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MSM has a chance, will they take it?
Author: Raine
Date: 07/26/2010 12:32:35
By now, I am sure that everyone has heard of the Afghanistan War Logs Released by Wikileaks. It's a huge story. There are over 90,000 classified field reports. These reports were sent to three publications months ago for review with the promise that they would wait to publish stories until after Wikileaks 'leaked' it.
These documents are raw field data. I also suspect that there really is very little new news to most of us that have been paying attention to the occupation in Afghanistan. For me the larger story is something that Jay Rosen said "In media history up to now, the press is free to report on what the powerful wish to keep secret because the laws of a given nation protect it. But Wikileaks is able to report on what the powerful wish to keep secret because the logic of the Internet permits it. This is new." He goes on to say that no one seems to know what to do with this new way of presenting information. (the entire post is truly worth the read, btw).
Everyone seems to be all a twitter about these documents, and it appears to me that an awful lot of people are more upset that they missed this story than the potential of the story itself. That's what is interesting. Last October, wikileaks founder had this to say: Many people are trying to figure out WHO leaked this information, and I am left wondering a larger question-- was this all leaked in this fashion JUST to get people to pay attention? If that's the case, it worked. It's highly disturbing that people would have to go to such sensational ends to finally get truth out there. Life is different with a 24/7 news cycle and the internet, but that doesn't excuse media outlets from do the job of reporting real news as opposed perpetuating lies and propaganda.
The media has a chance now, especially after the Shirley Sherrod debacle to do the right thing, and instead of making a story out of the story-- they could focus on the long forgotten occupation. The real story here is how badly things are going, and it will be up to people to decipher these documents and put together a real news report.
The next trick will be to find a way to get the rest of America to take a chance and actually pay attention.
and 
Raine
These documents are raw field data. I also suspect that there really is very little new news to most of us that have been paying attention to the occupation in Afghanistan. For me the larger story is something that Jay Rosen said "In media history up to now, the press is free to report on what the powerful wish to keep secret because the laws of a given nation protect it. But Wikileaks is able to report on what the powerful wish to keep secret because the logic of the Internet permits it. This is new." He goes on to say that no one seems to know what to do with this new way of presenting information. (the entire post is truly worth the read, btw).
Everyone seems to be all a twitter about these documents, and it appears to me that an awful lot of people are more upset that they missed this story than the potential of the story itself. That's what is interesting. Last October, wikileaks founder had this to say:
"We will take the burden of protecting the source and the legal risks associated with publishing the document," said Julien Assange, an advisory board member at Wikileaks, in an interview at the Hack In The Box security conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Once Wikileaks confirms the uploaded material is real, it will be handed over to the Web site that encouraged the submission for a period of time. This embargo period gives the journalist or rights group time to write a news story or report based on the material.
The embargo period is a key part of the plan, Assange said. When Wikileaks releases material without writing its own story or finding people who will, it gains little attention.
"It's counterintuitive," he said. "You'd think the bigger and more important the document is, the more likely it will be reported on but that's absolutely not true. It's about supply and demand. Zero supply equals high demand, it has value. As soon as we release the material, the supply goes to infinity, so the perceived value goes to zero."
The media has a chance now, especially after the Shirley Sherrod debacle to do the right thing, and instead of making a story out of the story-- they could focus on the long forgotten occupation. The real story here is how badly things are going, and it will be up to people to decipher these documents and put together a real news report.
The next trick will be to find a way to get the rest of America to take a chance and actually pay attention.
and Raine
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 07/26/2010 13:15:10
Raine on 07/26/2010 13:15:10
If Chris boycotted Fox news, Momma wouldn't have a show!
Comment by 
wickedpam on 07/26/2010 13:15:58
wickedpam on 07/26/2010 13:15:58
Morning 
back at work this morning after my week off *sigh*
back at work this morning after my week off *sigh*
Comment by 
Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 13:18:34
Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 13:18:34
Good morning, bloggers!!
Raine, I posted about this topic late last night at UNN.
I think that we need to have the press look at the information, and the American Public has to determine where do we go from here. If Pakistan is indeed aiding the Taliban, then the U.S. has a serious problem with a major regional ally.
One key question is how much attention the media and the American public will pay to these revelations. It seems that we are more concerned with celebrities than news that impacts the lives of people.
Raine, I posted about this topic late last night at UNN.
I think that we need to have the press look at the information, and the American Public has to determine where do we go from here. If Pakistan is indeed aiding the Taliban, then the U.S. has a serious problem with a major regional ally.
One key question is how much attention the media and the American public will pay to these revelations. It seems that we are more concerned with celebrities than news that impacts the lives of people.
Comment by 
BobR on 07/26/2010 13:26:00
BobR on 07/26/2010 13:26:00
If the media outlets have had 3 months to look at this information, they've had 3 months to get a story together. I certainly hope they took advantage of the scoop.
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 13:37:59
Raine on 07/26/2010 13:37:59
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 13:47:05
Raine on 07/26/2010 13:47:05
How can one honestly be too black?? or not black enough?
I wasn;t pleased with the MoDo peice, she kinda said that the white house needs more blackness -- that was my takeaway. MoDo is falling for the propoganda of the blame game.
I really did like this column from EJ Dionne.
HE nailed it on the head and was able to hold the White house accountable. People in the media need to STOP reporting propaganda as news.
What is terribly Ironic is that while people call on the administration to take liars to task, when he did last year with Fox news -- EVERYONE in the media lambasted him.
I wasn;t pleased with the MoDo peice, she kinda said that the white house needs more blackness -- that was my takeaway. MoDo is falling for the propoganda of the blame game.
I really did like this column from EJ Dionne.
HE nailed it on the head and was able to hold the White house accountable. People in the media need to STOP reporting propaganda as news.
What is terribly Ironic is that while people call on the administration to take liars to task, when he did last year with Fox news -- EVERYONE in the media lambasted him.
Comment by BobR on 07/26/2010 13:57:14
I read that column this morning on the way to work. I think it was well-written and spot-on.
BobR on 07/26/2010 13:57:14
Quote by Raine:
How can one honestly be too black?? or not black enough?
I wasn;t pleased with the MoDo peice, she kinda said that the white house needs more blackness -- that was my takeaway. MoDo is falling for the propoganda of the blame game.
I really did like this column from EJ Dionne.
HE nailed it on the head and was able to hold the White house accountable. People in the media need to STOP reporting propaganda as news.
What is terribly Ironic is that while people call on the administration to take liars to task, when he did last year with Fox news -- EVERYONE in the media lambasted him.
I read that column this morning on the way to work. I think it was well-written and spot-on.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 14:03:03
Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 14:03:03
Paul Krugman had a good Op-Ed piece yesterday in the New York Times:
I think that John McCain, once a supporter of dealing with our climate problems, might qualify for a Profiles in Cowardice award.
Who Cooked the Planet?
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 25, 2010
Never say that the gods lack a sense of humor. I bet they’re still chuckling on Olympus over the decision to make the first half of 2010 — the year in which all hope of action to limit climate change died — the hottest such stretch on record.
Of course, you can’t infer trends in global temperatures from one year’s experience. But ignoring that fact has long been one of the favorite tricks of climate-change deniers: they point to an unusually warm year in the past, and say “See, the planet has been cooling, not warming, since 1998!” Actually, 2005, not 1998, was the warmest year to date — but the point is that the record-breaking temperatures we’re currently experiencing have made a nonsense argument even more nonsensical; at this point it doesn’t work even on its own terms.
But will any of the deniers say “O.K., I guess I was wrong,” and support climate action? No. And the planet will continue to cook.
So why didn’t climate-change legislation get through the Senate? Let’s talk first about what didn’t cause the failure, because there have been many attempts to blame the wrong people.
I think that John McCain, once a supporter of dealing with our climate problems, might qualify for a Profiles in Cowardice award.
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 14:18:08
Raine on 07/26/2010 14:18:08
While I understand that ultimately the administration should be held accountable, it is important to know that the President most likely NEVER knew of Ms. Sherrod. Vilsack made a good choice in appointing her, and a terrible choice in firing her.
This is worth a read.
She was a civil rights activists for not just black farmers but for poor people in the south. I still claim that this was not the president's fault, but I understand accountability.
This is worth a read.
RDLN Graduate and Board Vice Chair Shirley Sherrod was appointed Georgia Director for Rural Development by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on July 25.
She was a civil rights activists for not just black farmers but for poor people in the south. I still claim that this was not the president's fault, but I understand accountability.
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 14:23:42
Raine on 07/26/2010 14:23:42
Comment by wickedpam on 07/26/2010 14:24:58
wickedpam on 07/26/2010 14:24:58
tiny Dan Hill 
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 14:30:35
I suspect that has always been true -- it's just put into musical form...
Raine on 07/26/2010 14:30:35
Quote by wickedpam:
tiny Dan Hill
I suspect that has always been true -- it's just put into musical form...
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 14:33:11
Raine on 07/26/2010 14:33:11
Maybe the caller could start by turning off Beck and Rush and the ilk.
Comment by wickedpam on 07/26/2010 14:48:04
wickedpam on 07/26/2010 14:48:04
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
tiny Dan Hill
I suspect that has always been true -- it's just put into musical form...
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 14:49:40
Raine on 07/26/2010 14:49:40
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 14:55:23
Raine on 07/26/2010 14:55:23
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 15:08:27
Raine on 07/26/2010 15:08:27
Edie McClurg is wonderful.
Comment by wickedpam on 07/26/2010 15:12:53
cheeseus
wickedpam on 07/26/2010 15:12:53
Quote by Raine:
Sit down.
TPM Exclusive: Steele To Hold RNC Event -- Co-Starring Andrew Breitbart
cheeseus
Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 15:29:57
Euripides wrote: "Whom the gods would destroy, they first drive mad."
It seems that your ride is nearly over, Mister Steele.
On behalf of everyone here at the Four Freedoms blog, I would like to issue an apology to Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, and anyone associated with the film "Thelma and Louise" in linking an iconic image from that film to two dunderheads of epic proportions.
Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 15:29:57
Quote by Raine:
Sit down.
TPM Exclusive: Steele To Hold RNC Event -- Co-Starring Andrew Breitbart
Euripides wrote: "Whom the gods would destroy, they first drive mad."
It seems that your ride is nearly over, Mister Steele.
On behalf of everyone here at the Four Freedoms blog, I would like to issue an apology to Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, and anyone associated with the film "Thelma and Louise" in linking an iconic image from that film to two dunderheads of epic proportions.
Comment by 
livingonli on 07/26/2010 15:34:55
livingonli on 07/26/2010 15:34:55
Good morning folks. Still ended up going to bed late last night because I took a late bath to relax.
How long can Michael Steele pander to racists and still keep his soul?
How long can Michael Steele pander to racists and still keep his soul?
Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 15:39:09
You are presuming that he still has a soul.
I did find another image that provides a good comment on this situation.
Somewhere, Dr. King, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglas are weeping at Steele's coddling of Breitbart.
Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 15:39:09
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning folks. Still ended up going to bed late last night because I took a late bath to relax.
How long can Michael Steele pander to racists and still keep his soul?
You are presuming that he still has a soul.
I did find another image that provides a good comment on this situation.
Somewhere, Dr. King, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglas are weeping at Steele's coddling of Breitbart.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 15:43:53
Will in Chicago on 07/26/2010 15:43:53
Let me print a correction far faster than Andrew Breitbart and Faux News.
The wrong image was used in my last blog post. This is the correct image and caption:
The wrong image was used in my last blog post. This is the correct image and caption:
Comment by BobR on 07/26/2010 16:32:18
This deserves some audio as well:
BobR on 07/26/2010 16:32:18
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Let me print a correction far faster than Andrew Breitbart and Faux News.
The wrong image was used in my last blog post. This is the correct image and caption:
This deserves some audio as well:
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 16:37:34
I think that is the perfect image.
So far, there has been no repudiation from anyone in the republican party. This makes me believe that we are all part of avast RW conspiracy game that the GOP is playing. I almost hear them laughing.
Raine on 07/26/2010 16:37:34
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Let me print a correction far faster than Andrew Breitbart and Faux News.
The wrong image was used in my last blog post. This is the correct image and caption:
So far, there has been no repudiation from anyone in the republican party. This makes me believe that we are all part of a
Comment by 
TriSec on 07/26/2010 19:50:56
TriSec on 07/26/2010 19:50:56
Well, thpth.
Comment by Raine on 07/26/2010 20:40:43
Raine on 07/26/2010 20:40:43
Quote by TriSec:
Well, thpth.
Comment by BobR on 07/26/2010 21:16:50
What happened? Did the BoSox lose again?
BobR on 07/26/2010 21:16:50
Quote by TriSec:
Well, thpth.
What happened? Did the BoSox lose again?
Comment by TriSec on 07/27/2010 01:03:13
TriSec on 07/27/2010 01:03:13
The carmine hose have been losing with alarming frequency. The Reds, however, are still in first place.
<< changes hats >>
<< changes hats >>
Comment by livingonli on 07/27/2010 01:46:12
livingonli on 07/27/2010 01:46:12
The Reds haven't had a good year since 1990 so they are overdue.