Whither Journalism's Sting?

Wilfred McClay has penned a thoughtful, lively critique of big media at the blog for Touchstone Magazine (and it's quite a good blog day in and day out, too).

"We all have known for a long time how shows like '60 Minutes' operate, and the degree to which their effectiveness depended on the sheer volume and scope of the networks' megaphones, the absence of any similarly equipped opposition, and the inability of their targets to expose CBS's manipulations, dishonest editing, and prosecutorial one-sidedness. I recall a wonderful New Yorker cartoon that made this point beautifully. A man is leaning out from the balcony of his high-rise apartment, which is surrounded by several other high-rise apartment buildings, all with similar but empty balconies. He bellows into a megaphone, "The following is an opposing point of view on a CBS editorial!" It's funny, but the humor derives from the man's utter impotence. In that sense, it was all too accurate.

"In Dan Rather's case, the coverup was far more damaging than the crime. But he had every reason to think that when he brazenly presented the source of documentary evidence for his slander of President Bush as an "unimpeachable" source, no one would be able to challenge him. He offered a naked argument from authority. And he did it with all the confidence of an experienced riverboat gambler, secure in the knowledge that no one would ever check his sleeves. After all, this tactic has worked wonderfully well in the past. And what a glorious way to end his career, breaking a story that would bring down a loathed Republican president!"

The entire piece, which isn't too long, is well worth your time.