Comments on: Kerry Hearing On Journalism As Useless As Advertised

By: News Reference

News Reference — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:23:33 +0000

Adam Serwer posted a worthwhile summary of the testimony that included a quote by David Simon, the former journalist who went on to be the writer for TV series, The Wire. Simon: ""The day I run into a Huffington Post reporter at a Baltimore zoning board hearing is the day that I will be confident that we have actually reached some sort of balance.""* Serwer summed up Simon's concerns as "talking about the local reporters who troll city halls and state capitols, local hospitals and police stations looking for stories, developing the kind of relationships that expose webs of influence, patronage, and corruption." I don't share Oliver's faith in the web as providing a replacement for the loss of a business method that can fund local investigative reporting. It doesn't exist. Oliver, if I understand correctly, believes that it will come. Even if it does, it means years or longer before that loss of local reporting is supplemented by the new model, a model which is still the equivalent of "clean coal." It doesn't exist and is only theoretcial. Bill Moyers had a riveting interview with David Simon that talked about "inner-city crime and politics, storytelling and the future of journalism today." The TV interview with David Simon can be watched online. Again, riveting interview. (That's apparently the correct quote, Serwer initially misquoted Simon).

By: Oliver Willis

Oliver Willis — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:38:29 +0000

Simon was probably the most wrong of anyone at the testimony.

By: PTCruiser

PTCruiser — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:22:12 +0000

I don’t agree that the entire hearing was useless. I think that David Simon’s presentation before Kerry and the committee is more than worth a listen.

Here is the link:

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/7/david_simon_creator_of_acclaimed_hbo

By: beachmom

beachmom — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:27:31 +0000

What about credentialing bloggers to cover Congress? That was brought up and is quite useful. I thought it was a good hearing. I also think that the idea of only having partisan media being a good thing is wrongheaded.

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:59:09 +0000

And a headline for the comments section of this thread could be: Jay Tea Misses the Point As Expected”.

By: Tyro

Tyro — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:24:51 +0000

Oh, and Sean, an insult to Kerry is NEVER gratuitous.

As a dedicated Bush supporter, you have a judgment on these matters is rather dubious.

Asshole.

By: Jay Tea

Jay Tea — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:55:08 +0000

Oh, and Sean, an insult to Kerry is NEVER gratuitous.

By: Jay Tea

Jay Tea — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:45:20 +0000

Martin, in his entire post-Viet Nam career, Kerry has done exactly one thing worthy of praise — and that was nigh on 20 years ago. Further, it’s entirely possible that he did that one thing out of ignorance.

The man IS useless. As the saying goes, “truth is an absolute defense.”

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:06:07 +0000

Classic Jay Tea. Can’t even agree with anyone without throwing out a gratuitous talking point.

Alas.

By: Jay Tea

Jay Tea — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:27:57 +0000

Let me simplify that title for you, Oliver:

“Kerry Useless As Advertised.”

BTW, I agree with you on this one, too.