How Could the Press Have Not Asked More Questions?

Latest numbers from the Washington Post are that multiple blasts killed 63 and injured another 185.   The violence in Baghdad is truly alarming, but it is NOT surprising.

In my first trip to Syria what struck me most was the incredibile divisions between various Muslim sects, something you see in several countries in the Middle East.  The New York Times and the Washington Post and CNN and even the remnants of NBC, ABC and CBS all had correspondents and editors with significant foreign experience.  How could they have not been pushing the Bush Administration to answer questions on how it planned to handle the country AFTER deposing the dictator?

Nobody disagrees ruthless dictators are bad.   So are investment banks when there's no regulation to curtail their greed.  But when it comes to national policy, it's up to the press to ask the questions that need to be asked.   One primary reason we have such a mess in Iraq is because the press didn't do that.

It's not too late for news organizations to do a thorough post analysis.    Just because bankers aren't held accountable for anything doesn't mean the rest of the professional world should operate that way.
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Egyptian & Columbus Media

From today's NY Times re: coverage of the crackdown by the military:  "At least three radio announcers have been banned from the air for criticizing the ruling military council or its media management, said Ahmed Montaser, one of the state-radio dissidents."  

Sort of reminds you of what happens to radio sports commentators in Columbus, Ohio who dare criticize Ohio State.

When journalism fails, bad things happen.
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Football = Dogfighting??

The New Yorker asks a pertinent question for a civilized society:  how different are dogfighting and football?    On the Huffington Post you'll find another worthwhile story on the father of a professional quarterback who is outraged at the team putting his son back in the game after being knocked silly.    Both stories provide countless follow ups for news organizations that want to report instead of cheerlead.

How many interviews will you see in the coming weeks with college presidents asking them why their university spends major money on a sport that causes brain damage?   Let's pay attention to the interviews of high school principals and PTA's.   How much money do the broadcast networks and newspapers and cable operations and web sites make from football?   Will local news organizations examine the issue of just how dangerous this sport is or will the editors instruct their reporters to just keep waving the pom poms? 

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