Kolek planning to go pro
Several gymnasts and others involved in the horrific Nassar situation credited the diligent, thorough, relentless reporting of the Indianapolis Star for ending the cycle of abuse and bringing Nassar to justice.Angela Povilaitis, Michigan’s assistant attorney general, said at the sentencing hearing:“What finally started this reckoning and ended this decades-long cycle of abuse was investigative reporting. Without The Star’s reporting, he would still be practicing medicine, treating athletes and abusing kids.”Three Star reporters, including a friend of mine, Mark Alesia, headed the investigation. But I also give significant credit to the higher-ups at the paper, who committed considerable economic resources to the pursuit of truth and justice. Unfortunately, in these difficult financial times for newspapers, that is getting rarer and rarer.The Charlotte Observer has laid off dozens of reporters in the 7 1/2 years I've lived here. Nevertheless, the Observer's skeleton crew has put together several outstanding investigative reports that have informed and inspired changes. Most recently, its series on how severe understaffing at prisons leads to deaths to guards and prisoners convinced the state legislature that changes to the system are necessary.Recent movies have highlighted the immensely important work done by the Boston Globe (priest sex scandal) and Washington Post /NY Times (Pentagon papers).Most of us without our heads in the sand know about the excellent political reporting the Post and NYT have been doing the last year or two. Americans owe them a debt of gratitude.These are some big stories, but local newspapers do important journalism all the time. There are other news organizations also doing good work, but it is our mainstream newspapers that are most committed to this kind of investigative journalism.I am not claiming these newspapers are infallible. They have made mistakes. When it happens, they issue corrections or, in extreme cases, retractions. Those are EXTREMELY rare. The vast, vast, VAST majority of these reports end up making a real difference in our country and our world. Nassar denied charges repeatedly ... until the evidence uncovered by the Star made those denials ring hollow.Even though discounts are available, and I could get a much cheaper online-only subscription, I continue to pay full-price for my print edition of the Observer. Part of that is because I happen to like reading an actual newspaper; but mostly it is because I view it as one small way to support an institution that I believe plays a crucial role for our republic."Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."There are some who relentlessly attack the media, even want to limit its work. Thank goodness for the First Amendment!
The NY Times and Washington Post have zero journalist standards anymore. They are not worthy of first amendment protection as they are just purveyors of slander and libel and pure hypocrites of the highest order. The New York Times in particular hides behind a dual class voting structure that entrenches their founding family. It is sheer financial apartheid.
Yet, the local college town papers sit on their asses and are continuously scooped. If are going to be a puff piece rag, this sinks all ships.The Lansing State Journal had all this information for years and sat on it. I remember they ran a piece on Izzo when he paid Branden Dawson's AAU coach for travel and coaching camp (leading to an Izzo suspension), but it didn't fit Izzo's narrative of being a victim. I linked it here on Scoop, but within an hour, they took it down.One doesn't have to look too far to see the same pattern in Wisconsin.
Yep. Local sports drives a lot of these subscriptions, and if you don't get access you are out in the cold. Furthermore most of them are staffed with kids right out of school or old farts who have been around forever. Doing an investigative journalism piece isn't exactly in their skill set.The big national media outlets don't have to worry about that.
Yep. Hardly "American Heroes", though. One thing I may disagree with is the skill set. These hometown rags know all of this plus more by being local. The Bo Ryan escapade is a prime example. Same with MSU. No further investigation was needed, but they sure put a lot of resources toward smoothing it over.One question for Mike. I liked "The Post", but I felt the better story would have been about the NYT as the lead. (I know it's Hollywood). How do you feel?
I prefer the NY Post. They are the last bastion of journalism.
Oh c'mon, 9-9-9. Don't sell some other bastions of journalism you probably like short: Alex Jones' Infowars and Fox & Friends.
The NY Times and Washington Post have zero journalist standards anymore. They are not worthy of first amendment protection as they are just purveyors of slander and libel and pure hypocrites of the highest order. The New York Times in particular hides behind a dual class voting structure that entrenches their founding family. It is sheer financial apartheid. I prefer the NY Post. They are the last bastion of journalism. Don't judge a book by its cover.
Sheer lunacy!
The NY Times and Washington Post have zero journalist standards anymore. They are not worthy of first amendment protection as they are just purveyors of slander and libel and pure hypocrites of the highest order.
Headless Body In Topless BarBest Post headline ever!
One can debate the accomplishments of The Very Stable Genius, but one thing is undebatable: He has been a major boon to the likes of the NYT, WaPo and WSJ. Thankfully, even in the face of attacks against the First Amendment by some of our nation's most powerful people, millions of Americans actually care about factual facts (as opposed to the alternate variety).
thank you for the balance herman! this is what happens when certain belief systems take over a blog
journalism is dead.
That's not balance and this isn't a blog. Nice effort though.