Going over the Heads of the MSM...

[CorpGovActivist]

Love him or hate him, Reagan knew how to do one thing very effectively: "go over the heads of Congress," and the MSM, taking his case directly to the American people: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=reagan+%22go+over+the+heads%22

Now, We the People have the same power, gratis the Internet.

Ever wonder why the MSM filters the primary documents they have? With all the resources at the disposal of the media conglomerates, why not scan and post these materials, as "backup" for the main stories they print and broadcast?

With the new whistleblower protections afforded by Sarbanes Oxley, many whistleblowers at Halliburton and other BushCo. companies have stepped forward, and shared their materials. Some of these materials will soon appear online, so that the American public can cast an informed vote at the ballot box this year - and be wise to the BushCo. Cabal's machinations.

Benjamin Franklin owned a printing press. As the quintessential citizen printer, he knew that: "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one." (A.J. Liebling)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AJ_Liebling

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=freedom+of+the+press+guaranteed+is+only+to+those+who+own+one+liebling

And, of course, Ben also said that: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=dead+rotten+forgotten+write+things+worth+the+reading+do+things+writing

; )

The smart folks here at DU can transcend the MSM - by becoming citizen printers, just like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Publius (and taking advantage of modern tech that allows for the easy distribution of the primary documents, to back up the story with facts).

- Dave

[Diane R]

1. kick and recommended n/t

[seemslikeadream]

2. Who give you work an why should you do it?

you must not act the way you were brought up
Who give you work an why should you do it?
At fifty five minutes past eleven
There is a rose...
Yeah!

[OKNancy]

3. LOL - DU has been doing that for the last six years

[CorpGovActivist]

5. As Effectively As...

1. Benjamin Franklin, sans Internet?

2. Thomas Paine, sans Internet?

3. Publius, sans Internet?

- Dave

[OKNancy]

6. good grief

:think:

[CorpGovActivist]

22. I Honestly Don't Know...

... has DU ever been the breaking source of a story, like Drudge?

- Dave

[williesgirl]

4. Glad to be the 5th vote.

[StClone]

8. Kick

[CorpGovActivist]

7. How Many Here Have Gone to the MSM...

... with a story, and come away with the distinct impression that they're completely out of touch with what matters to their readership?

Granted, there are still some incredibly gifted journalists, who truly earn their spurs. I know. I've met some of them.

But I've also met many more who seem to want to be spoonfed the story, without lifting a finger to do any research of their own.

I've heard cries of "complicity," and I've made my own charges of "laziness," but it's not as if We the People are powerless.

We can self-publish, much more easily than Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, or Publius ever dreamed possible.

- Dave

[Schema Thing]

9. true true

[CorpGovActivist]

10. We the People Have Become a Nation of Snivelers...

"Oh, the big bad MSM won't publish the stories we care about!"

Put on your printer's apron, grab the movable type, slap some ink on the printing press, and publish those stories then!

The free marketplace of ideas is alive and well, and - faced with renewed, fierce competition from non-traditional outlets - the MSM's profit and loss line will dictate that they fall in line.

: )

- Dave

[Schema Thing]

16. I feel the same about

we-the-people's attitudes toward politicians, and even lawyers. The average joe, simply isn't a better person than the average politician, and is quite willing to engage in personal variations of the slime that often envelopes politicians.

These people who :sigh: and clamor for a third party ought to wake up to the fact that they are the very reason the two party system is in such disrepair.

[CorpGovActivist]

17. Or, As My Grandfather Used to Say...

... "when you point your finger at someone, look down; you have at least three pointing back at you."

- Dave

[StClone]

13. Journalism is difficult

Gathering timely accurate information, real facts, then transcribing that into an informative readable piece under time and space constraints is a very great challenge and many fail. Besides doing your job you have to take the heat if readers dispute portrayals, as editors and owners add pressure to pursue certain angles: it's a job for a select few.

I cut journalists some slack as sometimes they amaze me with their work. It disgusts me that powerful and monied interests have corrupted journalism ends and have pushed many a good talent to succumb or leave the profession amid the many easy-money hack pundits.

[CorpGovActivist]

18. I Cut Them Slack Too...

... and as I said, I have seen some good ones.

But I've also seen those who never push back on their editors, never push back on the lawyers, and never "quite" get the story into print.

- Dave

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. I had a very interesting experience working on a story

during the 2004 election.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/DoYouEverWonder/6


After I got home with the pictures, I posted them on DU. I also called everyone I could think of in the local media with the 'tip'. No one was interested.


The following Monday, I went to the City of Gainesville and obtained documents that provided the SBV's and the Bush/Cheney Campaign collaborated on an event that was a clear violation of the SBV's 501C status and election laws prohibiting interaction between campaigns and 527 groups.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/DoYouEverWonder/3


I even got a couple of call backs after I email every media outlet I could think of. Even the NYT's gave me a call back. They even wrote about the documents, but they buried it in the middle of a story, and of course took credit for finding the documents themselves.

Oh yeah, loads of fun and that doesn't include my experiences with the Kerry Campaign and this story.

[CorpGovActivist]

19. LOL...Do Me a Favor

Send me a quick e-mail. I've got a great one for you.

: )

- Dave

[Gabi Hayes]

11. point of contention: Reagan didn't go over the heads of M$M:

they were willingly taken along for the ride, partly from fear of being labelled liberal, and, more often because they were part of the game and knew it.

the seminal On Bended Knee, through myriad interviews with the principals in media and the Reagan admin, shows this very conclusively

just as happens now, the media bigiwgs were MUCH more interested in protecting their cushy sinecures than they were in performing their duties as the Fourth Estate. there was a TINY window, during the part of the Johnson and Nixon admins, when a small part of the media did its job.

As soon as Carter took over, they reverted back to their position as courtesans to those economic interests that really run things

[CorpGovActivist]

12. Complicit Courtesans

Has a nice ring to it!

: )

- Dave

P.S. Maybe that's what Shrubya meant when he mentioned those "high-priced media types" during his latest Potemkin Press Conference?

[Gabi Hayes]

14. and his bud, David "Little Stretch" Gregory?

I had the misfortune to see him on Leno the other night

he is so pathetic, so in love with his position as chief NBC WH kneepadder/

he actually thinks he's being a tough, no-holds-barred journalist, as do the other WH corres-despondents

I heard another hoor the other day trying to rationalize how, given the constraints of WH reporting, they really ARE giving the pres a difficult time

why don't they just WALK OUT when he refuses to answer any of their questions, especially, during the Snowjobs?

how many times does he start those gaggles out by telling him he's not going to say anything beyond his prepared remarks? I never thought I'd loathe a PS more than I did Ari, but Snow is infinitely more arrogant, infinitely and arrogantly more mendacious....I know that's a pretty hard shoe to fill, but he's done it with ease

[CorpGovActivist]

20. The Press Corps Should All Dress Up...

... in matching sackcloth for the next press conference, to get the fashionista commentary out of the way (and to signify their contrition). They should have ash on their heads, too.

; )

- Dave

[IdesOfOctober]

21. More like...

... beanies and baby bonnets.

Their puerile approach to their job - and their fear of losing their credentials, or some perk (e.g., "access" on AF1) - is sickening.

Ides

[IdesOfOctober]

23. Funny how times change...

... there have been a few times when the networks wouldn't even interrupt for a primetimer by Bush.

Can you imagine that ever happening with Reagan?

Ides