Why won’t the press listen?
The word bubbles up from the grassroots: “You people are really nuts!”
As Steve Benen notes, the press covers the statements of politicians as debatable opinions. They can never be factually incorrect or dishonest lies. They are ‘matters of debate.’ Unless the reporter doesn’t consider you their preferred contenders. In that case, the candidate assertions can be dismissed as ’silly and kooky.’
In the example described, it appears like a tip that was provided a cashier had yet to reach the waitresses. But the ‘journalist’ who reported the story never checked out the no tip claim with the cashier, manager or the Clinton campaign.
For the sake of argument though, let me ask: have you ever been preoccupied, had a meal and realized later you miscalculated a tip or failed to leave one? I have. I can recall walking part way out of stores holding something I hadn’t paid for, too, and went back to cover my forgetfulness. Simply put, the no tip story was an effort to suggest Hillary deliberately stiffed a working gal. Not someone on her staff. Hillary.
Unchecked facts have no place in journalism. That’s not forgetfulness, that’s unprofessional and cause for discipline. And the appearance of it being ‘gotcha’ journalism without that factchecking used to be an offense that could lead to demotions or worse.
And this is what passes for news.
Anita Esterday proved smarter than the early rumor spreaders of the Fourth Estate.
This is precisely why I want to create videos and invite others to contribute videos to this site. There’s a lot of talk from politicians. There’s a lot of rumor and hype and spin and non-news from the media. Missing in this all are the voices of more Main Street, middle class, small business owners and employees. How do politicians come up with solutions if they don’t hear more about what the problems are? And how can we take seriously a media talking about the insubstantive fluff when there’s many a citizen with problems, worries and some have good ideas?
“You people are really nuts!” is a perfect starting point. If you have a videocam, go out and ask what other people are thinking, dealing with and dreaming about. This blog is the perfect place to present that. After all, we call this ‘American Street’. That’s the new direcion I’ve wanted to go with this blog that I’ve hinted at for months.
Maybe now, Ms. Esterday’s perfect response will motivate others to join me in this effort. I sure could use the help.
