There were some incredibly obvious lessons to be learned from the media's failure in the run-up to war in Iraq. For the record, here are a few of them.
RECENTLY
Fox’s big reveal is a teachable moment about journalism
Now is the time to publicly and definitively explain journalism's core values and how Fox does not share them, and to never again allow anyone – the public, the pollsters, the funders, the political parties – to confuse the two.
The Washington Post opinion section is a sad, toxic wasteland
The Washington Post opinion section is dull, addled, and inconsequential. It doesn’t come in for remotely as much criticism as the New York Times's -- but that’s because nobody cares about it enough to criticize it.
At the New York Times, it’s the comfortable versus the afflicted
The dismissive response to a complaint about negative bias in reporting about transgender people reflects an ongoing newsroom rift.
Press criticism is everywhere. But the industry isn’t listening.
Political reporters at major news organizations are letting right-wing narratives determine their tone and their agenda, and more people are noticing.
The Washington Post is doomed without a major reset
New ownership, with a powerful sense of public service, could take advantage of the huge opportunity to become the world leader in U.S. political and government news presented by the abysmal failure of the industry-leading New York Times to adjust to the asymmetry of the current political environment.
The story no one wants to touch: Why the Capitol Police enabled 1/6
Congressional investigators didn't connect the obvious dots -- and neither have journalists. Until now.
MISSION STATEMENT
Press Watch mission statement: Political journalism needs a reset
No one can possibly argue that modern political journalism has fulfilled its essential mission of creating an informed electorate. Here's how it needs to change.
FOX IS NOT NEWS
Fox’s big reveal is a teachable moment about journalism
Now is the time to publicly and definitively explain journalism's core values and how Fox does not share them, and to never again allow anyone – the public, the pollsters, the funders, the political parties – to confuse the two.
By firing Brian Stelter, CNN is capitulating to disinformation rather than fighting it
CNN’s latest big move is a huge victory for Fox. By firing Brian Stelter, CNN’s new management has rid Fox – temporarily, I hope – of one of its chief scourges.
THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY
EXPLAINERS
The old labels don’t properly capture today’s political divisions
Liberal, conservative, moderate, populist, pragmatic – are the old political labels really meaningful anymore? What we need are labels for the significant distinctions that exist along a number of different axes between political groups in this day and age. And we need to stop abusing the ones we use now.
Newsrooms are struggling to cover race
The role of race and racism in American politics has always been significant. These days, it is central to the political divide in our country. Understanding and being able to explain its complexities is essential to cover this moment coherently. And yet the gaze of our elite American newsrooms remains intractably white and male. So they fail.
REWRITE DESK
Not clear on who’s threatening democracy? Let me rewrite that for you.
Journalists should be making absolutely clear that Republican candidates for key state and federal offices are fully prepared to steal any future election that doesn’t go their way – making the conspiracy theory they spread about 2020 actually come true in 2024.
A “challenge” to Biden’s battle against racism? Let me rewrite that for you.
I would have written that the Buffalo massacre was a gruesome reminder of the importance of Biden’s desire to “restore the soul of America”.
‘Conservatives’ say teachers are ‘grooming’ kids? Let me rewrite that for you.
Instead of clearly debunking and critiquing this insane, divisive filth, the Washington Post does stenography and withholds judgment.