firing competent US attorneys and the Iraq contractor fraud has gotten less coverage and certainly less obsessive coverage than the death of Anna Nicole Smith... or maybe it just feels that way... To his credit, Lou Dobbs avoided covering her death on the day the news broke, but then, he had to ruin his chance at a spot under the "Credit Where Its Due" header by ignorantly covering the faux controversy over a plane for Pelosi.
- Murdoch sees fall launch of Fox Business Channel. Neil Cavuto will be a big part of the launch of that channel, and he’s talking to Jon Friedman about the upcoming launch. Murdoch says that CNBC is too negative and that Fox Biz will be more ‘business friendly’. I’ve watched CNBC, and I’m not sure CNBC could possibly be more business friendly. More here.
- Fact-free Tucker Carlson on that non-controversy in Oregon
- Jonah Goldberg doesn’t take too kindly to those who bring up his "Iraq won’t end in a civil war" bet.
- So when does Lou Dobbs apologize to Nancy Pelosi? And ABCNews? And Wolf Blitzer? Everyone who parroted the right-wing lies owe Speaker Pelosi an apology and in the name of ‘balance,’ report on a real scandal: Hastert’s usage of transportation. I mean this faux controversy and media coverage of this has gotten so ridiculous that even some House Republicans are mocking it.
- DKos frontpagers, Media Matters, Digby and others covered the presidential candidate blogging controversy and the ensuing media BS fully, so I won’t here. It’s safe to say that the media should take a closer look at right-wingers and what they say, since they’re so interested in Democratic staffers. "Liberal media". I think part of what fuels the media in these cases is this desire to pump up the MSM because they’re afraid of losing viewers & readers to those ‘squabbling hens’ on the internet. Oh, and where’s the MSM fit over an unindicted co-conspirator of Tom DeLay who happens to be Terry Nelson of the McCain campaign?
- Just saying. 24 creator Joel Surnow is a right-wing nutjob.
Credit Where It’s Due
Media People & In the Field
News & Notes on Media orgs, Programming, Specials, etc.
State of the Media, Trends, Research Reports, Innovations
The Audience: Ratings, Circulation, & Ad Rates, etc.
Newsie’s Media News Report is a compilation of recent media news; it was formerly known as Media News Monday. If you have any media news to add, please do so. I don’t often post Media Matters stuff, because almost everyone already either links to or visits that site. Same with Greg Sargent’s The Horse’s Mouth at Talking Points Memo. For more RWCM watch & Media News: Penndit's News, Media News, and RWCM Watch Links. I get the advertising, public relations, targeting voters information, and media research from a variety of sources. Cross-posted at Penndit. For previous editions, search my diaries or Penndit.
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