The media DOES NOT KNOW about Helen Thomas' roses

[oxbow]

I just sent the article on Helen Thomas from TheHill.com to my local newspapers. Within a few hours, I got a reply back from the biggest one (the Washington Post). The recipient said that she was a friend of Helen's and did not know about this happening. Now, I'm expecting them to do a story on it. Who knows, maybe a few reporters will even start gunning for their own roses and choclates. Maybe we'll get more honest questions the next time Mr. Bush decides to do an impromptu press conference ;)

Please join me in sending this link out to your local papers/media outlets. Ask them when the last time was that a reporter got thousands of flowers for asking ONE STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION. Ask them to please do a story on it, and to not be afraid to question this administration themselves. We are the country that gave birth to Edward R. Murrow, Upton Sinclair, Walter Kronkite and Woodward & Bernstein in their heyday. Courage and speaking truth to power are the proud heritage of our FREE press. These people are the reason that many of today's reporters pursued journalism in the first place. It's time to remind them of that, and that we the people stand behind them in their search for the truth. 65-70% of us have had just about enough of this administration, and the numbers are growing with each passing day. It's time for them to ask the questions that we would ask (if they would ever speak to us).

And be sure to send a letter to their editors. In the end, they are the ones who decide what makes it to print or not.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. On the grand scheme of things. It's a non-story.

"Chimp is a Moron!"

Now that's a story!

[oxbow]

5. It's a story about a journalist, and what happened

...when she spoke the truth. Chances are, the reporters and editors will be interested in it, even if they don't do a story on it.

Besides, a story is, by definition, what the media reports on. Fox news certainly made a big deal about the temerity of Helen Thomas to speak to our leader with such disrespect! The love and appreciation that these roses represent show that not everyone agrees with their view of reality. Maybe more reporters will be willing to show some spine if they see the response that Ms. Thomas got from people. Either way, we should remind them that most of us are not fans of this administration, or the past coverage of their policies.

[Marnieworld]

7. When she asked the question it was a story

I remember every newscast covering the moment. Was she right? Was she wrong? How dare she? Blah blah blah. After being dissected and often crucified for having the nerve to ask what she did it is a big story that she has received such public and tremendous support for it.

If the question was a story the response certainly is too.

[wakeme2008]

2. IMHO they knew... Washington is too small a town for them

not to know. Just IMHO...

[blm]

10. exactly....just like they didn't KNOW

that Kerry gave a speech attacking the swiftliars in front of the Firefighters Convention in the middle of August - yeah - they really DIDN'T know about it.

The media won't KNOW about the flowers for Helen because it doesn't put THEM in the best light as lapdogs for BushInc.

[Betsy Ross]

3. Just emailed the SF Chronicle with a link to The Hill. n/t

[onenote]

4. I think it was a lovely gesture

But I didn't realize that it was also a publicity play. In the great scheme of things, is it really that important a story?

onenote

[oxbow]

6. I look at it more as the canary in the coal mine

Helen Thomas asked the Emperor why he had no clothes on. The conservative media savaged her. She survived and moreover, was showered with flowers, while we have yet to receive any from erstwhile 'liberated' Iraqis. If they do a story on it, that's great. What I really want is for the media to wake up and start acting more like a fourth estate though.

[MANative]

8. Dan Froomkin had a bit about it in his column for the WaPo

today and included a link to DU.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html


Scroll to the bottom of the column.

[northofdenali]

9. Just sent a link to Liz Ruskin, the Washington Bureau

reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She's pretty good about picking up on the "local" angle of national news, so maybe it'll get play.

I know helderheid contacted a whole shitload of newscritters about the effort, including KO, Jon Stewart, Larry King, the networks, etc. She did such a bangup job, I'm afraid I kind of forgot about sending to our smaller newspapers!

This isn't about publicity for our effort - it's about making sure this nation recognizes how far the media in general have fallen, and how one woman stays above the mire.

[oxbow]

11. Woodward & Bernstein and Edward R. Murrow had movies made about them...

It's the brave that stand out from the crowd and are noticed. In this way, courage in reporting could even be good for business. The newspaper industry has been in free fall for a decade. Instead of cutting back on investigative reporting and trying to woo target audiences, they would do well to ask real questions and reject the pat answers that they are expected to settle for in this media environment. Focusing on someone who is doing the right thing is my way of saying to all of them that 'there IS another way.'

I want so bad for our newspapers to become public defenders again, instead of producers of just another commodity. Change might have to come in another form, but Helen Thomas' example is what we have TODAY, and it's what I'm trying to work with.