Government and media

DOMINATION -- We often hear the claim that the so-called "liberal" media are dominated by the government, and "only lets the public know what government wants the public to know." If so, how is it that there is so much negative, embarrassing information published about government? The complaint is usually registered by Republican conservatives, when Democrats are in power. But newspapers also publish plenty of information about Republican activities. So, if the "liberal" media are so biased in favor of Democrats, how is it we know so much about Sarah Palin? How to explain GOP success? How is it that Richard Nixon was re-elected with 61 percent of the vote, carrying 49 states? Remember also Abu Graib, Guantanamo, My Lai, Watergate, and the failure of pre-9/11 intelligence, not to mention the current spate of information outed by Wikileaks. With all the information critical of both sides available, the claim of "liberal domination" and influence on the electorate falls.
   There are many things that can be said about the news media in America, but lack of independence is not one of them. Incompetence, sometimes, yes. But the same can be said about politicians. Not all politicians are independent and/or competent.
   Edwin Newman once said that the Constitution guarantees a free press; it does not guarantee a fair press. Nor, I would add, does it guarantee a competent press. For many years, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, newspapers were often rabidly, even proudly,  partisan in their coverage. One way to ensure competence in any profession would be through licensing, as is done with plumbers, electricians, and medical professionals. However, if government can issue a license, it can also take away a license. In journalism, that's too high a risk to take.

FIVE C's OF GOOD WRITING -- Clear, Concise, Consistent, Complete, and Correct.

DUMBEST INTRO AWARD -- In a report on the weather and declining temperatures, the NBC presenter in Philadelphia said, "It feels like the end of November out there!" The date was Nov. 27. Duh!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -- There's a thin line between news and gossip. As David Brinkley defined it, "News is something worth knowing." Even so, defining what is worth knowing is subjective. To some folks, knowing what Snooki and the Kardashians are up to is more important than foreign policy, the stock market, pollution or the latest Middle East crisis.