tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27644679.post7565972727577355054..comments2023-11-03T03:17:27.053-05:00Comments on NPR Check: Main Street RamadiMytwordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307620268159811668noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27644679.post-77009854330890692912007-03-14T13:50:00.000-05:002007-03-14T13:50:00.000-05:00For a little dose of how real reporters operate in...For a little dose of how real reporters operate in a war zone, take a look at Michael Herr's Dispatches, from the Vietnam era. He also has a great account in there about the "war tourists" (my term), journalists who came over to Vietnam just to get their ticket punched and who spent their whole tours being led around by the military press officers, saying things like "Wow, I really expected things would be bad here, but it all seems to be pretty well under control". BTW, thanks for all you do, MYTWORDS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27644679.post-50340336784364956092007-03-14T10:38:00.000-05:002007-03-14T10:38:00.000-05:00Wow, because of the real, genuine soundbyte of a h...Wow, because of the real, genuine soundbyte of a humvee (or equivalent US-built vehicle) at the get-go of Jamie's report, we can only joyously assume that she's been let out of the Green Zone for a few hours to follow Al-Maliki's stroll down placid Ramadi lane! She's even straightened out some of her usual rubbery enunciations that have very little Aussie charm to them, but mostly convey fear. But anyway, this report was a washout. There was no trace of real observation or nuance. Tarabay always gives the bare minimum, because that's all she's capable of, it seems. Isn't it obvious to these journalists that this sort of timid adventurism is a setup? What happened to the old cranky skepticism that newsies are supposed to bring with them? That crusty 'you're guilty until proven innocent' approach? The NPR method now seems to be, especially in Bush's war, to 'report' on what's being force-fed by the propaganda producers, without insightful interpretation. A more skeptical attitude may not be perfect, but it usually helps listeners with their critical thinking processes. But then, NPR would be accused of lefty leanings, and they couldn't allow that, now could they? So, Jamie's minimalism works pretty well after all.Porter Melmothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11473990960543501439noreply@blogger.com