Paper of Woodward and Bernstein Outsources Investigative Journalism
June 29, 2009 at 12:16 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: GE, Media, ProPublica, Washington Post
Just finished reading the GE article in the Washington Post today and noticed at the end of the article was this note:
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
And the byline reads:
ProPublica and Washington Post Staff Writer
So THE Washington Post is outsourcing its investigative journalism. I knew this was coming, but it’s still a shock when the paper of Woodward and Bernstein outsources the skill and labor on which its reputation was built. Is this the first time WashPo has used ProPublica or just the first time I’ve noticed this post script note?
The more burning question is do you see this becoming a trend? This is going to sound waaay over the top and apocalyptic, but I see it as less of trend and more as the beginning of the end…dun dun dun. Sure, the Washington Post saves money by partnering with ProPublica, enjoys its resources to cover a story inside and out…plus who reads bylines anyway? Win, win right?
Well, not really. What’s to hold back the new Woodwards and Bernsteins on the block from eventually writing, publishing and hosting their own news stories, under their own masthead…no, nothing as dull as ProPublica, but something MUCH flashier like, THE INVESTIGATOR…or THE INSIDER. They’ll fill the niche investigative news site, much like Politico or Talking Points Memo has for politics or TechCrunch has for tech, Style.com has for fashion or Fool.com has for business.
Newspapers—both digital and paper– are dead because they try to be everything all at once for everyone and can’t keep up. The Washington Post has already axed its business section after failing to compete with business and tech blogs that update with 20-30 posts per day. The same will happen with investigative news. For a story that uncovers the latest political corruption, insider trading, or harmful FDA approved drugs, you’ll most likely read it on a website, and it won’t be under the mastheads of the New York Times or the Washington Post. Just my guess, do you agree?
Morning Paper
April 21, 2009 at 8:10 am | Posted in Morning Paper | Leave a commentTags: Atlantic Monthly, Chavez, Dan Bogden, Eric Holder, Eugene Robinson, Firedoglake, Lanny Davis, Murray Waas, Newt Gingrich, Washington Post, Washington Times
Washington Post: Sometimes, a President Must Slap Back
Firedoglake: Only Republicans are Allowed to Shake Hands with Dictators
Washington Times: Torture Memos: Obama, Holder Strike the Right Balance…Again
The Atlantic Monthly: A US Attorney’s Scandal
Morning Paper
April 13, 2009 at 11:25 am | Posted in Morning Paper | Leave a commentTags: Bank of America, Chambliss, Citigroup, Paul Krugman, Rahm Emmanuel, Talking Points Memo, The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post
Washington Post: Give and Take with Emmanuel
Talking Points Memo: Krugman on the Chambliss Hypocrisy
The Atlantic: Why Republicans Should Back Universal Health Care
Wall Street Journal: Bailed Out Bank Face Probe Over Tax Hike
Morning Paper
March 26, 2009 at 6:26 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: daily beast, Dan Balz, Financial Times, James Carville, Matt Taibbi, Morning Paper, Rollling Stone, Washington Post
Financial Times: Daddy, What is a Derivative? (James Carville)
Rolling Stone: The Big Takeover (Matt Taibbi)
Washington Post: Will Slow and Steady Win the Race? (Dan Balz)
Daily Beast: Meet Mexico’s Drug Lords
Morning Paper
March 24, 2009 at 6:09 am | Posted in Economy, Morning Paper | Leave a commentTags: Hotline, Morning Paper, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post
Wall Street Journal: Obama Dials Down Wall Street Criticism
The Hill: Geithner’s Stock Surges
Washington Post: Some Experts Say Rescue Program Might Not Work
Hotline Blog: Word on the Tweet
Has Politico Turned Anti-Obama?
March 19, 2009 at 8:16 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: Alex Conant, Anthony Marsh, Barack Obama, Evan Bayh, Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen, Politico, politico.com, Washington Post
Since news of the AIG bonuses broke, President Obama has taken a beating on the pages of Washington’s political news powerhouse, Politico. Its latest front page piece, boldly announces “Obama Struggles as Communicator” and reads less as a news story and more like a political autopsy of Obama’s late rhetorical expertise. The great orator, often compared to FDR and Lincoln has now irreversibly depreciated, failing to win the message war on the economy. A drastic shift in tone, when just days earlier, Politico reported on the efficiency of Obama’s communications team, highlighting renewed efforts within the White House to “tighten the reins on Congress.”
From this rather schizophrenic style of reporting, you’d think the RNC had suddenly assumed power at the helm of Politico’s editorial board. After a closer look, that theory may not be too far off. The 5 Biggest Myths About Obama, an article penned by Alex Conant, a communications consultant who served as the Republican National Committee’s national press secretary during the 2008 presidential campaign, weasled its way into the headlines section of Politico.com. And Obama wasn’t the only one taking a beating. “Dem Hypocrisy Will Come Back to Haunt” also appeared on Politico.com’s headlines section, written by Anthony Marsh who most recently served as a senior consultant to Michael Steele’s campaign for the Republican National Committee chairmanship.
On Wednesday, Politico ran “Some Dems Want Brake in Obama Plans”. A rather misleading headline, when not one of the Hill Democrats quoted asked for a brake or a scaling back of Obama’s plans. Sen. Evan Bayh innocuously stated, “there’s going to be some belt-tightening that’s necessary.” Politico even admitted in its reporting that, “Democrats’ comments were muted, with few directly criticizing Obama for being too ambitious.”
What’s alarming here is not the negative reporting on Obama and Dems, it’s the hint of agenda, an effort to shoehorn the reporting to fit the flashy headline. And, as the Washington Post scales back, deciding this week to fold its business section, Politico continues to grow. According to The New Republic, Politico‘s readership spiked during the election, attracting 4.6 million unique readers in September 2008–about 1/3 of the Post‘s online readership.
Which demands this newsflash for the Post’s next generation: A vulnerable White House is no excuse for shoddy journalism.
Chris Cillizza Loses It
October 7, 2008 at 11:24 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: Andrea Mitchell, Chris Cilliza, Washington Post
I’ve always had a minor MINOR crush on Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post. But I may be seeing a lot less of him on MSNBC after his latest video post. What would…gasp… Andrea Mitchell think?
OMG The Bases Are Crumbling
July 7, 2008 at 12:32 pm | Posted in '08 Campaign | Leave a commentTags: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Chicken Little, Frank Rich, Global Warming, Immigration, John McCain, New York Times Editorial Board, Stem Cell Research, Washington Post
So, it looks like both candidates are having problems at the home base. The Washington Post features a front page article today on conservative groups ramping up to do battle John McCain’s less than conservative platform before the convention. The target: global warming, immigration, stem cell research and campaign finance reform.
Meanwhile, Obama’s netroots base is still unhappy and still blogging. Stirring up so much ire, that even Obamaniacs, the New York Times editorial page and Frank Rich, took on Obama’s screeching turn to the right last week.
From Rich:
“For all the hyperventilation on the left about Mr. Obama’s rush to the center — some warranted, some not — what’s more alarming is how small-bore and defensive his campaign has become. Whether he’s reaffirming his long-held belief in faith-based programs or fudging his core convictions about government snooping, he is drifting away from the leadership he promised and into the focus-group-tested calculation patented by Mark Penn in his disastrous campaign for Hillary Clinton. Mr. Obama’s Wednesday address calling for renewed public service is unassailable in principle but inadequate to the daunting size of the serious American crisis at hand. The speech could have been — and has been — delivered by any candidate of either party in any election year since 1960.”
From the NYTimes Editorial Board:
“We are not shocked when a candidate moves to the center for the general election. But Mr. Obama’s shifts are striking because he was the candidate who proposed to change the face of politics, the man of passionate convictions who did not play old political games. There are still vital differences between Mr. Obama and Senator John McCain on issues like the war in Iraq, taxes, health care and Supreme Court nominations. We don’t want any ‘redefining’ on these big questions. This country needs change it can believe in.”
Ouch. So, now that the media darling’s honeymoon is over, where does Obama go from here? Well, he gets back on firm foreign policy footing, redefining what and where the real war is and how to fight it. Hint: it rhymes with smishganistan
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