The MSM Continues To Whine.
And that "whine" is evident in Gene Weingarten, a columnist for the WaPo. Michelle Malkin has the story regarding this supposed humorist, and his dislike for bloggers. Below is an excerpt (courtesy of Ms. Malkin) of his commencement address to the University of Maryland. According to Mr. Weingarten, we're all a bunch of nincompoops in our underwear.
In today's world, he says, it's getting tougher for journalism majors to find jobs, especially when "the public appears more and more willing to receive its 'news' online from nincompoops ranting in their underpants."
I want to congratulate you all upon your graduation from the University of Maryland College of Journalism, and wish you luck as you prepare to embark on exciting careers in telemarketing or large-appliance repair.
My point is, this is a challenging time for journalists.
And because you are word people, you understand that "challenging time" is a euphemism often used to describe disasters of epic proportions. For example, Richard Pryor was facing a "challenging time" when he ran down the street half-naked and on fire.
What are your challenges, specifically? Let us begin with, quote unquote, getting a job. Good jobs in journalism have become scarce as newspapers shrink and die, broadcast media fragment to smaller niche audiences and the public appears more and more willing to receive its "news" online from nincompoops ranting in their underpants.
So, what does that say for the MSM compared to us "nincompoops?" We're the one driving debate right now in the nation. There's a debate across the center-right blogosphere right now over the GOP's future in the upcoming elections. We're the ones who nailed Ternt Lott, Dan Rather, John Kerry, and Howell Raines. We're the ones who forced Eason Jordan's resignation from CNN after his comments regarding our soldiers targeting journalists.
We're also the ones who are far more intellectually honest in our reporting. The center-right seems far more able to hold our own accountable while the MSM lets their ideological brethren skate. (As yet, I haven't seen nearly the uproar from the MSM over Harry Reid's connections to Abramoff, yet they were more than willing to go crucify Tom DeLay, and in a round about way tie him to Abramoff.) The MSM is a dying industry, and I'm glad to see that Mr. Weingarten is at least honest about that, but to berate bloggers because we don't walk in the same circles as jhournalists is just plain stupid. In addition, I'd like to point out, again, that Mr. Weingarten is a "humorist." He's like Lileks only less funny.
If this was his attempt to be funny at a commencement address, he failed miserably. And as for his comment that we do our job in our underwear, he's misinformed. Personally, we blog in our pajamas (of which Marcie has a cute little set that she is comfortable in while blogging in the morning), but once the day really gets going, we're in regular clothes. Mr. Weingarten is remiss in remembering that the last fool to insult bloggers--the one who accused us of "muckraking" in our pajamas--spawned a nickname that bloggers took up just to throw the insult back in his face.
We went from bloggers to the "pajamahadeen." We further rammed it down the MSM's throats when the best and the brightest from the blogosphere created Pajamas Media. And like the Left screaching about our "chicken-hawk"-like stance on the war, the 101st Fighting Keyboardists werte born. People like Mr. Weingarten don't seem to comprehend this.
When you insult us, we twist the insult back on them to make them look foolish. We roll with the punches because we know we're doing a better job at reporting, disseminating, and covering the news than the MSM. Further, those in the MSM that have tried their hand at blogging have failed miserably, as Michael Hiltzik showed everyone just a month, or so, ago.
I think it's time the MSM just quit making a mountain out of a molehill. Bloggers are here, and they're going to be sticking around for quite some time. Our medium is constantly changing. Well known bloggers like the guys from PowerLine and Captain Ed broadcast over the NARN (Northern Alliance Radio Network); Glenn and Helen Reynolds have begun podcasting, along with Pajamas Media; and, of course, we can't forget Michelle Malkin's newest endeavor into vlogging (video blogging) with The Vent.
Times are a-changing in the blogosphere. We're getting better at doing what we do, and the MSM continues to grow older and weaker on the vine. And rather than beating on the bloggers, Mr. Weingarten might want to take a hint from his own paper. The WaPo editorial staff seems to have embraced the blogosphere whereas their columnists can only spit upon us.
Buzz Map is a list of links to recently published and frequently blogged about opinion columns and blog posts. It was developed by washingtonpost.com and Technorati, which specializes in tracking blog content and allowing Internet users to search the blogosphere.
Columns and blog posts published within the last 72 hours by more than 100 columnists and popular opinion bloggers are ranked hourly by Technorati based on how many of the two million-plus blogs the firm tracks link to each opinion item.
Buzz Map displays the headlines and authors of the 10 highest ranked items. The item to which the most blogs link gets the largest headline, the one to which the second most blogs link gets the second largest headline, etc.
Below is an excerpt from the news release that Michelle Malkin received, which I believe makes the point perfectly for Mr. Weingarten:
Washingtonpost.com executive editor, Jim Brady, said “The Buzz Map is an effective visual way of showing how news does not stop after it’s published, but takes on a new life in discussions on blogs, in classrooms, in the workplace and everywhere that people talk about the issues that matter to them.”
"Bloggers are now firmly established as the idea amplifiers we rely upon to help shape our opinions and outlook on today's most important issues,” said David L. Sifry, founder and CEO of Technorati. “Our expanding partnership with Washingtonpost.com enables us to further serve the blogosphere by bringing their voices to an enormous and growing readership."
Technorati and washingtonpost.com also partner on a popular feature listing links to blog mentions about articles throughout the site.
Caroline Little, CEO and publisher of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive said, “Connecting users to ‘the global conversation’ about news and issues has been a focus of washingtonpost.com’s successful online strategy. We’re pleased to add this dynamic enhancement to our focus on connecting people to one another.”
Is Mr. Weingarten going to whine a little more about now this his paper has embraced the idea that we are here to stay, and that we do drive the debate? Or will he become another head on our wall for pushing the envelope, and deciding (albeit foolishly) that he can take on the whole center-right blogosphere by his lonesome? Only time will tell, but what was telling was the jealousy from his comments. We garner the news as much as we report it. Our readers (and not just the ones to this site) are far more informed and involved in the current events and the political landscape than those who sit up in the lofty towers, or sip lattes in the newsrooms. We're getting down and dirty, getting our hands dirty and working our minds. They have go-fers for that sort of stuff. Too bad. Maybe if these people started going back to the way journalists used to be, bloggers may have never been needed.
Publius II
And that "whine" is evident in Gene Weingarten, a columnist for the WaPo. Michelle Malkin has the story regarding this supposed humorist, and his dislike for bloggers. Below is an excerpt (courtesy of Ms. Malkin) of his commencement address to the University of Maryland. According to Mr. Weingarten, we're all a bunch of nincompoops in our underwear.
In today's world, he says, it's getting tougher for journalism majors to find jobs, especially when "the public appears more and more willing to receive its 'news' online from nincompoops ranting in their underpants."
I want to congratulate you all upon your graduation from the University of Maryland College of Journalism, and wish you luck as you prepare to embark on exciting careers in telemarketing or large-appliance repair.
My point is, this is a challenging time for journalists.
And because you are word people, you understand that "challenging time" is a euphemism often used to describe disasters of epic proportions. For example, Richard Pryor was facing a "challenging time" when he ran down the street half-naked and on fire.
What are your challenges, specifically? Let us begin with, quote unquote, getting a job. Good jobs in journalism have become scarce as newspapers shrink and die, broadcast media fragment to smaller niche audiences and the public appears more and more willing to receive its "news" online from nincompoops ranting in their underpants.
So, what does that say for the MSM compared to us "nincompoops?" We're the one driving debate right now in the nation. There's a debate across the center-right blogosphere right now over the GOP's future in the upcoming elections. We're the ones who nailed Ternt Lott, Dan Rather, John Kerry, and Howell Raines. We're the ones who forced Eason Jordan's resignation from CNN after his comments regarding our soldiers targeting journalists.
We're also the ones who are far more intellectually honest in our reporting. The center-right seems far more able to hold our own accountable while the MSM lets their ideological brethren skate. (As yet, I haven't seen nearly the uproar from the MSM over Harry Reid's connections to Abramoff, yet they were more than willing to go crucify Tom DeLay, and in a round about way tie him to Abramoff.) The MSM is a dying industry, and I'm glad to see that Mr. Weingarten is at least honest about that, but to berate bloggers because we don't walk in the same circles as jhournalists is just plain stupid. In addition, I'd like to point out, again, that Mr. Weingarten is a "humorist." He's like Lileks only less funny.
If this was his attempt to be funny at a commencement address, he failed miserably. And as for his comment that we do our job in our underwear, he's misinformed. Personally, we blog in our pajamas (of which Marcie has a cute little set that she is comfortable in while blogging in the morning), but once the day really gets going, we're in regular clothes. Mr. Weingarten is remiss in remembering that the last fool to insult bloggers--the one who accused us of "muckraking" in our pajamas--spawned a nickname that bloggers took up just to throw the insult back in his face.
We went from bloggers to the "pajamahadeen." We further rammed it down the MSM's throats when the best and the brightest from the blogosphere created Pajamas Media. And like the Left screaching about our "chicken-hawk"-like stance on the war, the 101st Fighting Keyboardists werte born. People like Mr. Weingarten don't seem to comprehend this.
When you insult us, we twist the insult back on them to make them look foolish. We roll with the punches because we know we're doing a better job at reporting, disseminating, and covering the news than the MSM. Further, those in the MSM that have tried their hand at blogging have failed miserably, as Michael Hiltzik showed everyone just a month, or so, ago.
I think it's time the MSM just quit making a mountain out of a molehill. Bloggers are here, and they're going to be sticking around for quite some time. Our medium is constantly changing. Well known bloggers like the guys from PowerLine and Captain Ed broadcast over the NARN (Northern Alliance Radio Network); Glenn and Helen Reynolds have begun podcasting, along with Pajamas Media; and, of course, we can't forget Michelle Malkin's newest endeavor into vlogging (video blogging) with The Vent.
Times are a-changing in the blogosphere. We're getting better at doing what we do, and the MSM continues to grow older and weaker on the vine. And rather than beating on the bloggers, Mr. Weingarten might want to take a hint from his own paper. The WaPo editorial staff seems to have embraced the blogosphere whereas their columnists can only spit upon us.
Buzz Map is a list of links to recently published and frequently blogged about opinion columns and blog posts. It was developed by washingtonpost.com and Technorati, which specializes in tracking blog content and allowing Internet users to search the blogosphere.
Columns and blog posts published within the last 72 hours by more than 100 columnists and popular opinion bloggers are ranked hourly by Technorati based on how many of the two million-plus blogs the firm tracks link to each opinion item.
Buzz Map displays the headlines and authors of the 10 highest ranked items. The item to which the most blogs link gets the largest headline, the one to which the second most blogs link gets the second largest headline, etc.
Below is an excerpt from the news release that Michelle Malkin received, which I believe makes the point perfectly for Mr. Weingarten:
Washingtonpost.com executive editor, Jim Brady, said “The Buzz Map is an effective visual way of showing how news does not stop after it’s published, but takes on a new life in discussions on blogs, in classrooms, in the workplace and everywhere that people talk about the issues that matter to them.”
"Bloggers are now firmly established as the idea amplifiers we rely upon to help shape our opinions and outlook on today's most important issues,” said David L. Sifry, founder and CEO of Technorati. “Our expanding partnership with Washingtonpost.com enables us to further serve the blogosphere by bringing their voices to an enormous and growing readership."
Technorati and washingtonpost.com also partner on a popular feature listing links to blog mentions about articles throughout the site.
Caroline Little, CEO and publisher of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive said, “Connecting users to ‘the global conversation’ about news and issues has been a focus of washingtonpost.com’s successful online strategy. We’re pleased to add this dynamic enhancement to our focus on connecting people to one another.”
Is Mr. Weingarten going to whine a little more about now this his paper has embraced the idea that we are here to stay, and that we do drive the debate? Or will he become another head on our wall for pushing the envelope, and deciding (albeit foolishly) that he can take on the whole center-right blogosphere by his lonesome? Only time will tell, but what was telling was the jealousy from his comments. We garner the news as much as we report it. Our readers (and not just the ones to this site) are far more informed and involved in the current events and the political landscape than those who sit up in the lofty towers, or sip lattes in the newsrooms. We're getting down and dirty, getting our hands dirty and working our minds. They have go-fers for that sort of stuff. Too bad. Maybe if these people started going back to the way journalists used to be, bloggers may have never been needed.
Publius II
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 12:09 PM
2 Comments:
We're also the ones who are far more intellectually honest in our reporting.
Uh huh.
Well, in response, five words spring to mind. You ready?
Swift.
Boat.
Veterans.
For. And (drumroll, please)
Truth.
Buh-dum-PANG.
I think that about says it all. But I have a million other instances of GOP fax machine-inspired blogger honesty and truthiness, if you need them.
Seven dead in Indiana, USA, three children, four adults murdered. The msm calls this a tragedy but when our troops are engaged in a firefight in Iraq and civilians die, the msm calls it a massacre. Is it any wonder the msm lacks credibility. Rawriter.
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