UPDATED - I've rewritten and expanded my original post from an hour ago and renamed it.
CNN's Chief News Executive has resigned under pressure, much of it initiated by bloggers. Via PoynterOnline:
Eason Jordan tells CNN staffers: "After 23 years at CNN, I have decided to resign in an effort to prevent CNN from being unfairly tarnished by the controversy over conflicting accounts of my recent remarks regarding the alarming number of journalists killed in Iraq."
Is this good news? Yes, insofar as a powerful man has been finally held to account for what the WSJ called 'defamatory innuendo'. Larry Kudlow lays out the consequences:
This tawdry tale has been reported, for the most part, only on the blogosphere, again pointing out just how strong this alternative Internet medium has become. The blogosphere is relentless: It rightfully hammered Eason Jordan and CNN from day one and refuses to stop ... The blogosphere has gained near immediate influence and credibility with its ability to widely disseminate alternative media coverage. (These days, “alternative” more often than not means “true.”) Powerhouse bloggers such as John Hinderaker, Glenn Reynolds, and Hugh Hewitt, among many others, have flexed their muscles and badly bruised CNN on this story.
But perhaps this isn't entirely good news. For one thing, Jordan hasn't really admitted his pattern of allegations and, without the Davos videotape, many will probably believe his claim that he was misunderstood. I worry that the result is an escalating cycle of partisan mobblogging and counterattacks.
Which is not to let the MSM off the hook. Here's what I wrote over at Poynter before the news of Jordan's resignation:
When an elite is perceived as protecting its own, sooner or later there is a good chance that a mob will form and storm the castle with flaming torches ... By ignoring the Jordan story and the wider debate about the role and responsibility of the press, journalists are abdicating their traditional place in that debate. It should come as no surprise if, hereafter, that place around the debate table is subsequently taken by others.
What are your thoughts about responsible vs. irresponsible use of power by the MSM and blogs alike?
There are clouds even in the clearest of skies and the easongate affair was far from clear from day 1. That Eason had something big and nasty to hide 9as did Dan Rather) was clear and its sad that exactly what couldn't be conclusively established.
Still, I celebrate another mighty blow to the de-facto establishment (read the MSM, Hollywood and Academia) from the truly market-driven medium - the blogosphere. And by market-driven I mean in terms of speed, responsiveness, references, reward-structure and so on.
Sure, blogs aren't perfect but they're certainly better than the old way of gaining info.
I don't think Jordan would have resigned solely as a result of bloggers demanding answers about his comments at Davos. There was more involved, probably internally at CNN. If the only issue was bloggers wanting an answer, He could have released the tape, done his mea culpas, and stayed on.
The first paragraph of Kurtz' WaPo story is:
Two classes of Kurtz readers: those who know what he's talking about, and those who don't. At this point, only web-log readers would have something approaching a clear view of the facts and contentions that make up the controversy.
This is the fundamental disgrace: the journalistic profession that is so Poyntedly defended by Romanesko, the Columbia Journalism Review, and others, shows itself incapable of transmitting basic facts to the public about an important issue.
I suppose the situation is on its way to fixing itself, thanks to (or notwithstanding) the efforts of obscure* blogs like Winds of Change.
* obscure reference to dismissive LA Times reporting on web-logs.
If your talking about informing the masses of Americans about Jordon or for that matter anything on the Media that has to do with blogs, you will have to wait a few years.
Blogging and for that matter, the MSM are not a big pastime for Americans. They have other things to do. Working long hours, taking care of their kids, working in the community and here and there a few hours of sleep and maybe time for a bar-b-que or a movie.
So, don't swell up with pride just yet. Blogs are growing up, the Americans public still doesn't really understand we are at war and the MSM will continue to only give the bad news of the world.
But, it will change, most likely after the next terrorist attack, here on American soil.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Web-logs are the Echo of the Future!
Despite protestations of intent, Kerry has yet to release his military records (Form 180). Despite the Thornburgh investigation, Dan Rather et.al. have yet to reveal the source of their transparently fraudulent documents. Now this Jordan character slinks off, refusing to authorize a transcript of his public remarks before a major international forum.
Is't possible that, of a sudden, a dam will burst on all this stuff? Kerry's Dishonorable Discharge, plus rescinding of his spurious "decorations", will be a matter of fact, not speculation. CBS will admit that, yes, they received memos from McAuliffe's DNC composed in consultation with provocateurs from Rather and Mapes on down. Then CNN will put on record not one but several transcripts, attempting to deflect scrutiny of references in Jordan's seditious libels, promulgated with impunity previous to Davos '05. Betcha there's an awful lot of stuff out there, accumulated over many years, that clueless retro-Dems never considered worth sequestering.
Combine these with Prof. Ward Churchill (sic), not to mention the aging legette caught transmitting Sheik Abdul Rahman's intelligence to Al Qaeda in Emma Goldman style, and what we have just may be a "Coalition of the Willing" capable of confronting these monstrous ideologues on their night marches. Wouldn't it be great to see Big Media resort to quasi-factual reporting, defending market-share vs. collectivist Statism, after nigh-on forty years? But MSM ignored the Swift Boat veterans; waffle-fussed on Rathergate; and now conspire to stuff Benedict Jordan down the Memory Hole. Not good grounds for hope... Sumner Redfern, call your office!
Could be. But let's not celebrate triumphs before they actually turn out that way.
I guess I'm in the minority, but while I was livid over Jordan's reported remarks - not to mention CNN's stonewall re: the videotape of them - I'm not looking forward to an escalating cycle of attacks on journalists and bloggers alike. And that's what I think we are in for, unless we can all find a way to have serious conversation about media and blogger responsibility and accountability.
It's not that I don't appreciate snark - I do. But ahead of blogging from CPAC myself next week, I've been thinking a lot about what responsible behavior on the part of either the old or the new media really looks like. Fact-based. Even handed. Distinguishes facts from inferences from opinion.
Burke referred to the press as the Fourth Estate in Parliament, but Fielding thought that title belonged to the Mob. I wonder which it will turn out to be?
After Woodward and Bernstein brought down a sitting President, journalism changed and every reporter, newspaper and TV news program began looking for their own Watergate. The reporter and his own personal rep became the focus (see Dan Rather as a prime example), and not the actual reporting of the reality of the news of the day.
I'm concerned in that a week or so ago, I saw the Eason Jordan story being described as "another MSM vs. blogosphere deathmatch". This tells me that the blogosphere may be feeling its oats after have taken down Dan Rather and CBS, and there may be a certain amount of piling on and embellishment going on towards the allegations about Mr. Jordan.
I totally agree that what Mr. Jordan said was egregarious and that the MSM have been biased to the point of treason. I think what concerns me is the hubris involved in many bloggers and many web-sites all agreeing simultaneously to focus the white-hot flame of their attention on one spot and one story: Eason Jordan and CNN. With the intent up-front of getting Mr. Jordan fired and CNN bankrupted.
While those may or may not be laudible goals, it seems to me there are many other stories out there that deserve simultaneous attention. For example, who the hell in Iraq is it that keeps claiming "Sistani said this" and "Sistani said that" when it then comes out that Sistani said no such thing?
Or what's going on with Britain's immigration policy, are they going to charge to immigrate into Britain, are they going to restrict their future immigration to only those people with degrees, and if so, is this something we want to look at too? And what has the UN been up to this past week or so, while the Blogosphere was focusing as-one on Mr. Jordan?
I think in focusing just on Eason Jordan, the blogosphere may be doing exactly the same bad thing we have been accusing MSM of doing the past several years: deciding what the news should be and ignoring everything else. That, and focusing on the bearer of the story as being the news, as opposed to the story itself.
Incidently, as an aside, I'm also giggling hysterically to myself that the Middle East and Saudi Arabia in particular have decided that the cure for all their woes is to fund and create a "larger and more powerful media" to counteract the MSM message in the West that they are producing a generation of vipers through their mutation of their religion. They are currently crippling themselves by patting themselves on the back for a new world-wide "anti-terrorism foundation" they succeeded in coercing support for from participants in a local anti-terror conference.
As always, our Arab brethren are at least 20 years behind the times, in that Western print and electric media are NOT the power-brokers any more. The Internet is. I wonder how much longer it will take for the Arabs to figure this out.
I'm stationed overseas and regrettably have to sometimes rely on CNN and the BBC for english language coverage. The vehement overt and (more sickeningly) covert anti-americanism displayed by these two organizations that purportedly are harbingers of TRUTH in journalism is more indicative of the liberal bias they are rooted in then anything I could demonstrate with the multiple dozens of examples that have finally started coming to light in this internet age.
From Easons admittance of CNN lying about Iraqs atrocities before the war to CNN's demonstrated inequity of coverage (postitive stories vs. negative stories) during the last two elections to this current CNN foul... the list goes on.
I have been watching CNN almost continuously since the news on Eason broke nearly 16 hours ago. I have yet to see one single report on this story. Amazing, isn't it?
There have been 2 different stories on a Marine accused of illegally killing an Iraqi, 2 stories on how much the American people are against President Bush and his Social Security plan, 3 stories on Howard Dean being elected as chairman of the DNC. There has even been 10 minutes devouted to tomorrows Grammy awards. There has not, however, been one single sentence about the Eason Jordan story. Again.. simply astounding.
Oh how I wish for a little more fair and balanced coverage from CNN. It looks like this may never happen until the top two or three tiers of the organization are replaced. It's not just the on-air talent at fault for their biasness, it's rooted at the very highest levels. Maybe driving them to the brink of bankruptcy is one way of bringing about this change. Sign me up for that method. I'll do my part by contacting their advertisers, and more importantly boycotting those advertisers products.
The biggest difference: Blogs just had a huge victory, justly won, and you are still firmly focused on the ethics and right-and-wrong of it.
The MSM thinks they hold the moral high ground, and push their political agenda accordingly. They never seem to consider that their prejudice, bias, and dogged anti-Americanism might be wrong.
They consider it a victory to have removed an alleged, feeble shill from the White House pressroom, guaranteeing 100% of the reporters will be of a Democrat or further left viewpoint, and no questions will ever be asked from the viewpoint of the majority of American voters. And I'm sure they see Jordan's fall as a symptom of something else wrong with America, rather than what it is, which is simple justice.
I look to the day when bad policy gets effectively attacked by bloggers em mass.
Did I mention the drug war?
The Biggest Coverup
Property Rights - Russia vs USA
Torturing Sick People
Collecting scalps seems to be the order of the day. Meanwhile, bad policy rools on. Did I mention with 1/4 China's population we have 30% more prisoners? Pretty good huh? Land of the free.
What is interesting to me is that itis not a left/right issue. Neither will touch it.
Well on with the blood sports. Sorry to have disturbed you.
I'm starting to believe that the MSM knows it doesn't have any moral high ground, but they're too lazy and arrogant to do anything about it until they have to.
The best possible outcome of these blogskeigs (not mine but I can't remember where I read it, Malkin's comments maybe -- see I'm lazy too!) is that the MSM will finally act as though they have competition and provide real news and real reporting.
Granted, an overly triumphant and belligerent blogsphere wouldn't be a good thing. But having watched the evolution of this environment, I have a lot more faith in the checks and balances in the blogosphere than not.
IF the MSM accepted that these checks, balance and competition are a characteristic they should embrace, be a part of and use to their advantage, we'd all be better off.
L
Robin: I guess I'm in the minority, but while I was livid over Jordan's reported remarks - not to mention CNN's stonewall re: the videotape of them - I'm not looking forward to an escalating cycle of attacks on journalists and bloggers alike.
You won't have to look forward very far. A lot of people agreed with Eason Jordan's poisonous insinuations. They've been fairly quiet, probably thinking that Jordan would survive with the help of the MSM hush, but now they're going to be looking for revenge.
The power, whether ever acknowledged or not, of the blogs is that as long as bloggers persist in digging and exposing, "The Truth Is Out There". This is a change. Previously, stonewalling on info release by the MSM was generally adequate to make sure an issue died or was "properly interpreted". Now, no such assurance exists, and the longer any attempted stonewalling persists, the greater the risk and the greater the potential consequences of "failure to suppress". So, E. had to go; the corp (CNN) saw his future worth probability curve dipping way into negative numbers.
Good.
Lies about drug prohibition are pervasive and occur daily. As chronicled by an Illinois State Rep. with AIDS
The drug war is probably the longest running case of bad journalism currently in existance.
And yet Eason Jordan is deposed while the drug war steam rollers on.
What exactly have we learned from alcohol prohibition? Less than nothing. We have forgotten what we once knew. A prohibition regime corrupts every thing it touches. Police, courts, lawyers, the press, banks, etc. etc. etc.
Obviously massive corruption in America is not news.
Except for perhaps John Stossel.
If bloggers en mass ever attack this evil I will be impressed. At this point all I see is a bunch of little boys looking for easy scalps. That goes for the left and the right.
Simon
but things are just barely getting started.
I hate the WOD too. it has destroyed so much liberty, cost us a mint, made the worst people rich, corruption, and yet if i wanted some dope, could i not find it, pretty cheap ?
Besides, im interested in hempseed oil bio-diesil, is it true what they say about that ?
I will NOT ally myself with marxists, or marxist flavored liberals to win that fight however.
Leftism is anti-freedom, legal pot will make me feel no better if im a socialist slave.
Untill the religion of 174 Million murders is disgarded into the dustbin of infamy, my energies must be directed at fighting against the far more dangerous leftist threat to my freedom.