Fair winds and following seas. You made us proud.
Source: Her Title: Cryptologic Technician. Her Occupation: Warrior. – The New York Times
Clips
On the passing of George H.W. Bush
lies next to Bush’s casket ahead of national memorial services for Bush this week.
“Mission complete,” Bush spokesperson Jim McGrath said when he posted the photo on Twitter tonight. #Remembering41
https://nbcnews.to/2EaiMBp
Because the difference is so stark between George H.W. Bush and the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue the loss is felt more profoundly.
This is wonderful tribute to George H. W. Bush by Bill Clinton.
From the “we need to do better” files
I know I am guilty of it and perhaps it is because I think most things that come out of his mouth are bullshit and self-aggrandizing bullshit at that. So I presume everyone is as skeptical as I am.
Still the point is well taken:
“A pattern has emerged: Trump’s proposals are usually reported quickly — often credulously passed along in headlines and tweets — before thorough vetting later yields more skeptical reports.”
And a suggestion on how to do better:
“The key to resisting that tactic, according to journalists and media experts, is not ignoring what the president says but adding context, even if it means taking longer to publish a story.”
As reporters and journalists our credibility is the coin of the realm. Let’s not let Trump make us squander it.
As Belichick says, do your job.
Me included
Read it all here> Source: Press struggles with amplifying Trump’s pre-midterms claims – POLITICO
George Will: “We don’t mail Elvis a Social Security check, no matter how many people think he is alive.”
From the “why we can’t have nice things file”
C’mon NYTimes, you can do better than this.
When we try to convince people journalists are not the enemy of the people, this does not help…Get it right or don’t do it.
Editors’ Note: September 14, 2018
An earlier version of this article and headline created an unfair impression about who was responsible for the purchase in question. While Nikki R. Haley is the current ambassador to the United Nations, the decision on leasing the ambassador’s residence and purchasing the curtains was made during the Obama administration, according to current and former officials. The article should not have focused on Ms. Haley, nor should a picture of her have been used. The article and headline have now been edited to reflect those concerns, and the picture has been removed.
Source: State Department Spent $52,701 on Curtains for Residence of U.N. Envoy – The New York Times
Updates:
Media critic Eric Wemple weighs in the same day with an op/ed in the Times:
Backlash to the initial New York Times presentation has been robust, as well it should be. There are plenty of examples of bona fide Trump-era abuses of taxpayer money — see Scott Pruitt’s strange security purchases and Tom Price’s travel expenses. No need to fashion a headline suggesting that Haley belongs to that group.”
Source: New York Times wrongs Nikki Haley with curtain headline
And you people are not helping either:
Reporters in Hurricane Florence, please stop acting like you’re hanging on for dear life
The WaPo takes a look:
New York Times backtracks on a tale about some expensive curtains
Fighting words from Chuck Todd
Chuck Todd writes in the Atlantic:
“American democracy requires a functioning press that informs voters and creates a shared set of facts. If journalists are going to defend the integrity of their work, and the role it plays in sustaining democracy, we’re going to need to start fighting back.”
Worth the read and importantly, time to take some action.
“I’m not advocating for a more activist press in the political sense, but for a more aggressive one. That means having a lower tolerance for talking points, and a greater willingness to speak plain truths. It means not allowing ourselves to be spun, and not giving guests or sources a platform to spin our readers and viewers, even if that angers them. Access isn’t journalism’s holy grail—facts are. ”
Source: Chuck Todd: It’s Time for the Press to Fight Back – The Atlantic