How Orwellian is "retracting" a news story because it caused problems for

[NAO]

the Bush Administration. It's not like you can just change how things are..."cut, cut. OK, news about interrogation tactics, TAKE 2".

That report was researched BEFORE it was printed. Now they are backpeddeling...issuing a retraction merely because Bush ASKED them to. I guess they don't want to be "Rathered" (the practice formerly known as "rubber tireing".

[benburch]

1. VERY.

Stalin would have been proud.

[high density]

2. Then watching the General Electric Evening News tonight

and the reporting on the story felt like it had been written by the Washington Times. There was no objectivity at all. Newsweek is being "Ra^thered" already on it, even with the super-speedy retraction.

[NAO]

3. Maybe the Media Reform Network should consist of Journalists in exile

Journalists who have been taken "Into the Buzzsaw" and chopped up for telling the truth about something.

Into the Buzzsaw: Leading Journalists Expose the Myth of a Free Press by Kristina Borjesson (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1591022304/qid=1116293898/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-6424535-4495136?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

In this anthology, editor Borjesson succinctly explains the journalist's predicament: "The buzzsaw is what can rip through you when you try to investigate or expose anything this country's large institutions be they corporate or government want kept under wraps."

Indeed, if members of the general public read this book, or even portions of it, they will be appalled. To the uninitiated reader, the accounts of what goes on behind the scenes at major news organizations are shocking. Executives regularly squelch legitimate stories that will lower their ratings, upset their advertisers or miff their investors. Unfortunately, this dirt is unlikely to reach unknowing news audiences, as this volume's likely readership is already familiar with the current state of journalism.

Here, Murrow Award-winning reporter Borjesson edits essays by journalists from the Associated Press to CBS News to the New York Times. Each tells of their difficulties with news higher-ups as they tried to publish or air controversial stories relating to everything from toxic dump sites and civilian casualties to police brutality and dangerous hospitals. Some, like BBC reporter Greg Palast's, are merely rants against "corporate" journalism, but others, like New York Observer columnist Philip Weiss's, will serve as meaningful lessons to nascent and veteran writers alike. Most of the sentiments here are especially relevant given the current reports of the war in Afghanistan and questions of their validity, making this timely and essential reading for students and scholars of journalism.

[fob]

4. Remember when Ari Fleischer would be asked a question about

whatever and he would say, "well if you know something about that you should bring it to the appropriate person's attention" or something along those lines? Basically saying, "Yeah you're on to a good story and I have no defense and certainly would be caught in some kind of lie so unless you have all the evidence and it's incontrovertable and will hold up under my continued lies, then shut up."

Yet Newsweek just pusses straight out. I wish they would have dredged up one of Ari's quotes and issued it verbatim.

[bennywhale]

5. We are at war with Iraq.

Iraq are our friends we have never been at war with Iraq.

We are at war with Iran..................Iran are our friends we have never been at war with Iran..............We are at war with..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

[omega minimo]

8. Two Minutes Hate!

:rofl: :scared: :rofl: :scared:

[ladjf]

6. The Catholic Church forced Galileo to retract his comments

about the orbital relationship between the Earth and the Sun. But, word had it that under his breath, Galileo turned and said "but, still it turns". Perhaps Newsweek will be able to subtly let us know what caused their sudden retraction.

[renaissanceguy]

7. It's not much different from the Sedition Act

back in Adams' time. He was so disliked, he made it illegal for people and the press to speak against him. Of course, it was repealed in Jefferson's presidency.



http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21272075

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. "Controlled Media"?

I was listening to Michael Savage on "Savage Nation" and he opined (disclaimer:I KNOW he is crazy) that we are losing the war on terror(true) BUT he blames:The media, of course. He blatantly stated that he feels that the media (i.e. Newsweek, CBS, George Stephanopolous, etc.) need to be "controlled" and used as a weapon against terrorists (and other enemies, foreign and domestic I'm sure) Now, I know he is a wacko but I have a sinking feeling that we are ACTUALLY moving in that direction as we speak and it scares the hell out of me, especially when I hear about what has been going on in the news for the past 4 years under Bush!