Increasingly, I’ve noticed that the topics of media convergence and blogging work their way into my journalism classes. At first I was not convinced that the “new media” could have any significant effect on traditional media industries. I have come to realize that it is essential to understand the potential relationships between the two.
The Killian documents controversy highlights the need to understand the increasing power of bloggers on news production and consumption. On September 8th, 2004, a 60 Minutes Wednesday broadcast featured a story that investigated President George W. Bush’s time in the Air National Guard. CBS news producer Mary Mapes mostly based the story on four memos critical of Bush. Within hours after the show, bloggers began to question the authenticity of the documents.
Key points to remember about this incident: CBS aired the program weeks before the presidential election, and despite the claims of bloggers, no one really knows if the documents really were forgeries. Oh yeah, and Dan Rather, Mary Mapes, and other “big name” news individuals were disgraced and fired as a result of “watchdog” blogging.
While I tend to hold an idealistic vision of journalism’s purpose and principles, I realize that journalists are humans and subject to mistakes. So as a news consumer, I am more disappointed with the way CBS handled the situation than with the fact that the documents may have been fake. CBS didn’t immediately make their verification process transparent. They also needed to provide viewers with more context regarding the documents and interviews used. As for the documents, it is not clear as to whether CBS properly scrutinized their authenticity. What is clear is the depressed feeling that washes over me at the thought of CBS forgoing fact checking out of commercial interest.
As a journalism student, I’ve realized that I can no longer afford to ignore blogs as “pajama journalism;” whether blogs are qualified, amateurish, accurate, or trashy, they clearly are having an impact on the media. The bloggers who questioned the CBS story lacked a legitimate fact-checking process, and established news organizations followed their lead. This suggests that we need to answer some of the big blogging questions: should blogs be held accountable?
What made me the most upset about the situation is the fact that, whether the documents were fake or not, “rumors shaped the news and conventions of sourcing and skepticism fell by the wayside” (Corey Pein). The actual issue of Bush’s Guard years virtually disappeared. What mattered was what the people believed, rather than the truth. A healthy democracy requires informed citizens, not individuals who force a decision based on perception and rumor.
“Memogate” offers invaluable insights into the benefits and dangers of the blogging impact.
I found this site helpful: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4279605
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I agree with you that new media is an important aspect of journalism today and that it is sad that the true issue of the story ceased to matter once the scandal broke.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do not see that as the fault of the bloggers. If CBS had verified their sources the issue would have never disappeared. I think that is the part of the beauty of new media, that everyone has a voice if they want one. CBS is a highly ranked news outlet, whereas most bloggers are not. CBS should uphold the high journalistic standards and not pass their faults to the bloggers who questioned them.
Hey Dana,
ReplyDeleteI think it would be important to address the question in your piece whether blogs should be held accountable or not? I think this would make your argument stronger whether you are for or against the use of blogs.
Saying that, I think you are spot on with your assessment of being fired for a mere speculation is absurd. I think both sides should have been held to more accountability.
Good post. I do wonder how you think the elements in this controversy relate/compare to other controversies (or just the general post-Memogate climate), but you can file that away for future consideration.
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