Thursday, February 10, 2005

For real news, you'll need to look beyond the New York Times this morning

Want some real news this morning? You won't find much of it in the New York Times. Denise Grady has a front page story (New York Times) that's worth reading ("Sudden Stress Breaks Hearts, A Study Show") provided that you remember this is one study. (Grady rightly uses "suggests" in describing the study.) You might also check out Walt Bogdanich's "U.S. Audit Faults Federal Regulators On Railroad Safety." But that's about it. The most interesting story in the paper's main section is reduced to a "national briefing" paragraph: Ariel Hart's "Georgia: Officer Admits to Role In Gang Beating." (It's the third paragraph.)

There's no mention of Jeff Gannon (though rumors of a Democratic mayor having an affair do rate as worthy of a story). For that, check out the New York Daily News: "Bush press pal quitsover gay prostie link" by Helen Kennedy.

Let's sidebar for a moment because Ron of Why Are We Back in Iraq? and I have been exchanging e-mails about a point that's not getting a great deal of comment in the mainstream news (Ron's been on the Talon "News" story for some time now). The mainstream press was quite happy to note Jeff Gannon previously. It wasn't just that Gannon got access to the White House and was called on by the Bully Boy, also of interest is the way he was treated as "mainstream" by so many in the mainstream press.

It's interesting that this "new" "news" organization could have such influence. And please check out Ron's work because Gannon was far from that "news" organization's only problem (they appear to have at least one "reporter" who reprints the work of others -- including Times' reporters -- and passes it off as his own).

The New York Daily News link is courtesy of BuzzFlash which is always a good resource for real news so if you're suffering from a lack of news in this morning's Times, go there.

Here's some of what you'll see:

Howard Kurtz and Wolf Blitzer shown to engage in journalistic malfeasance in handling of the Gannon scandal. (This is good stuff.) Is Someone Paying Their Salaries BESIDES Their So-Called News Companies? No Proof, Yet. 2/10

New York Times Led Charge Against Clinton "Lying" About Blow Job and Was Faucet for Ken Starr Leaks, But Remained Silent About Bulgegate and Cannongate. Mighty Interesting, Ain't It? As in Who is Telling the NYT What NOT to Print. We'd Like to Know.

Howard Kurtz defends Gannon on CNN, says it's all a liberal vendetta against the poor little conservative. Really? Would you be saying that if Bill Clinton accredited a reporter who owned MilitaryEscortsM4M.com? 2/10

Plame & Propagannon: Joe Wilson Speaks Out 2/10

Over at the BBC, check out:

Three killed in Baghdad car bomb

Iranians answer unity rally call

Nepal moves against protesters

Japan aid for Khmer Rouge trials

And of course, we can always count on Amy Goodman and Democracy Now! for some real news.

Kara e-mails this story from the LA Times (registration required, but it's free): " U.S. Scientists Say They Are Told to Alter Findings" by Julie Cart:

More than 200 scientists employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say they have been directed to alter official findings to lessen protections for plants and animals, a survey released Wednesday says.The survey of the agency's scientific staff of 1,400 had a 30% response rate and was conducted jointly by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

There's real news out there today, you just have to look beyond the New York Times.