THE IRRESPONSIBLE MEDIA - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY

"This is London." With each broadcast prior to our entrance into WWII, Edward R Murrow began with these words as he described the courage and heroism of the British people as they valiantly stood against the brutal attacks from the Third Reich and the Luftwaffe. In each broadcast Murrow stated his sources and gave accounts of the truth based upon responsible journalism and I believe his broadcasts were critical in establishing United States opinion and our eventual entrance into WWII. Those days are no more. Today's , "journalists, " (I place that in quotations for the word is a sarcasm of the meaning of journalism), whether the print media or television are more interested in political agendas and being the first to, "get the story,' regardless of the consequences, without source verification and in most instances based on rumors. I exclude much of the, "new media, " from irresponsible journalism for they are mainly for entertainment yet despite this truth most are responsible enough to verify and check their sources BEFORE they broadcast or post their conclusions. This is not the case with the alphabet news agencies, (ABC, NBC and CBS), nor with icons such as The New York and Los Angeles Times. They have become a shadow of who they once were because of irresponsible and dangerous reporting. CNN is guilty of this same type of, "journalism," and lately to a lesser extent even Fox News has fallen into the trap. All to get and in most cases manufacture the story. We have been subjected recently to unverified reports of West Virginia miners rescued alive then hopes dashed three hours later when just the opposite was the truth. Though the authorities allowed the hype to happen and last far longer than it should the media carries much of the blame for spreading the story world wide WITHOUT confirmation based on rumor and never attempting to verify the facts. During Hurricane Katrina this same type of irresponsible reporting exaggerated every aspect of the disaster. Stating huge body counts in evacuation centers, murders in the streets, rapes of children and the elderly which has been proven was based on rumor and innuendoes that were never confirmed just reported. Then when the truth was made known not once did the media take responsibility for their false reports nor retract any of their wrong statements. This is , "journalism ?" On the political front the media claims to be non-partisan and unbiased in their reporting of issues that effect this nation and the world, yet in just about every instance the media blatantly reports based on an agenda and conveniently neglects much of the story or flat out lies to further their agenda. I realize that you who are liberal will disagree with what I am about to say since this agenda favors your point of view, but it has become extremely obvious that this media based political agenda not only leans left but outright and obviously propagandizes a liberal agenda. How many interviews are aired with Republicans concerning current issues ? Most interviews are with only Democratic leadership or former Democrat politicians who are hired as analysts. When Republican interviews DO make the news most of their comments are taken out of context or shortened to prevent their point from being made.

This brand of irresponsible journalism began during the Vietnam War as the media turned against the war and through their reporting, leaving out facts and reporting only body counts and perceived American atrocities, (which since have been proven false in nearly all cases), turned the country against the war and the troops. Whether one was in favor of the war or not the agenda based media accounts of the war are directly responsible for the countries reversal and eventual loss of Vietnam. Another instance that gave rise to today's brand of journalism was Watergate. Although the Nixon administration did perform illegal acts and Nixon most likely would have been impeached had he not resigned, the media gained an overwhelming feeling of power as they realized that their reporting had the ability to bring down a sitting President.

Today's, "journalists, " are taking this agenda based unsubstantiated reporting to a new level of extremism that is not only irresponsible but dangerous to our national security. Their blatant attacks through their reporting of our troops, their Commander in Chief and selective reporting of the war gives rise to our enemy thinking that they are defeating the United States and emboldens them to further their terrorist activities. When a news agency has the ability to expose a national security program, (the NSA, Al Qaeda wire tap surveillance), as the New York Times has, then use this leak to promote the book of the reporter covering the story and be treated as hero's by the rest of the media and the left for threatening our security and this nation then irresponsible journalism becomes a danger and crosses the line of treason. When our Founding Fathers placed freedom of the press in the first amendment their intent was freedom with responsibility and with discretion when the security of the nation was at risk. This was widely practiced in WWII and other conflicts that involved the United States. Journalist were Americans first and reporters second and understood that they could risk our troops and our country by their reporting and as such used discretion as they reported wars and then reported the whole story and not one that supported a certain agenda. Today's out of control reporting would cause Edward R. Murrow to roll over in his grave were he to see what the media has become. Will it change, I think not. Unfortunately one day devastation will result because of irresponsible reporting and then who will the media blame!

Ken Taylor