NewsBusters under-covers media bias in the Butte, Montana media market, so when Best of the Web's James Taranto caught some in the Montana Standard, I decided to jump on it. On Tuesday, the newspaper, part of the Lee chain, announced it would carry Byron York's column each Tuesday and introduced York by explaining how he isn't the typical conservative ogre:
York, a staunch conservative, presents his arguments in a thoughtful, measured fashion, rather than resorting to cheap personal attacks on President Obama and others in the Democratic Party that seem to be the hallmark of the GOP these days, said Standard Editor Gerry O'Brien.
Taranto observed in his September 16 compilation: “We know and like Byron York and applaud the choice. O'Brien's editorializing, however, is odd for two reasons. First, does it not occur to him that he is doing exactly what he faults Republicans for, namely engaging in gratuitous insults? Second, isn't he worried about losing readers, some of whom likely are among the group he is insulting?”
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Amazing, that in a mostly
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:41 ET by Chris NormanAmazing, that in a mostly Red State like Montana, the local media still flaunt their liberalness.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Chris
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:57 ET by well99I don’t know about Butte but Boise’s paper is owned by out of state folks.
...who are too stupid to
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:07 ET by Chris Norman...who are too stupid to accomodate local preferences and sensibilities.
With that obnoxious attitude, they probably don't have too many conservative readers left anyway. Why stop at York? A fauxservative, like David Brooks, Kathleen Parker, or David Frum would probably have suited them much better.
We need bigtimer here to provide us with the real scoop on the Montana (We Have) Standard(s).
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Chris
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:22 ET by well99Which is why The Tribune which is only 20 some miles from me in Nampa actually prints the papers for them.They have lost so much money.McClatchy actually owns the Idaho Statesmen out of Boise.I know I dont waste money on it.
Hey Chris...miracle I
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:22 ET by bigtimerHey Chris...miracle I caught this...I'm in and out here today.
Anyway, Montana and the newspaper chains are just like everywhere else.
Liberal all over the place.
We have 2 dem Senators, a dem Gov and a bunch of eastern leftists here, the eastern part of the state has liberal nutcases, along with bigger cities across the land, just like the rest of this country, the leftist infiltrate everywhere, take me too long to go into at the moment, but it has been sickening to watch, not just here, but all over the NW in the last 20-30 years now.
Brokaw, Turner, take to the elections and airwaves for their leftist picks, especailly Brokaw, I despise that man.
Smaller town papers have been bought up by liberal papers for years now.
Btw...Baucus is a real winner from Big Sky Country...is he not.
I'm trying to think of the chain I despise the most that has interferred here, can't at the moment, plus the guy that is pretty big with them, he's been all over the networks on and off with the exception of Fox since the mid-terms when Bush was still in.
McClatchey is the chain I was trying to think of Chris... they are filth here as far as I am concerned.
...'Go Green...Recycle Congress'
BT
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:28 ET by well99Glad we have Walt Minnick.He is a D but represents us.Better than the lame Gov who is a R that should have a T by his name.Tax this Tax that.We have 3 rainy day funds.
Did Mr. O'Brien happen to
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:57 ET by motherbeltDid Mr. O'Brien happen to offer any examples of the cheap personal attacks on President Obama and others in the Democratic Party that seem to be the hallmark of the GOP these days ?
Good Grief!!
Republicans can't disagree with the President's policies without being tarred as racist!
Who the big H would DARE a personal attack!?
''Who the big H would DARE a personal attack!? ''
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:45 ET by DoktorFrankenI would. He talks weird.
York is OK
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:58 ET by StarAZThoughtful measured--do they mean as "smart" as they think they are? Have they ever heard of presentation, even a little showmanship...TV is a visual medium...
York is OK
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:58 ET by StarAZThoughtful measured--do they mean as "smart" as they think they are? Have they ever heard of presentation, even a little showmanship...TV is a visual medium...
I've been to Montana and
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:19 ET by jkwtradingI've been to Montana and find the people there rather conservative...so this editor should watch his words on whom he offends..
He shouldn't assume all his readers come from L.A and other parts of CA..
In my home town(also very conservative) we have a paper run by a true liberal. He though knows how to keep his own opinions much to himself or close friends rather than broadcast throughout the news paper.
As one of the locals...
Wed, 09/16/2009 - 19:07 ET by JRoweThe politics and history of the Richest Hill on Earth are part of Montana's character, and while I believe it leans too far to the left at times, it's not without its high points. Obama visited our 4th of July parade during his campaign, and while I think the guy is a blithering, dithering tool, it was an honor to have him, if only as a representative of his office (or the office he aspired to, at that point.)
"...cheap personal attacks on President Obama and others in the Democratic Party that seem to be the hallmark of the GOP these days."
I'm not sure if Leonard Pitts, the supposed ideological counterpart of York in the opinion pages, can be measured with the same stick. Did Mr. O'Brien miss the incessant vitriole being spewed by his op-ed choices during the last 7 years? Or is it only a "cheap personal attack" if Gerry doesn't agree with the sentiment?
Pot, kettle, etc. Perhaps a little more thought should be put into de-politicizing journalism? After all, that's what those journalism degrees are for, right? To teach people to be fair, impartial, and consistent in their journalistic pursuits, not to succumb to personal cynicism and hyperpartisan politics in an age where accountability to those standards will determine the fate of newspapers everywhere.
That said, I'm glad there's *any* sort of conservative voice in our
paper. It's pretty much NPR in print. Maybe this reflects the beginning
of a positive trend for the Montana Standard?
Thanks for this concession to your conservative readers, Gerry.
JRowe...
Thu, 01/07/2010 - 22:54 ET by JerConvinced Mr. Baker and you must surely be embellishing the remarks of the editor in connection with the introduction of Byron York to the readers of the Standard, I was prepared to post an appropriate amendment to the stunningly partisan rhetoric allegedly employed by Mr. O'Brien. To my surprise, the quote was verbatim, down to the very last letter. Well, let no one accuse Gerry O'Brien of being ideologically coy, but there are clearly more serious imputations which could be lodged regarding his journalistic integrity.
Jer
By the way, your writing skills are very impressive. Looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future.