Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson laments the death of “objectivity” which he blames on cable TV news, free markets and bloggers:
Most cable news networks have forsaken objectivity entirely and produce little actual news, since makeup for guests is cheaper than reporting. . . .
Free markets, it turns out, often make poor fact-checkers, instead feeding the fantasies of conspiracy theorists from “birthers” to Sept. 11, 2001, “truthers.”
Bloggers in repressive countries often show great courage, but few American bloggers have the resources or inclination to report from war zones, famines and genocides.
Gerson’s payroll position at a think tank funded by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, of course, qualifies him to look down his elitist nose at the rest of us. (We don’t live in “repressive countries” and therefore lack “great courage,” which Gerson obviously possesses in incomparable measure.)
Prince Al-Waleed is reportedly the 22nd richest man in the world. For all I know, the prince also gives generously to the American Spectator Foundation — and if not, he certainly should — but I’ve spent too many years in the news business to sit still for lectures from a worthless think-tank wonk like Michael Gerson.
“Herewith, a brief primer” — indeed!