Ltr to BookTV Re: CBS-Shrub National Guard Story

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In David BLUM's presentation for his book, Tick... Tick... Tick... , featured on BookTV, regarding the CBS/National-Guard-documents episode, he repeatedly referred to THE STORY as being FALSE. In his March 8 column he referred to it as "a story that couldn't hold up."

It is not THE STORY of George W. BUSH's record with the National Guard that is false. That record has dogged him for years and will continue to do so until another generation of journalists finally, actually investigates it--among many other things about BUSH.

The documents and the CONTENT of them have not been shown to be forgeries and false, just their provenance and flawed messengers have been suspect. Mr BLUM might have tried to spark some curiosity in the journalism students he was addressing to go out and get answers to the many unanswered questions, which are likely to be found in the ranks of Rightwing partisan operatives.

On the other hand, he showed some integrity in pegging Bill O'REILLY as purveying opinion labeled as news reporting and Bernard GOLDBERG's book Bias as HAVING a bias.



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http://www.nysun.com/article/10247

You know, I'm going to miss Dan Rather, and not just because I've devoted the last few months to demanding that he go away. ....

It's a shame, really, that Mr. Rather allowed himself to push so hard for a story that couldn't hold up. The National Guard documents fiasco may well have obscured forever the phenomenal achievements of his career. No matter how he may resent it, there's no escaping the permanence of the stain. .... Mr. Rather is his own most ardent advocate, his staunchest supporter. In retrospect, it's clear he would never have resigned his job; he believes too passionately in his own importance to his country. Looking back on his epic career as a journalist, it's hard not to agree.


http://www.booktv.org/feature/index.asp?segID=5539&schedID=336

After Words
A Weekly Look at Selected Book TV Programs

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On Saturday, March 12 at 9:30 pm and Sunday, March 13 at 10:30 am and at 4:30 pm (ET)
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Tick...Tick...Tick...: The Long Life & Turbulent Times of 60 Minutes
David Blum

Description: From Florida International University in Miami, author David Blum talks about the history of the news program "60 Minutes," the longest running primetime show on television. While researching the book, Mr. Blum spent a considerable amount of time at the offices of "60 Minutes" and says that extreme competitiveness and infighting between the on-air personalities are commonplace. He shares stories about Mike Wallace, Leslie Stahl, Diane Sawyer, Steve Kroft, and others. Mr. Blum also talks about the recent Dan Rather scandal and its fallout. Following his remarks, Mr. Blum answers questions from the audience. This program was part of the Hearst Distinguished Lecture Series hosted by Florida International University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Author Bio: David Blum, adjunct professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, is a television critic for the New York Sun. He is the author of "Flash in the Pan: The Life and Death of an American Restaurant."

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