Ben Bradlee--The Poster Child of Media Bias--On CSPAN Yesterday

CSPAN | November 26,2005 | self

[cgbg]

Last night CSPAN broadcast one of those panels on the public perception of the media. One of the featured guests was the aging (born 1921) Ben Bradlee from the Washington Post. He has just about lost it, but from the mouths of babes and the elderly the truth emerges.

[cgbg]

"We are not biased" Ben kept saying. Then he would say things like "The purpose of journalism is to bring comfort to the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." I guess they teach that at journalism school, eh? Presumably the "journalists" decide who is comfortable and who is afflicted and take sides. Presumably the "journalists" are always one of the afflicted. :-)

One panelist from the Wall Street Journal brought up the example of environmental coverage. "We always want government action to protect the environment" Bradley opined. Isn't that bias? "No, that is just journalism" he explained. The other panel members were stunned by his direct answers.

If you see reruns of this meeting at Oswego, New York with Ken Auletta (sp?) as the moderator check it out.

This is what we are dealing with--a "journalism" that has internalized its bias. This is a "journalism" beyond hope, beyond redemption.

That is why we are here, folks. There is no substitute for victory.

[kb2614]

This is a "journalism" beyond hope, beyond redemption

It is also "journalism" that is fading away. Let ole Bradlee prattle on, no one is listening.