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Howell Raines: Why Don't Honest Journalists Take on Roger Ailes and Fox News?
The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, March 14, 2010 | Howell Raines

Posted on 03/11/2010 5:34:32 PM PST by kristinn

One question has tugged at my professional conscience throughout the year-long congressional debate over health-care reform, and it has nothing to do with the public option, portability or medical malpractice. It is this: Why haven't America's old-school news organizations blown the whistle on Roger Ailes, chief of Fox News, for using the network to conduct a propaganda campaign against the Obama administration -- a campaign without precedent in our modern political history?

Through clever use of the Fox News Channel and its cadre of raucous commentators, Ailes has overturned standards of fairness and objectivity that have guided American print and broadcast journalists since World War II. Yet, many members of my profession seem to stand by in silence as Ailes tears up the rulebook that served this country well as we covered the major stories of the past three generations, from the civil rights revolution to Watergate to the Wall Street scandals. This is not a liberal-versus-conservative issue. It is a matter of Fox turning reality on its head with, among other tactics, its endless repetition of its uber-lie: "The American people do not want health-care reform."

SNIP

My great fear, however, is that some journalists of my generation who once prided themselves on blowing whistles and afflicting the comfortable have also been intimidated by Fox's financial power and expanding audience, as well as Ailes's proven willingness to dismantle the reputation of anyone who crosses him.

SNIP

As for Fox News, lots of people who know better are keeping quiet about what to call it. Its news operation can, in fact, be called many things, but reporters of my generation, with memories and keyboards, dare not call it journalism.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: beyondsatire; chutzpah; foxnews; howellraines
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To: kristinn; sauropod; Doctor Raoul; BufordP; trooprally; Exit148; Angelwood; ...

Oh, you just HAVE to target ‘ol Howell Raines at the next White House Correspondents Dinner FReep! ;-D


81 posted on 03/11/2010 11:39:41 PM PST by nutmeg (Rush Limbaugh & Sarah Palin agree: NO third parties! Take back the GOP)
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To: kristinn

Put down the pipe, Mr. Raines...

82 posted on 03/11/2010 11:42:51 PM PST by Cyropaedia ("Virtue cannot separate itself from reality without becoming a principal of evil...".)
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To: kristinn

kristinn...he’s just being himself...that’s all.

Does anyone take him seriously anymore? If so, I’ll stand next to them wearing a Tshirt that says, “I’m with stupid.”


83 posted on 03/11/2010 11:45:30 PM PST by dixiechick2000 (WE DAT!)
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To: kristinn

I guess Raines misses the irony of it.


84 posted on 03/12/2010 1:49:29 AM PST by jospehm20
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To: kristinn

“...Ailes has overturned standards of fairness and objectivity that have guided American print and broadcast journalists since World War II.”

Right. Remember the fairness and objectivity bursting from the likes of CBS, the NY Times and Washington Post, NBC/MSNBC, Newsweek and Time in their coverage of:

Katrina, the Tet Offensive, Ronald Reagan, the Surge, SDI, Vietnam veterans, the Clinton Impeachment, global warming, OJ, Valerie Plame, Chappaquiddick, ad infinitum? When I hear the names Howell Raines and Jayson Blair mentioned, I instantly think, “Yeah, ...fairness and objectivity.”


85 posted on 03/12/2010 5:32:05 AM PST by CharlesThe Hammer
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To: kristinn

Howell, ask Governor Palin and her family about the press’ standards of fairness and objectivity. Go ahead. I dare you.


86 posted on 03/12/2010 5:44:50 AM PST by RichInOC (Palin 2012: The Perfect Storm.)
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To: PackerBoy

Re: This is satire, right?

It’s getting harder and harder to tell.

I’m pretty sure this one is...http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2468220/posts

However, this rant makes me think that Raines is part of a larger plot to increase congresses polling numbers by having members of congress AND the press attack the media in a co-ordinated move reminiscent of The Judean People’s Front from “Life of Brian.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q-VGZiEbrs

Compare for yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_12E1EN6fs


87 posted on 03/12/2010 6:01:58 AM PST by Dutchgirl ("What I believe about God is the most important thing about me." A.W. Tozer)
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To: kristinn
"This was not exactly the truth, but then, what is, exactly?"
Howell Raines (b. 1943), U. S. Journalist.
From his book Whiskey Man, 1977
88 posted on 03/12/2010 6:31:30 AM PST by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: kristinn
One question has tugged at my professional conscience throughout the year-long congressional debate over health-care reform, and it has nothing to do with the public option, portability or medical malpractice. It is this: Why haven't America's old-school news organizations blown the whistle on Roger Ailes, chief of Fox News, for using the network to conduct a propaganda campaign against the Obama administration -- a campaign without precedent in our modern political history?

Imagine the SHEER force of will it took to write this without your head exploding.

The Washington Pravda dares to accuse ANYone of .... PROPAGANDA?????

Pity poor Mr. Raines, to have to go through life without the use of a brain.

89 posted on 03/12/2010 7:02:58 AM PST by Lazamataz (Proudly hittin' it without looking at the picture since 1999.)
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To: kristinn; wagglebee; little jeremiah; DirtyHarryY2K

Raines is the role model for my goal to run alcohol, drug and HIV/Dementia tests on liberal pseudo oped writers to see what influences their phoney opeds.

Raines is the white version of Jason Blair.


90 posted on 03/12/2010 7:03:59 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Does 0b0z0 have any friends, who aren't traitors, spies, tax cheats and criminals?)
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To: kristinn

91 posted on 03/12/2010 7:17:50 AM PST by kcvl
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To: kristinn
Two more words for Howell Raines: delusional leftist.
92 posted on 03/12/2010 7:34:09 AM PST by Jim Scott
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To: oldplayer; Czar; kristinn

We’re waiting for some splaining Lucy...so why did you make that claim OP?

looked like just another decent snag by Kristinn to me...

man...those pics of Howell...why do old lefties always look so sour


93 posted on 03/12/2010 8:16:01 AM PST by wardaddy (women are crazy)
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To: Cicero

Do I detect an Irish sunburn on H.R.?


94 posted on 03/12/2010 8:28:31 AM PST by Inwoodian
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To: Inwoodian
Raines won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for his essay about his family’s maid, Grady Hutchinson, and his introduction to the injustices of the segregated South. In 2003, Raines left The New York Times in the wake of a plagiarism scandal involving a reporter on the newsroom staff.
95 posted on 03/12/2010 9:08:45 AM PST by kcvl
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To: kristinn
Howell Raines:

“I’m surprised that I’m so well known, since so many of the things I’ve written about are controversial. My values have always been to create a just society.”

96 posted on 03/12/2010 9:10:55 AM PST by kcvl
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To: nutmeg

Thanks for the ping!


97 posted on 03/12/2010 8:44:40 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: kristinn
Howell Raines: Why Don't Honest Journalists Take on Roger Ailes and Fox News?

Because they're too busy taking on people like you.

98 posted on 03/13/2010 4:08:37 AM PST by Lonely Bull
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To: dighton

Welcome back. You were missed.


99 posted on 03/26/2010 11:53:43 PM PDT by TChad
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