SteveSilver.net

Rather Not

No, I haven't yet had time to read the Rather report, but I have seen all the reactions; it's pretty much come down to the reactions you'd expect everyone to have. And I'm still working on that big piece about MSM - it's still being fleshed out and besides, this isn't the best week to be defending mainstream media in any big way.

The morning of the report's release, Hugh Hewitt predicted that we should

“expect a parallel universe to develop within MSM -- a sober toned but nevertheless congratulatory nod towards the "thoroughness" of the Panel's effort and the severity of CBS' response. Thus will the wagons of legacy media circle around Black Rock.”

Here's how the primary institution of "MSM"- the New York Times- led their story, today on the front page:

“Already under duress from years of budget cuts, poor ratings and reduced influence, CBS News suffered a crushing blow to its credibility yesterday because of a broadcast that has now been labeled as both factually discredited and unprofessionally produced.”

I’m not saying I don't ever agree with Hewitt. But if the NYT were to editorialize in favor of Dan Rather’s castration, Hewitt would still call it “the pathetic, hyperliberal yelp of the fading, obsolete MSM.”

Yes, the Times put the Rather report on the front page, but the conservative, Murdoch-owned New York Post, alas, did not:

But the Post front page, I grant you, is much funnier.

Posted by Stephen Silver at January 12, 2005 01:00 AM