Politics, Journalism and Theater

The same people who brought us the fake "documentary" used to dismantle ACORN have succeeded in once again making someone look stupid.

 Thanks to the foolish response of a Democratic congressman (if the video hasn't been edited improperly, that is), Andrew Breitbart's little band of provocateurs look like victims. I won't argue the politics here and only hope that the congressman in question takes a serious look at his own actions.

But there are several weirdnesses here at the intersection of politics, activism and journalism. It would appear that Breitbart's crew takes on the image of journalism--approaching a political figure on the street and asking only slightly loaded questions (less loaded than, say, some of Bill O'Reilly's ambush squad) while playing by a very different set of rules that only they know.

 But they refuse to identify themselves and they refuse to add context. They simply walk up, call out a question, and, when asked, will say no more than they're working on "a project."  That's bound to irritate people. If someone did the same thing to me, I'm not sure how friendly I'd be, either. If someone waves a microphone in your face and demands an answer, it's sort of nice to know who you're talking to. Or at least who they represent.  (I'm not defending the congressman, who foolishly responded by grabbing the guy's arm and not letting go. At one point, it almost looks as if he's going to put the guy in a headlock.)  But the truly weird part is that the guy's face is blocked out by the video editing, as if he were a young child being taken away from an abusive parent.

What? So what are you guys? Do you think you're entitled to the protections of the First Amendment? ( I do.) Do you think a congressman walking on the sidewalk should answer any and all questions whenever you demand it?  (Maybe, may be not.)  And do you think you should identify yourselves? (Yes). Sorry, felt the urge to answer all the questions for you.

This won't be the last. Theater is now part of our political/journalism nexus and it will only get worse.

The Government Goes Online

I was just checking out President-elect Barack Obama's new web site and was struck by a.its professional quality b. the ease with which Obama will be able to go around the mainstream media or other politicians if he feels the need. We're in a new era, folks and the impact on journalism has yet to be determined. If you were on the campaign's email list, you probably noticed the sentence at the end of the one sent Tuesday night, the gist of which was we should all watch for the next one, which suggests that the Obama administration plans to stay directly in touch with people in its database.

Sometimes the Jokes Write Themselves

Maybe this is nothing out of the ordinary but I was surprised to get this e-mail today. I will refrain from the more predictable gasbag jokes. Well, not entirely.

Some contributors to Helium.com are invited to join the National Press Club.

Here's what Helium says:

The 100-year-old National Press Club has extended membership invitations to Helium’s five-star writers. Qualify and you can apply to the news club that the nation’s most notable journalists, government officials and top news sources call home.

This partnership recognizes the value of citizen journalism and helps spread awareness of its importance to the new media landscape. This is the first time in the National Press Club’s history that it has reached out to a non-traditional news outlet.

Not a five-star writer yet? Hard work has landed many Helium writers in that category already – you could be one of them! Learn more about Helium’s Star Members.
About the National Press Club

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club has 3,700 members worldwide and is the nation’s most prestigious journalist’s club. The Club regularly hosts world leaders and other newsworthy speakers at its famous podium. NPC programs and other events are broadcast on CSPAN and other media on a regular and ongoing basis. NPC is on the web at www.press.org.

Getting What You Pay For

There's citizen journalism and then there's being cheap. As always, the value of the idea comes from its definition. Is it truly a way to bring fresh ideas and voices into the news business? Or is it just a way of going cheap, getting free or almost free "news" from people in the community?

John McIntyre has some thoughts. I never had to handle stories from people like that (well, almost as bad; if you've ever had to read a "farm column" from a retired agriculture agent or a former reporter turned Sunday columnist whose main interest in life was his cat, Fluffy, then you've come close.) But at one paper I worked, a large-ish paper in a small-ish state, did, in the 1970s, rely on little-old-lady type correspondents who mailed--you know, in an envelope with a stamp on it--little stories about local events. Chicken dinners, Boy Scout activities, etc. They were paid a few cents a word and so minor stories took on major proportions and had to be boiled down to reasonable length, which turned the correspondents' copy desk into a major shovel operation.

One midweek afternoon, a cute little story arrived about the local cops vs. firefighters weekend softball game. Which had been interrupted because the firefighters had had to rush off. To put out the blaze that destroyed the historic town hall.

Eventually those correspondents disappeared, along with the the kind of coverage we now are proclaiming as our salvation and that we call hyperlocal. And back through the door has come the idea of free or nearly free material, at least at some operations.

I have always liked the idea that I believe John Robinson promotes down in Greensboro, N.C.; he writes about a "town square" approach, making the paper's web site the place where bloggers, community activists and their ideas come together. Seems to make sense to me, and better than just trying to pick up free copy.