David Sirota: After Moyers Iraq Documentary, D.C. Reporters In Damage-Control Mode

[Hissyspit]

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/51110

After Moyers Iraq Documentary, DC Reporters in Damage-Control Mode

By David Sirota, WorkingForChange.com. Posted April 27, 2007.

In the lead up to and wake of Bill Moyers' much-anticipated mega-dunk on the Washington press corps this week, we are seeing the ugliest side of Beltway culture -- sophistry and damage control.

In the lead up to and wake of Bill Moyers' much-anticipated mega-dunk on the Washington press corps this week, we are seeing the ugliest side of Beltway culture -- the meltdown, damage-control freak out. Only what's new is that instead of politicians melting down, it's reporters themselves. And never underestimate the desperation that comes when Establishment Washington unifies to try to defend itself.

Over here we have professional power-worshiper Chris "It Doesn't Matter Where Political Money Comes From" Cillizza attempting to defend Tim Russert, and in the process insulting the recently deceased journalistic hero David Halberstam.

Yes, Cillizza -- clearly begging for an invite on a Meet the Press panel -- is out there saying that "modern journalists are doing their very best to emulate that sort of reporting" that came from Halberstam, and that "Tim Russert is one of the best examples of that kind of accountability journalism." I guess turning over NBC's airwaves to a Vice President spewing lies, ignoring the solid reporting of Knight Ridder that debunked those lies, and having panel discussions laughing hysterically with fellow pundit friends over predictions for when the war would start is, under Cillizza's warped Beltway definition, "accountability journalism" from Russert (who, I'm sure, Cillizza would also have us believe is just a "blue collar guy from Buffalo," despite Russert's multi-million-dollar salary and quaint Nantucket summers).

- snip -

Moyers piece is important not just because it has exposed the entire sham that was pre-war Beltway journalism, but also because he has finally exacted a price -- in this case, humiliation -- from the reporters whose power-worshiping, must-stay-on-the-cocktail-party-circuit tendencies led them to aggressively push this country into war. And we can hope that fear of future humiliation will help prevent another gross abdication of responsibility next time around.

MORE

[annabanana]

1. They're squirming and scuttling like

centipedes on a hot plate...

It's not pretty.

[Kolesar]

2. Am I paranoid thinking Knight Ridder was broken up by Wall Street as retaliation?

K-R's flagship newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal, is now owned by a chain of advertising circulars on Canada's west coast (the other Black family).

[annabanana]

3. Don't know. (I admit, it was MY thought at the time). . . n/t

[Morgana LaFey]

20. I'm not sure it was retaliation as much as censorship -- the silencing

of the best (only, actually) journalism that was happening at the time. Retaliation is just a slap in the face; silencing is forever.

[irish.lambchop]

4. No integrity, no pride

Instead they circle the wagons, stenographer pads in hand. Knight Ridder rocks - big time!

[EST]

5. I must say I'm surprised.

I fully expected the beltway shills to brush him away like a fly or just ignore it all.

It is so delightful to watch the "Old man" of the "see" come along and show them how it's done. Although it covers little new ground, this classy contribution from Moyers and his re-installation as conscience of PBS seem to promise, again happily surprising, a new anchor for the reporter/stenographer crew covering public management.

People, even so-called "reporters," do not take kindly to having their asshole acts pointed out. Some, perhaps, will grasp the idea and take a higher road but most will join excuse-a-thon and gang up on Moyers.
I wish I could enjoy a fight.

[Hissyspit]

9. Greg Palast's LATimes piece from today addresses some of the issues

of what has happened to real reporting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x768272

[maine_raptor]

6. Side Question:

Will (is) Moyers documentary available on DVD?

[Hissyspit]

7. Yes. $29.95

The number I wrote down for ordering was 1 [phone], but I may have gotten the last part wrong. The announcer was talking fast. If it doesn't work, try the PBS website.

[maine_raptor]

8. Thanks, heading over there. n/t

[RebelOne]

10. You can watch it online or buy it.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/btw/watch.html

Click on Shop PBS to buy the DVD.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

13. Wednesday night Moyers was on PBS absolutely destroying the MSM

on their lack of any journalistic integrity leading up to the war. It was especially hard on William Kristol. Anybody think it was just serendipitous that first thing Thursday morning Washington Journal has Bill Kristol on for 45 minutes? Kristol was condescending, smirking, and still pushing the war. He wasn't wrong, period.

Kristol first said he didn't remember being called for an interview by Moyers for the PBS program and then turned around and said it was wrong and would debate Moyers about the issues.

Kristol was doing damage control yesterday morning because he was completely eviscerated by Moyers the night before.

[Triana]

11. GOOD. It's about time the sh*t they've been flinging in our eyes as news...

...got flung RIGHT BACK at them as the TRUTH about how it IS NOT news but rather propaganda meant to keep them on the party circuit, and their boss's bottom lines fed and fat. In other words the bu$hit got sent back from whence it came. I'm sure it smells bad. It IS bad. And when something stinks that bad, you CHANGE it.

We'll see if they want to DO something about the stench - besides COVER IT UP with lies.

[Jacobin]

12. The talking heads should all be chained to a chair

and required to watch this video 20 times in a row. And then forbidden to try to spin their complicity in this blood bath on pain of a Gitmo vacation.

[malaise]

14. Tom Shales: A Media Role in Selling the War? No Question.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402444.html

[OHdem10]

15. Nothing has changed--Listen to the Media tell

how terrible things are going to be in Iraq if we
leave. They only know how to be stenographers.
The Hosts of Shows come out of their seat to parrot
the WH Line.

The Moyer's Report was excellent, and illustrated
the problems. This AM as i watched. They are
all singing from the Bush Hymnal.

[Beausoleil]

16. Sirota's piece from the day before was also excellent

When Journalism Became Transcription and Reporting Disappeared
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/26/786/


"This is what journalism has become today - and the worst part of it is that people who follow this Russert-Beinart method of sitting in comfortable Washington offices not picking up the phone or doing primary research is actually being rewarded as we speak. Moyers, channeling a fantastic piece by Jebediah Reed in Radar Magazine, notes that most of the people who regurgitated the Washington Establishment’s debunked case for war have actually been rewarded with even more prominent positions in the media. And while these desperate-for-attention media icons like Bill Kristol and Tom Friedman are happy to throw themselves in front of cameras for almost any opportunity to promote themselves, they categorically refused to talk to Moyers for his PBS special."



Check out the Comments section below the article. Some very insightful.

[Lugnut]

17. If the shoe fits.....

Since there's so much squealing coming from the press corpse it must fit perfectly.

[Hissyspit]

18. .

[illinoisprogressive]

19. I don't trust Sirota. he thinks he is better and more right than anyone else.

[Octafish]

21. The Press Corpse hope no one pays attention to Moyers.

Too bad for the White House and their enablers in Corporate McPravda the American people aren't as dumb as they believe.

LOTS of people talked about it in my office yesterday and today, including the bosses.

Perhaps the trials will come sooner than we all think.

[Ilsa]

22. Regarding Sirota's last line -- I wouldn't count on it.

The media whores are more interested in the money for the companies. They will sell out their integrity. No sweat after doing it the first time, right?

[hellbound-liberal]

23. According to one of the posters on Alternet, it will be rebroadcast Saturday

afternoon at 1:30 pm. It's not on in Richmond but it might be one where you live.

[Joe Fields]

24. Moyers story will be just a bump in the road.

I'm sure it will be business as usual for the media whores.