My therapist told me to take two shots at Chris Matthews and call him in the morning . . .
Mike Barnicle is back to looking down his nose at bloggers. After Mika Brzezinski claimed on today's Morning Joe that "blogging isn't journalism," the former Boston Globe columnist declared that "95%, 99% of blogging isn't journalism. It's therapy for the blogger."
The predicate was a provocative one. Willie Geist read from an Esquire interview of Sarah Palin in which she said that—long after the issue had been put to rest—the Anchorage Daily News called her—based on allegations in blogs—to ask whether she was indeed the mother of Trig, her youngest child. Palin took that as evidence of continuing problems in the world of "journalism," prompting Mika and Mike to go off on us members of the pajamahadeen.
MIKE BARNICLE: Someone ought to tell Governor Palin that there's a distinction between blogging, which she refers to as "journalism," blogging --Pat Buchanan put the blame on the Anchorage paper, but also had some fun at bloggers' expense.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Is not journalism!
BARNICLE: I'd say 95%, maybe 99% of blogging is basically therapy for the blogger.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And it's anonymous!
BARNICLE: Sitting there --
PAT BUCHANAN: -- writing letters—getting it off!
Willie Geist, a video blogger himself, put things in perspective.
WILLIE GEIST: I think she needs to remember that blogging is part of our media universe. And there are a lot of legitimate blogs that do a lot of the dirty work.
HAROLD FORD, JR.: She ought to think about blogging—she ought to blog.
Barnicle did get off an amusing line to end the segment.
BARNICLE: Can you imagine working for the Anchorage Daily News, or whatever it is, and calling the Governor of Alaska and saying "we got a tip here from, uh, "ToughGuy226."
Now, it's true of course that blogs and bloggers vary in credibility. They range from the invaluable work of some military bloggers who have broken stories no MSM outlets could, all the way down to the blogosphere equivalent of, say, a network news show pushing blatantly forged documents to try to defeat a president.
Note: this isn't the first time Barnicle has brushed off bloggers. As I noted here, back in May he described them as 'nitwits who think they're part of the news media'
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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If blogging is "therapy",
January 14, 2009 - 08:09 ET by fitzfongIf blogging is "therapy", what is plagiarism?
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
A quick paycheck. "Beauty
January 14, 2009 - 08:17 ET by HockeyKidA quick paycheck.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Blogging
October 28, 2009 - 05:18 ET by diaboliqI agree, blogging is therapy , and great therapy, you can get experiences and oppinions from viewer comments on your editorial articles and video posts... having the comfort of sharing experiences with people who feel what you feel
That's like saying, "99% of
January 14, 2009 - 08:11 ET by HockeyKidThat's like saying, "99% of printed material isn't about Mike Barnicle". Only a self-absorbed pseudo-journalist would assume that "blogging" and "journalism" are supposed to be synonymous.
Time for a rectal craniectomy, Mike.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Bimbos like Bubbles
January 14, 2009 - 08:34 ET by fitzfongBimbos like Bubbles Brzezinski get hyper-defensive about bloggers because they're about the only people who will keep fraud journalists like Dan Rather from getting away with doing too much damage. That and the fact that bloggers expose her for the empty-headed imbecile that she is. She should relax, though. If it weren't for bloggers, nobody would know who she is.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
Hey, be nice to Mika.
January 14, 2009 - 08:38 ET by HockeyKidHey, be nice to Mika. She's doing her best to prove that even illogical, silly blondes can make big bucks in "journalism". Oh, wait--mission accomplished. Sorry, Chris Matthews--I almost forgot you.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
What Barnicle and
January 14, 2009 - 08:14 ET by Hunter12What Barnicle and Brzezinski do is supposed to be journalism? These two fall into that broad category of "professional journalist" who couldn't find a story if it happened in their front yard.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Journalism
January 14, 2009 - 10:32 ET by KC MulvilleGeorge Will once said that his job as a journalist is to "reason in public." I've accepted that as a definition ever since.
What's revealing, however, is the Barnicle's self-serving prejudice. Barnicle believes that only a professional media person should be allowed to "reason in public." The opinions of "ordinary" citizens aren't informed (which is strange coming from a person whose job it is to inform the public). Sure, Barnicle smiles, we can all have free speech, but your free speech isn't worth listening to. You're all ignorant, so shut up and listen to the professionals. Believe what we tell you to believe.
Besides the sheer arrogance of that, it's extra frustrating when you actually listen to their "professional" analysis. These are frequently stupid people. They repeat what they hear others say, often using the exact same words. Remember how many astute political observers all said that Obama merely had to "look presidential?" Throughout the debate stage of the election, that phrase was passed around as cheaply as hookers at a convention. There was no thought, and certainly no reflection. They were accelerants of ignorance.
On the other hand, why bother getting upset. Ten years from now, who will still be around? These dying relics of "professional" news outlets, or ordinary citizens expressing opinions? My money is on the ordinary citizens.
Replacement word
October 28, 2009 - 06:37 ET by matthewdeanKC:
I went through your post and mentally replaced the words "journalism" or "journalist", "professional", "blogger", and "observer", with the word liberal.
Turned out to be a pretty good work-a-day definition of liberal; except that the resultant phrase "astute political liberal" leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
For balance though, the first half of your penultimate sentence then had a much nicer, more final ring to it.
Then again, maybe I just have too much time on my hands.
Best regards,
MD
"I may not agree with what your bumper sticker says, but I will defend to the death your right to stick it." (Unknown)
And their version of
January 14, 2009 - 08:15 ET by WolfremAnd their version of "journalism" isn't journalism either.
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana
"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause." - Padme, Star Wars 3
BARNICLE: Can you imagine
January 14, 2009 - 08:17 ET by rimskyBARNICLE: Can you imagine working for the Anchorage Daily News, or whatever it is, and calling the Governor of Alaska and saying "we got a tip here from, uh, "ToughGuy226."
Yeah, and compared to the tireless, endless, checking and re-checking of sources that the msm and the press do.. I mean, it must take them hundreds of man hours to find those "some say" folks and those "there are those who think" folks and.. I'm just sayin!
"we got a tip here from,
January 14, 2009 - 08:27 ET by Hunter12"we got a tip here from, uh, "ToughGuy226."
I think that's the guy who pointed out to Dan Rather that the PC hadn't been invented in 1973 and therefore the Word document creations of President Bush's TANG records were forgeries. "Journalists" were all over that one.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Indeed. Need we once
January 14, 2009 - 08:35 ET by HockeyKidIndeed. Need we once again invoke the long list of "journalists" who have turned out to be short-form fiction writers?
What the heck. I'll start the ball--everybody play along if you like.
Jayson Blair...
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
... Associated Press...
January 14, 2009 - 09:05 ET by Hunter12... Associated Press... [Yes, I grabbed the easy one.] Let's go back to 2006 and how the bloggosphere had to point out to the press that Green Helmet Guy was staging video for Hezbollah propaganda. That was people in their pajamas pointing out to the professionals that they had been had, or, maybe, that we couldn't be.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Stealing Tina Fey's acceptance speech,"Hey mike_barnicle... "
January 14, 2009 - 09:12 ET by Hunter12I've got the daily double, press gets duped and then tries to take credit for uncovering the truth. These guys were "professionals" of the highest order, Mr. Barnicle.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Indeed---
October 28, 2009 - 06:10 ET by matthewdeanHK:
1. Jayson Blair
2. Dan Rather
MD
"I may not agree with what your bumper sticker says, but I will defend to the death your right to stick it." (Unknown)
There was a point
January 14, 2009 - 08:28 ET by well99Why is the Anchorage Daily pushing a lie already proved wrong?As far as bloggers being journalist.I have more faith in some such as NB and Drudge then the left wing type.The shills in the msm have forgotten about researching the infomation.They have become the propaganda arm of the DNC.
Since when was Mike Barnicle a journalist?
January 14, 2009 - 11:51 ET by R D HelmThis guy is nothing more than a partisan hack for the DNC, with a name that reminds me of something one scrapes from the hull of a boat.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.
RD
January 14, 2009 - 11:59 ET by SeashellI actually saw a very young Mike Barnicle in a 1970's movie with Robert Redford. He played a journalist if I remember correctly. Maybe since he played one in the movies he thinks he really is one.
Barnicle Bill
January 14, 2009 - 12:31 ET by bradbenj5952Hey Barnicle Bill! Do you see that line of characters at the end of your long nose? That's the unemployment line...which is where you and your ilk are headed. America isn't buying what you're selling. Don't you get it? Your networks are falling fast and furious. Is it too difficult for you folks to understand why? But I, for one, will not shed a single tear if and when the coffin of the liberal MSM is nailed shut.
- Ah, now I feel better! Man that was some good, annonymous therapy!
News Casters
January 14, 2009 - 13:43 ET by UtherpendSomeone needs to tell these bastions of intellectual powers that reading news froma teleprompter does not make you a Jourmalist.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand thafeeds you."
Was Joe sick today? With
January 14, 2009 - 15:04 ET by marpelWas Joe sick today? With Joe gone, Mika was wild with rage over "torturing" those poor terrorist prisoners. I thought one time she was going to burst into tears over the mistreatment of the Taliban.
I had to change it, but not before I heard the conversation about Sarah Palin and the bloggers.
Actually, bloggers are much more intelligent that the group that was sitting on that set this morning. Mika and her "boys" are so dang unintelligent it's stunning.
Talk about hypocrisy!
January 14, 2009 - 17:09 ET by CobraMan"Can you imagine working for the Anchorage Daily News, or whatever it is, and calling the Governor of Alaska and saying "we got a tip here from, uh, "ToughGuy226.""
Talk about hypocrisy! I guess the "real" journalists will now have to start naming those anonymous source, like "deep throat ," that the MSM love to quote as often as they can.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
HEY BARNICLE BREATH!
January 15, 2009 - 06:14 ET by BobAnthonyWHAT YOU'RE DOING AIN'T JOURNALISM EITHER! IT DIED IN 2008! YOU'RE JUST ONE OF THE CADAVERS--AND YA LOOK LIKE ONE TOO!
AND YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD USE THERAPY MORE THAN ME!
The Constitution is NOT a conspiracy theory and the founding fathers are NOT conspiracy theorists!