Category Archives: The Media

Say hello to Guardian America, a web launch intended to be

the US-based website of the Guardian newspaper of London and Manchester, which will combine content produced in the UK and around the world with content that we originate here to create a Guardian especially tailored to American readers. I am sometimes asked what, or who, this means we will try to be “like”; the questioner wants an American reference point the better to slot this project into a known category. The only answer is that we will try to be like … the Guardian.

Sounds like a nice idea, although I quite like the original.

Worth reading, Media Matters on its deliciously old-fashioned approach to news criticism.

At Media Matters, we go the extra mile and
actually read and watch the news reports we critique. It isn't quite as fast or easy as simply making things up, but we think it's worth it.

These days, the three bloggers most likely to produce a 'what he said' reaction for me are perennial favorite The Carpetbagger, Digby (although I sometimes also violently disagree), and Robert Waldmann (with two N's!).

See, for example, Robert's reaction today to the NYT's latest piece of dangerous fluff, an article fuller of Republican spin than facts. Bait and Switch at the New York Times exactly captures my reactions when reading this thing over breakfast this morning.

That said, I am not endorsing the following statement, in an earlier posting, at least not without further testing:

This brings me to the best established hypothesis in the social sciences. The Romans had a theory that they won wars because the gods were on their side. They felt that so long as they performed traditional Pagan rituals they were fine. After converting Constantine as Pontifex Maximus ordered Romans to keep up the Pagan rituals then moved to Constantinople. For centuries Romans ruled and performed these rituals. Theodosius banned them from performing the traditional rites. Rome was sacked within 30 years. Sure it was just a coincidence suuuuuure.

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell materially distorted reality in his testimony to Congress.

The milquetoast headline in The Washington Pravda Post is — brace yourself — Iraq Wiretap Delay Not Quite as Presented.

Not quite as presented!

Where have I heard something like that before? Hmmm….

Despite the best that has been done by everyone … the war situation has developed not necessarily to our advantage.”

– Emperor Hirohito, Radio Broadcast Announcing Japan’s Surrender, August 15, 1945

I'm actually starting to think Brad DeLong s right—surely the Post can't survive if it continues like this? If people want this sort of work, they might as well buy the Washington Times.