At Least Come Up With A New Cliche

Stephen Spruiell took part in some kind of media panel with MSM types for the Marines. This comment reminds me of a point I try to make from time to time, but haven't for awhile:

Of particular concern was the way the 2,000th casualty overshadowed the passage of Iraq's constitution, which happened on the same day. One marine just recently back from Iraq called the constitution "a major step toward us getting out of there," yet noted that the media coverage of the event had been astonishingly shallow. One fellow panelist, a former producer for CBS News, said that the 2,000th casualty was a very important story because it was important to know that these were our brothers and fathers that were sacrificing in Iraq. The room sort of exploded with hands in the air and marines arguing that the 2,000th casualty was a meaningless statistic and no different that the 1,999th or the first. Moreover, they argued that the bigger problem was the lack of balance — the good news was not reported with the bad. The former CBS News producer agreed, but he and an NBC producer also argued, using an old standby, that it's not news if a plane lands at Kennedy airport safely — only if it crashes...

But folks, it is amazing news when you're building a free republic with rights for minorities and the rule of law in the freakin' Arab Middle East. Not to understand that shows that reporters can be simultaneously brave and clueless.

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[Chris Fotos]

Typepad once again will not let me in this morning. And I wore a nice tie and everything.

Blogging will resume ASAP. Suggestions on other blogging platforms are welcome.