Re: what news journalism ought to be Re: Iraq unable to have democracy

Archimedes Plutonium wrote:

> Bud Rogers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...

>> Thomas Friedman wrote some thoughts along those lines.  Before the
>> invasion of Iraq and the fall of Saddam's regime, he wrote that it was
>> hard to know if Iraq was the way it was because of Saddam's brutal
>> regime, or if Saddam's brutal regime was the way it was because of the
>> nature of Iraq.
> 
> I do not know if TF is the same guy who appeared on the Newshour as a
> regular reporter working for the New York Times.

Thomas Friedman has appeared on the Newshour many times.  No doubt he is the
TF you're thinking of.  He is a regular editorial columnist in the New York
Times.  He is the author of several books on the region.  He is in my
opinion one of the better informed commentators on current events in the
Middle East.  

 > And this gives me a nice opportunity to critique the News Media
> coverage of events.

I don't even want to go there.  It is a target rich environment.  Suffice to
say that if you want to be informed, you need to cultivate many sources.
 
> The TF that appeared on the Newshour (and I am assuming that TF is
> Jewish).

Thomas Friedman is Jewish, no secret that.

> Gave a nice rundown report on Iraq, but when he gave his report on
> Israel and the conditions there, he was a failure as a newsreporter. I
> believe his failing is because TF is Jewish and so biased as to not be
> able to give a objective report on Israel.

If you dismiss him out of hand on the basis of one report, you reveal as
much about your own prejudice as you do about his perceived shortcomings. 
Thomas Friedman has made many trips to the Middle East.  He has travelled
all over the region.   He has reported many times not just his own views,
but the thoughts and feelings of many people in the region, on all sides of
the issues.  He has on more than one occasion been highly critical of
Israel and its policies.  I suggest you listen to more than one of his
reports, read more than one of his columns.

-- 
In theory, theory and practice are the same.