Welcome to Journalism 101. Please try to be on time, Mr. Novak

[Lobster Martini]

It’s Monday morning, time for Journalism 101. Mr. Novak, thanks for joining us. Please try to be on time in the future.

Let’s talk about quotations. We like direct quotations. Tell me, why is this an example of lousy writing? Incidentally, Mr. Novak, this is from your Op-Ed piece in today’s Washington Post. Let’s examine it closely.

“Republican leaders in Congress, who asked not to be quoted by name”

“A House Republican leader told me”

“Several of them I talked to”

“One House leader told me”

“A few Republicans”

“Many more say”

“Even when not speaking for quotation”

“One credible source”

“Another equally good source”

What’s the problem? Not one single direct quotation and no indication of why a source should be considered credible.

We get the point. You’re an insider. You relax in a cigar lounge drinking brandy and chatting with powerful people. Use direct quotes next time. Direct quotes are good. Protecting cozy relationships is not.

That’s the end of class for today.

(Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/25/AR2007032500912.html)

[Buzz Clik]

1. Novak is a GOP mouthpiece.

When the Republican leadership wants some free PR, they go to Novak, or Limbaugh, or Fox.

A game I used to play was try to find the segments of Limbaugh's show that would later show up as part of a floor speech in Congress. It happened all the time. Either Limbaugh was being given material to read on his show (which makes him a whore) or those members of Congress were getting their material from Limbaugh's programs (which makes them idiots).

[Lobster Martini]

2. Generally true

Generally true, but this piece is uncomplimentary. What's remarkable is that Republicans call the Attorney General and the Bush Administration incompetent only when they can do it anonymously. What a bunch of cowards.

[The Wizard]

3. Novak and journalism are antonyms

Novak and treason are synonyms. The same people who listen to Novak are the same ones who listen to Bush/Cheney. Anyone who went to college and takes neofascist reactionaries seriously deserves a tuition refund.