I am a bit concerned about where journalistic standards lay right now.

Me too...

Their only purpose is to re-validate what someone already believes regardless of weather or not its true or to distort the truth with jargon. This is not a good thing.

Yeah, they seemed to be writing and broadcasting to each other in the print and broadcast media.

Refusing to read great papers or editorial pages, like the WaPo or the NY Times or the WSJ (and it is a great editorial page, my sympathies notwithstanding), for ideological reasons is self-injurious I think.

That's a broad and general statement. It would probably surprise you what I watch, listen, and read. I have Sirius radio in my home and cars, and I can assure you, I listen to mostly the talk channels during the week. And there a variety of channels I listen to. I probably have over twenty newspapers bookmarked in my browswer, and open some of then on a daily basis.

Just because I have a dislike of the WaPo doesn't limit my exposure to other papers, media, and ideas.

And no, I sustained no injuries or seem to have no lasting effects for ignoring one outlet in the MSM.

In Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address last Saturday was a declaration of war against the special interests when he stated:

"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington. I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families. I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable. I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries. In other words, I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak. My message to them is this: So am I."

I can accept some bloggers' criticism of the news media. But when The Corner and Michelle Malkin and Instapundit criticize the media, and then I go to their sites and see "Obama loves terrorists." and "Obama's birth certificate is a forgery." ...well...

Me neither, while I canceled my subscription to the Washington Post 4 weeks ago, I am a bit concerned about where journalistic standards lay right now. Blogs can't be depended on for real insite and revelation. Their only purpose is to re-validate what someone already believes regardless of weather or not its true or to distort the truth with jargon. This is not a good thing.

Bloggers, myself included, like to make fun of the “mainstream media.” And for good reason: They do plenty of shoddy work and are frequently sloppy and ignorant in their reporting. But the great papers, in whose company I’d put the Post, still put out far more quality journalism than crap. Let’s strive to call them out for the latter while not ignoring the former.

I can accept some bloggers' criticism of the news media. But when The Corner and Michelle Malkin and Instapundit criticize the media, and then I go to their sites and see "Obama loves terrorists." and "Obama's birth certificate is a forgery." ...well...

For me, if a newspaper can not pass the fish wrapper test, the bird cage bottom liner test, or the crinkled up ass wipe test; I have very little use for it.

Oh, you don't tell me, we are suppose to try read them.

I would not take home a copy of that newspaper if it was given out as free.
They have their standards; I have mine.

Well, EB, I'll guess they'll just have to live with that.

But the great papers, in whose company I’d put the Post, still put out far more quality journalism than crap. Let’s strive to call them out for the latter while not ignoring the former.

Unfortunately, they do more of the latter, while mostly ignoring the former.

I would not take home a copy of that newspaper if it was given out as free.
They have their standards; I have mine.