Where have all the journalists gone??

[ncteechur]

There was a time when journalists were a powerful force in the US, not because they worked for a multibillion dollar media corporation, but because they dug for the truth and the truth carried with it power. Now we don't have that. There are still some actual journalists around that do in fact dig for the truth, but they are a rare breed. Folks that simply look good on TV and appear on network news programs are not journalists. They don't know how to track down stories. Folks that operate website "news" channels that will post anything someone else tells them without actually checking it out are not journalists.

The true journalists ask the questions we all want to know. They don't ask softball questions because they are afraid of being blackballed. Real journalists would ask the questions and then if they are blackballed, report that, too.

In this country, we have had a long history of honorable journalists such as Morel Saffer, Edward R Murrow, Bob Sheafer, Ernie Pyle, Eric Severeid, Walter Cronkite, Helen Thomas, and scores of others. The new breed of faux journalist that reports soundbytes and simply tries to out sensationalize the competition does the tradition of hardwork, integrity, and honorable service of these great journalists and reporters a great disservice.

[Dem Agog]

1. Speaking for myself...

(I have a Journalism degree...)

I realized I could never have the freedom to write what I wanted, and I now make more money in the IT field, not writing at all...

[Nordic]

2. they've been shipped to a camp along with the old, real republicans

that we remember, most of whom don't seem to be around any more either.

We've become the new conservatives: we miss the old days.

[GOPisEvil]

3. A lot of them are lazy.

That's why when someone hands them a story, complete with multiple attributions, they just run with it.

[AverageJoe]

4. Ever see "Broadcast News"?

That movie was absolutely right on in its warning that pretty faces and empty heads would take over the TV news. Unfortunately, the film failed to examine the horrific consequences of the takeover, but it was prescient nonetheless.

[AspenRose]

5. Randi Rhodes thinks "Network" is required watching.

True journalists went the way of the Fairness Doctrine.

I hope Kerry brings the Fairness Doctrine back.

[skygazer]

6. Worshipping at the altar of the almighty dollar

Like everyone else in this crazy country. Ethics and morals be damned - it's all about how much money you make. Just look at the television set - people are conducting their love life on television for a chance at a million bucks. I've had people say to me in pure seriousness (is that a word?) "hell, I'd marry a stranger for a million bucks!"

People eat bugs and even grosser stuff, humiliate themselves in front of a nationwide audience, for filthy lucre. CEO's rip off their companies and get away scot free, our vice president profits from the war industry, the Bushes live in the Saudi's pockets, all for the love of money.

[liberal N proud]

7. Anyone who has asked the tough questions has been ostersized

Helen Thomas was removed from the White House Press corps
Others also have been given different assignments.
I am not sure about Camble Brown on NBC Weekend, she was in the WH press corps and is now doing fluff on Saturday morning. Put two and 2 together...

[RichardRay]

8. Anybody else here remember I.F. Stone?

He got blacklisted from the briefing rooms and press conferences all over Washington. He published his 'Biweekly' for years based on what he could read in publically available sources, putting reports together. checking sources, doing huge amounts of research, getting the stories.

There was a god damned journalist!

Richard Ray - Jackson Hole, WY

[Protagoras]

9. Are they even teaching "journalist" anymore?

For many of us, the lessons we learned in college (even if not profitable) stayed with us, forming our expectations, and calling us to act in some ways rather than others. I never knew any journalism students so I haven't a clue what they were taught 20 years ago (less so even today)...

But I always assumed there was some process by which their professors tried to instil a sense of objectivity and fairness...where they were taught to investigate and verify rather than simply spread vacuous rumors...

But turning on TV I'm quite certain that no one who went through a process like that is ending up on Cable News...it's more like watching a lot of refugees from a modelling agency compete in a grade school reading competition.

I am not shocked that TV news has been corrupted to it's core...I am shocked that we've apparently had generations of journalism theory and ethics simply drop down a rabbit hole without a wimper or a word.