The killer bees of the blogosphere
The Trib's Paul Rolly probes the ongoing battle between several powerful lawmakers and the Deseret News.Background: An angry swarm of killer bees,* including Senate President John Valentine, right, and attack dog Rep. Steve Urquhart used blog power to rip into dead tree-media DNews politics editor Bob Bernick for being a "liar." They say the DNews ran a erroneous news story reporting that legislative leaders were considering eviscerating the state's referendum law.
Then, instead of simply admitting the error, they say the DNews arrogantly ran a follow-up article that implied the legislators had reversed course on the issue or were being dishonest about their intentions.
Most of the electorate yawned and passed it off as another case of liars calling lyin' liars, er, liars, etc.
About the only thing Rolly's column adds to our understanding of the conflict is that the DNews has become a bughouse since GOP hack Joe Cannon took over as editor.
Exhibit A: DNews assistant city editor Josh Loftin defends Bernick's story:
The information was accurate based on what Valentine said before.That is, the screwup isn't that bad because the story would have been accurate six months ago. (Take heart Josh: Bernick's story also might be accurate in the future or in a parallel universe— just not here and now.)
Exhibit B
: DNews' editorial page chief Jay Evensen carefully spouts:It will be a cold day in Death Valley before I ever allow an elected official to tell me what to put in the paper.Jay, of course, knows that, unlike Hell, it is possible to have freezing winter temperatures in Death Valley — just in time for the next legislative session.
*A famous phrase previously used by Sen. Howie Stephenson to describe the lyin' liars of the news media — for which Bernick skewered him.
3 Comments:
Warchol, your obsession with the DNews is kinda sad...
Except that this time, they deserve extra scrutiny. Well done.
Bernick is corrupt. How can he be an unbiased reporter 4 days per week and a partisan editorial hack on Fridays? Impossible. His bias and deceit seep through every article. Of course, nothing is more humorous that Bernick's irritation with the ignorant public who dismiss his rants.
At least the Tribune makes a clear distinction between editorial hacks on the one hand -- Walsh, Harrie, Warchol, Rolly, Anderson, Canham, Meyers, etc. -- and the unbiased reporters (none come to mind at the moment) on the other hand.
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