Pretentious Queen

Kathleen Parker is a syndicated columnist and writes for the Orlando Sentinel. Her column on December 28, 2005 was titled "Lord of the Blogs."

While she talks about being a "blog fan since the beginning," her article drips with derision and it belies her true feelings towards the “creepy explosion we now call the Blogosphere” with it's "recently wired squatters." Ms. Parker, just a note, holding your nose high in the air is not very becoming for a "journalist."

Stating "I have written favorably about the value added to journalism and public knowledge thanks to the new citizen journalist" she also adds "I'm also wary of power untempered by restraint and accountability." Hmmmm. Has she read the NYT or the Washington Post lately – has she listened to Fox News? Any accountability there?

"Say what you will about the so-called mainstream media, but no industry agonizes more about how to improve its product, police its own members, and better serve its communities." Being a member of that industry, one supposes she should be forgiven for her prejudicial view. Does she mean to say doctors, nurses, or educators are less concerned about their fields? She adds, "Newspapers are filled with carpal-tunneled wretches, overworked and underpaid, who suffer near-pathological allegiance to getting it right." Ah, I understand now. Judy Miller sure got it right about weapons of mass destruction. The NYT sure got it right sitting on the secret domestic spying story since before the 2004 elections. Bob Woodward sure gets it right being a stenographer for the Bush administration. How silly of people to think "journalists" are not nearly perfect!

"Bloggers persist no matter their contributions or quality, though most would have little to occupy their time were the mainstream media to disappear tomorrow. Some bloggers do their own reporting, but most rely on mainstream reporters to do the heavy lifting. Some bloggers also offer superb commentary, but most babble, buzz and blurt like caffeinated adolescents...Incivility is their weapon and humanity their victim....We can't silence them, but for civilization's sake -- and the integrity of information by which we all live or die -- we can and should ignore them."

Wow! It's the end of time, perhaps Armageddon is around the corner. Kathleen, change is hard to accept, but you need to. You and your “adult” colleagues would benefit from thinking about the following comments by Doug Thompson who writes the blog, Capitol Hill Blue:

"But truth is not owned by any political party or partisan philosophy. It exists beyond the boundaries of perception, belief or bias. It cannot, and should not, be subject to limitations, censorship or government mandate. True journalism is not a popularity contest. A true journalist does not belong to a political party or pursue a partisan point of view. A true journalist looks for the truth without caring where it leads or concern for who it affects. Our goal here at Capitol Hill Blue has always been, and always will be, the pursuit of truth. We’re non-partisan and proud of it. We will approach 2006 with the same dogged determination to find and print the truth without bias, without partisan taint and without concern over who it might anger."

Blogs fill a need that the mainstream media has left vacant – one of truth, solid analysis, and questioning of authority. People are tired of poseurs, lapdogs, stenographers, and spinners. While most bloggers do depend on the mass media for basic story information, they become influential filling holes caused by shoddy journalism and the intentionally ignored stories due to corporate medias monetary interests. Too often, the MSM fails to cover a story until "Blogosphere" clamor forces action. Too often, corporate media interests and "access" take precedence over civic duty. Too often, Washington's journalists are guilty of losing touch with real Americans, by getting full of themselves or becoming infected by the political sleaze around them. Many in the MSM, yourself included, seem to forget what true journalism is. The MSM is suffering from declining readership – blogs are exploding - there is a connection for those willing to see it.
Posted on The Human Stain