The Columbia Journalism Review had a little column this month about the creative ideas government can infuse to help out journalism.
It’s just funny that CJR announces journalism as a sort of public service, alongside other public systems like transportation and education. I mean, as a journalist and someone who keeps up with current events, I agree.
But with the Bush administration still lingering in mind and now Obama’s administration staking out this vicious feud with FOX News, it’s funny to look at a thesis that says government should help journalism monitor government activity. I mean, again, yeah, it’s true, but the ironing is delicious.
Bush got kinda ridiculous saying newspapers were “hurting America” or whatever when they were reporting on the wiretaps and such; Obama’s not doing much better putting a blackout on a news organization. At least neither are developing an all-encompassing Nixon-esque feud. Now there’s an administration where an economic bailout of sorts would just be laughable.
