Just wrote to CNN

[NancyCarol]

Confession: I started my career(s) as an anchorwoman when people still revered Cronkite. I hate today's sloppy, inaccurate media.

Today CNN used K's response to the Sulaimon question as tho he was responding to something about the hate legislation in Indiana. They criticized K for not speaking out on legislation and social issues. I've called and written CNN (http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html) demanding correction/retraction/clarification. Since I haven't been a news factor since the early 80's I no longer know anyone personally so if you do, please speak out. Doubtless they will replay this all freaking day.

Here is a man who does more before breakfast to make life better than most of us/them do all week. Instead of praising him for focus on the young men he is leading they have misrepresented his words. To quote an old movie, I'm mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore.

[Henderson]

Confession: I started my career(s) as an anchorwoman when people still revered Cronkite. I hate today's sloppy, inaccurate media.

Today CNN used K's response to the Sulaimon question as tho he was responding to something about the hate legislation in Indiana. They criticized K for not speaking out on legislation and social issues. I've called and written CNN (http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html) demanding correction/retraction/clarification. Since I haven't been a news factor since the early 80's I no longer know anyone personally so if you do, please speak out. Doubtless they will replay this all freaking day.

Here is a man who does more before breakfast to make life better than most of us/them do all week. Instead of praising him for focus on the young men he is leading they have misrepresented his words. To quote an old movie, I'm mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore.

You've made an excellent argument in favor of a good liberal arts education. And I'm including science, math, and engineering. Perhaps most of all.

The critical skill one gains from a liberal arts education is the ability to discern this from that, quality from schlock, truth from lie, BS from BS.

That's more important today that it used to be. There are so many voices, all shouting to be heard by somebody please somebody; notice me.

The ability to discern journalism designed to elucidate and communicate from "journalism" designed to draw attention (read clicks and ads) is an ever more important skill.

Good for you in calling out this example of the baser instincts of revenue-driven "journalism."

Sorry I can't spork you for a bit.

[DBFAN]

I just read this garbage on Twitter and just want to know why being a basketball coach, has been equated to having input on the policy of Indiana Government It has become quite apparent that for some, you can't just not have an opinion. You have to agree with them. I think we've seen this before

[MarkD83]

You've made an excellent argument in favor of a good liberal arts education. And I'm including science, math, and engineering. Perhaps most of all.

The critical skill one gains from a liberal arts education is the ability to discern this from that, quality from schlock, truth from lie, BS from BS.

That's more important today that it used to be. There are so many voices, all shouting to be heard by somebody please somebody; notice me.

The ability to discern journalism designed to elucidate and communicate from "journalism" designed to draw attention (read clicks and ads) is an ever more important skill.

Good for you in calling out this example of the baser instincts of revenue-driven "journalism."

Sorry I can't spork you for a bit.

I will second this. I'll also add what I heard on CNN last night. They were having the usual talking heads debate about a subject rather than adding anything substantial and the question came up what would you do to change the law. The guys they were interviewing admitted thay HAD NOT EVEN READ THE LAW. How in the world can you comment on something you have not read. In this case I blame CNN. They need to do a better job of screening the folks they are talking to so that if they have talking heads discussing a topic the folks at least are well versed on the core issue at hand.

[BigWayne]

Yet another reason to not watch CNN.

[FerryFor50]

Confession: I started my career(s) as an anchorwoman when people still revered Cronkite. I hate today's sloppy, inaccurate media.

Today CNN used K's response to the Sulaimon question as tho he was responding to something about the hate legislation in Indiana. They criticized K for not speaking out on legislation and social issues. I've called and written CNN (http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html) demanding correction/retraction/clarification. Since I haven't been a news factor since the early 80's I no longer know anyone personally so if you do, please speak out. Doubtless they will replay this all freaking day.

Here is a man who does more before breakfast to make life better than most of us/them do all week. Instead of praising him for focus on the young men he is leading they have misrepresented his words. To quote an old movie, I'm mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore.

Well he *did* kind of hint at it.

http://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?35751-Coach-K-To-Speak-to-the-Media-at-3&p=796568#post796568

He said he wouldn't be commenting on politics when he gets to Indianapolis. Which is in Indiana. Which is the centerpiece for controversy right now.

[NancyCarol]

Well he *did* kind of hint at it.

http://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?35751-Coach-K-To-Speak-to-the-Media-at-3&p=796568#post796568

He said he wouldn't be commenting on politics when he gets to Indianapolis. Which is in Indiana. Which is the centerpiece for controversy right now.

Darn you're right Ferry, I had it confused with In The Annapolis. :) Which is the The Maryland.

[FerryFor50]

Darn you're right Ferry, I had it confused with In The Annapolis. :) Which is the The Maryland.

lol

The Maryland no longer exists. :p

[blUDAYvil]

http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/04/01/cnn-segment-critical-of-dukes-krzyzewski-for-refusal-to-speak-on-indiana-law/

amazingly no mention of the question K is responding to!

[plimnko]

Confession: I started my career(s) as an anchorwoman when people still revered Cronkite. I hate today's sloppy, inaccurate media.

Today CNN used K's response to the Sulaimon question as tho he was responding to something about the hate legislation in Indiana. They criticized K for not speaking out on legislation and social issues. I've called and written CNN (http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html) demanding correction/retraction/clarification. Since I haven't been a news factor since the early 80's I no longer know anyone personally so if you do, please speak out. Doubtless they will replay this all freaking day.

Here is a man who does more before breakfast to make life better than most of us/them do all week. Instead of praising him for focus on the young men he is leading they have misrepresented his words. To quote an old movie, I'm mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore.


If they want to talk about Coach K, I wonder why CNN doesn't report this.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/mike-krzyzewski-sends-motivating-letter-to-struggling-eighth-grader/ar-AAajDh6

[stillcrazie]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/203153/duke-university-coach-mike-krzyzewski-profile-cowardice

So, why is it not an issue that no other Final Four coaches are commenting on politics? #hatersgonnahate

My response was to post on facebook that I have renounced my allegiance to Duke and am now a Tarheel fan. This is gonna be fun.

[grossbus]

"The guys they were interviewing admitted thay HAD NOT EVEN READ THE LAW."

i suspect most of the people in an uproar have not read it either.

[Henderson]

lol

The Maryland no longer exists. :p

Aren't they in the midwest someplace? I lost track once the cars with cases of Everclear in the trunk stopped burning on my street.

[Chard]

Today CNN used K's response to the Sulaimon question as tho he was responding to something about the hate legislation in Indiana.

Really? Let's move on...


They criticized K for not speaking out on legislation and social issues. I've called and written CNN (http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html) demanding correction/retraction/clarification. Since I haven't been a news factor since the early 80's I no longer know anyone personally so if you do, please speak out. Doubtless they will replay this all freaking day.


CNN is jumping in K's chilli because they have an agenda to push and they're using his exchange with a reporter out of context to further push their agenda. That was painful to listen to since I actually listened to the press conference. I listened to that particular exchange twice and I knew this would come up. He said he didn't want to address any issue and that just isn't going to stand!

Don't look now but there are some UNC fans standing up for Coach K.

For crying out loud, Duke is on the verge of going all the way in the NCAA championship. This is all he’s thinking about. They play THIS weekend! And while it pains me as a UNC Tarheel fan that they might win, I must stand up for this ACC coach against this disgusting attack by CNN. There is no excuse for CNN to do this. It’s absolutely deplorable. (http://therightscoop.com/cnn-attacks-duke-basketball-coach-for-not-speaking-out-against-new-indiana-religious-freedom-law/)

Agreed.

That is the most CNN I've watched in several years. You're better served by moving on and ignoring this. You could get a Twitter mob going and they may issue an apology but you shouldn't hold your breath. A good man's reputation is easily trampled upon if it serves the cause.

[Chard]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/203153/duke-university-coach-mike-krzyzewski-profile-cowardice

So, why is it not an issue that no other Final Four coaches are commenting on politics? #hatersgonnahate


From the linked article:


“I’m only going to talk about my team and basketball and the Final Four. Just like when we get to Indiana, I’m not going to talk about social issues or poverty or anything else. I’m just going to talk about this Duke basketball team.”

The above words were said this morning by Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski in response to whether he would have anything to say about Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act,

Yet again, another example of journalistic incompetence pushing the agenda, facts be damned! Had the author listened to the presser (I know, right!) he would have at least had the opportunity to get that fact straight... Naaaaah! Get it out asap! Coach K is a coward!

smh

[JetpackJesus]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/203153/duke-university-coach-mike-krzyzewski-profile-cowardice

So, why is it not an issue that no other Final Four coaches are commenting on politics? #hatersgonnahate

My response was to post on facebook that I have renounced my allegiance to Duke and am now a Tarheel fan. This is gonna be fun.

Well, now all four Final Four coaches have issued a joint statement on the Indiana law.

https://twitter.com/InsidetheNCAA/status/583352090908631041/photo/1

Maybe that will assuage CNN?

[FerryFor50]

From the linked article:



Yet again, another example of journalistic incompetence pushing the agenda, facts be damned! Had the author listened to the presser (I know, right!) he would have at least had the opportunity to get that fact straight... Naaaaah! Get it out asap! Coach K is a coward!

smh

I don't think it takes a giant leap in logic to expect that "politics" and "Indiana" wouldn't lead to some questions about the legislation, regardless of what you think of it.

CNN isn't the only one pushing this story - every news network in America is. It sells ads.

[TampaDukie]

I don't always agree with Dave Zirin, though I follow him on Twitter. I refused to read his article, because it seemed like click bait to me. For the same reason, I haven't looked to see if he's added an update, but he tweeted this a few minutes ago:


Dave Zirin @EdgeofSports
Since I put up article, Coach K & other Final Four coaches released joint statement against #RFRA. Great to see.

Statement (http://www.outsports.com/2015/4/1/8326973/all-four-mens-final-four-coaches-release-joint-statement-on-indianas)

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

As I understand it, Coach K didn't address an issue he wasn't asked about. He was asked about Sheed, and lumped in "politics" as another topic he won't discuss - being beyond the scope of this team and their current situation.

CNN interpreted this as "why won't he talk about politics" - which is only marginally fair considering he volunteered that he had no interest in discussing anything other than the current Duke players. Then, (this is the mistake) they made the leap to pretending as though he was dodging a direct question about the Indiana Hate Legislation (sorry, I'm holding to that line).

I don't see it as CNN promoting a certain party line, but rather making an illogical jump for a more enticing headline.

And I've always like Chris Klewe - I'm willing to bet they baited him into his comments in the same way.

So, at the end of the day, crappy journalism, no surprise.

[weezie]

I don't always agree with Dave Zirin, though I follow him on Twitter. I refused to read his article, because it seemed like click bait to me. For the same reason, I haven't looked to see if he's added an update, but he tweeted this a few minutes ago:


Well, he must be VERY proud! What a maverick!

Why am I thinking that I sometimes hear him on ESPN980 in DC?

[-jk]

Final Four coaches issue a joint statement (http://www.outsports.com/2015/4/1/8326973/all-four-mens-final-four-coaches-release-joint-statement-on-indianas)

-jk

[Mike Corey]

Against my better judgment, I have engaged the Nation writer who falsely reported that Coach K was responding to an inquiry about RFRA, since he was of course responding to an inquiry about Rasheed Sulaimon.

This isn't uncertain. Start watching at the 18:30 mark (http://www.goduke.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3882494&db_oem_id=4200), with the volume turned up, and you can hear the inquiry.

Note that Mr. Zirin reported this, after quoting Coach K:


The above words were said this morning by Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski in response to whether he would have anything to say about Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.... Coach K's curt comment could probably best be described as a profile in cowardice.

Here is my exchange (https://twitter.com/EdgeofSports/status/583303042080083968)(scroll down) with the author of the above, Dave Zirin:

Dave Zirin‏@EdgeofSports
Coach K worked for years to emerge from Dean Smith's shadow. His non-comments on #RFRA put him right back in it. http://bit.ly/1GgLqd0

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 25m25 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - Coach K was responding to an inquiry about a former player. RFRA was never mentioned. Watch at 18:30: http://www.goduke.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3882494&db_oem_id=4200 …

Dave Zirin ‏@EdgeofSports · 22m22 minutes ago
@MLCorey1982 So you think he's referencing his player when he says. ‘I’m not going to talk about social issues there"? Where is there?

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 20m20 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - No. He said "social issues or poverty or anything else"--and your article states he was responding to a question about RFRA.

Dave Zirin ‏@EdgeofSports · 16m16 minutes ago
@MLCorey1982 The exact quote is "just like when I get to Indiana, I'm not going to talk about social issues there." Why do you change it?

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 13m13 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports: You are changing it. The quote is, "...I'm not going to talk about social issues there or poverty or anything else." Watch it

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 11m11 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - And the question, which you reported inaccurately, was not about RFRA. It was about Rasheed Sulaimon, a former player.

Dave Zirin ‏@EdgeofSports · 11m11 minutes ago
@MLCorey1982 You keep taking out "just like when I get to Indiana." That's what makes it relevant to all that follows.

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 9m9 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - He's about to go to Indiana to play in the Final Four, where he will also be not answering questions about Sulaimon.

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 8m8 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - You should acknowledge that your story falsely reported he was responding to an inquiry on RFRA, since he was not.

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 3m3 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - Your own article quotes Coach K as saying, "...I'm not going to talk about social issues or poverty or anything else."

[Jim3k]

Somebody should tip this issue to one of the news watch sites. Both Fair and Accuracy in Reporting and Columbia Journalism and Review come to mind. Or, possibly, Pew or maybe Poynter. It would be best for someone with contacts at those sites to do it.

[Newton_14]

Well he *did* kind of hint at it.

http://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?35751-Coach-K-To-Speak-to-the-Media-at-3&p=796568#post796568

He said he wouldn't be commenting on politics when he gets to Indianapolis. Which is in Indiana. Which is the centerpiece for controversy right now.

Right, which translation is: My team is still in this thing and I am going to Indy to win two basketball games, not talk politics, so when I get there ask me questions about my team and the games, not the debate raging up there on the law.

[Indoor66]

Why is everyone with some form of celebrity expected (or demanded of) to have an opinion on every subject? Reporter overstep reasonable boundaries quite often.

[Chard]

I don't think it takes a giant leap in logic to expect that "politics" and "Indiana" wouldn't lead to some questions about the legislation, regardless of what you think of it.

CNN isn't the only one pushing this story - every news network in America is. It sells ads.

I would agree but we're not talking about that story as a whole. We're talking about the characterization of what Coach K said or didn't say and the attempt to assassinate his character.

There is a joint release from all four coaches now so hopefully they can now do their job and not be distracted by this silliness. That is all Coach K wanted by addressing that reporter's question in the manner he did.

[weezie]

Why is everyone with some form of celebrity expected (or demanded of) to have an opinion on every subject?

Yeah, why? When I would be more than happy to give my own opinion (informed or not) on anything and everything. Celebrities are too busy; I have plenty of time on my hands in which to mouth off on all matter of subjects.

[Jim3k]

I have plenty of time on my hands in which to mouth off on all matter of subjects.


Heh!. You and me both, Weez. :D

[WakeDevil]

Seeing as how certain people want to go down this road, let's do it.

In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympics. In 1984, the USSR did the same. We were told by people of a certain political persuasion that this was wrong. You should not mix sports and politics. These same people were fine with excluding South Africa. There is a reason, but it's for another board.

Maybe one of the commentators can explain why K's opinions on this or the Second Amendment or ISIS are more valuable than any other person's. Oh, he won a lot of basketball games. I see your point.

[Duvall]

Seeing as how certain people want to go down this road, let's do it.

In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympics. In 1984, the USSR did the same. We were told by people of a certain political persuasion that this was wrong. You should not mix sports and politics. These same people were fine with excluding South Africa. There is a reason, but it's for another board.

Maybe one of the commentators can explain why K's opinions on this or the Second Amendment or ISIS are more valuable than any other person's. Oh, he won a lot of basketball games. I see your point.

What?

[Jim3k]

Seeing as how certain people want to go down this road, let's do it.

In 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympics. In 1984, the USSR did the same. We were told by people of a certain political persuasion that this was wrong. You should not mix sports and politics. These same people were fine with excluding South Africa. There is a reason, but it's for another board.

Maybe one of the commentators can explain why K's opinions on this or the Second Amendment or ISIS are more valuable than any other person's. Oh, he won a lot of basketball games. I see your point.

I think you've missed the point. This thread is about CNN taking Coach Krzyzewski's refusal earlier in the week to discuss the Sulaimon dismissal and using his remark out of context to suggest he was refusing to talk about the Indiana law. CNN was being disingenuous.

K's statement had nothing to do with anyone's call for a boycott of the Final Four (was there one? maybe Pat Haden), other states' responses to the law (Connecticut) or even of Indiana in general. I'm not sure Pence had even signed the law when K made his remark, but I'm not going to go back and look. I'm sure someone else, with media research capability, can look up the timeline.

[77devil]

Against my better judgment, I have engaged the Nation writer who falsely reported that Coach K was responding to an inquiry about RFRA, since he was of course responding to an inquiry about Rasheed Sulaimon.

This isn't uncertain. Start watching at the 18:30 mark (http://www.goduke.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3882494&db_oem_id=4200), with the volume turned up, and you can hear the inquiry.

Note that Mr. Zirin reported this, after quoting Coach K:



Here is my exchange (https://twitter.com/EdgeofSports/status/583303042080083968)(scroll down) with the author of the above, Dave Zirin:

Dave Zirin‏@EdgeofSports
Coach K worked for years to emerge from Dean Smith's shadow. His non-comments on #RFRA put him right back in it. http://bit.ly/1GgLqd0

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 25m25 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - Coach K was responding to an inquiry about a former player. RFRA was never mentioned. Watch at 18:30: http://www.goduke.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3882494&db_oem_id=4200 …

Dave Zirin ‏@EdgeofSports · 22m22 minutes ago
@MLCorey1982 So you think he's referencing his player when he says. ‘I’m not going to talk about social issues there"? Where is there?

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 20m20 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - No. He said "social issues or poverty or anything else"--and your article states he was responding to a question about RFRA.

Dave Zirin ‏@EdgeofSports · 16m16 minutes ago
@MLCorey1982 The exact quote is "just like when I get to Indiana, I'm not going to talk about social issues there." Why do you change it?

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 13m13 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports: You are changing it. The quote is, "...I'm not going to talk about social issues there or poverty or anything else." Watch it

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 11m11 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - And the question, which you reported inaccurately, was not about RFRA. It was about Rasheed Sulaimon, a former player.

Dave Zirin ‏@EdgeofSports · 11m11 minutes ago
@MLCorey1982 You keep taking out "just like when I get to Indiana." That's what makes it relevant to all that follows.

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 9m9 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - He's about to go to Indiana to play in the Final Four, where he will also be not answering questions about Sulaimon.

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 8m8 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - You should acknowledge that your story falsely reported he was responding to an inquiry on RFRA, since he was not.

Mike Corey ‏@MLCorey1982 · 3m3 minutes ago
@EdgeofSports - Your own article quotes Coach K as saying, "...I'm not going to talk about social issues or poverty or anything else."

Thanks for trying. Fortunately, hardly anyone reads The Nation.

[RCDevil]

Mainstream media outlet serving up dumbed-down journalism for an uneducated public twists someone's words to create a story. I'm stunned.

Glad you voiced your concerns, but I'll be shocked if enough heat builds around this for them to issue any kind of retraction or apology.

[devil84]

Yes, I'd be really surprised if there is some sort of retraction, apology, correction, or even acknowledgement of any inaccuracies on any media's part.

From any single media outlet's perspective, it may be a very, very small percentage of people who are complaining about the inaccuracy of their story (and even if one complains, do they get that the complaint is about the integrity of the journalism, not that it's for/against Coach K?). Given that so many media outlets are running with the last half of Coach K's quote, why would any media outlet run a story that corrects their own story and other media outlets' stories? What, turn a story into a non-story? Admit that they did a sloppy job? I mean, really, that story is SOOOOO yesterday.

Until these incorrect, sloppy, and lazy stories are repeatedly called out by their educated readers, this kind of stuff will continue. If a media outlet can expect a torrent of articulate readers noting each time they get lazy on their fact checking, perhaps they will change. However, if we never request competent journalism, those media outlets will continue their sloppy ways. Unfortunately, the informed, educated, articulate readers who are willing to take the time to correct the facts are completely outnumbered by the people who are rabidly clicking and commenting on their story, much to the delight of the site owners and advertisers. That is exactly why we SHOULD write in and challenge sloppy journalism when we see it.

[sagegrouse]

Why is everyone with some form of celebrity expected (or demanded of) to have an opinion on every subject? Reporter overstep reasonable boundaries quite often.

Yes, personally, I find it very unfair.

[mgtr]

Unfortunately, much of "journalism" is an attempt to cram the speaker's statement into the outline of the world that the journalist prefers. Of course, the expansion of social media has worsened the problem (at least on balance) since anybody can claim anything without having any standards to meet or editor to please. There is no actual solution to the problem, but educating yourself on the issues helps. When I worked in NYC, I was involved in several hot issues (energy, social security) in the 1970s and early 80s. Now, I knew a lot about these two issues then (not so much now). I was shocked at how wrong the Times got the facts wrong and bollixed up the story. One simple example, they claimed in the 70s that higher gasoline prices would absolutely not reduce the amount of driving that people did, would not cause them to buy more fuel-efficient cars, or result in more crude oil production.
Now if I recognize that a legitimate news service (the NYT) gets things wrong when I know for sure the technical details, how many times do they get things wrong that I don't know about since I don't know the technical details? Now make the incredible leap down from the NYT to social media types, and you have to question everything.
The existence of social media has reduced the power of major news organizations, which is good, but it puts more responsibility on the reader.

OK, soapbox officially put away.

[AustinDevil]

It's hard for me to get worked up over this. Obviously the reporting was not accurate. At the same time, K did say he wouldn't be discussing "politics" either now or after arriving in Indiana. To me, this is pretty clearly a statement that he wouldn't discuss the Indiana law, but actual reporters should have asked questions rather than attacking K.

All of that said, K *did* reconsider and issued a joint statement with the other three coaches. Maybe that shouldn't be required, but given the number of media items recently regarding the Indiana law and athletics (NCAA casting doubt on future events in Indiana, Big Ten doing the same, Kevin Ollie not attending the Final Four, the USC AD statement, and even NASCAR* condemning the law), it is not, IMHO, an unreasonable expectation.

*By referencing NASCAR, I do not intend to admit conclusively that car racing is a "sport." That is a passionately debated topic with people of good will on both sides.

[Henderson]

Mainstream media outlet serving up dumbed-down journalism for an uneducated public twists someone's words to create a story. I'm stunned.

Glad you voiced your concerns, but I'll be shocked if enough heat builds around this for them to issue any kind of retraction or apology.

I've come to hate that phrase. As though obscure bloggers without editors or access to wire services are somehow purer, without bias, and better informed.

I'll put my soapbox back under the bed now.