The Washington Post and the future of journalism
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I awakened this morning to an e-mail which called to my attention that the Washington Post has endorsed Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich for another four years in the Maryland State House.
From a quick review of other e-mails, it seems that many are surprised. I, on the other hand, am not surprised.
In an era when so many folks are quick to paint much of the “old-guard” of the main stream media with the same brush as being knee-jerk liberal: here or here - - just for quick examples. Or of Howard Kurtz??? – for some irony, … here and here. Go figure.
It is not my assessment of the Washington Post that it is knee jerk sycophant liberal; as I have witnessed it evolve into attempting to report on the news “straight down the middle.”
To be certain, there have been fits and starts and the transition has not been smooth, however, it is important that credit be given where it is merited – and the Washington Post, for me, has entered territory where I am willing to give it some benefit of doubt.
I had an opportunity to talk with Mr. Jim Brady, the Executive Editor of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive at a Maryland Delaware DC Press Association seminar several months ago. Granted, it was a brief conversation, but it came on the heels of an excellent presentation by him (Newspapers & New Media) and whatever doubts that I had about the Washington Post trying to let go of it’s elitist liberal past before had a chance to talk with Mr. Brady during a later break, during the Maryland Delaware, DC Press Association seminar, “New Media Day,” May 11, 2006 were answered.
For more on this go to: “Post Editors Discuss Their Craft,” from September 28, 2006. It’s an audio of a conversation with “The
Yes, I am one of those folks who grew-up addicted to newspapers and can still enjoy actually holding a newspaper as I read it. However, for the most part, I read (scan) perhaps as many as 10 newspapers a day – all on-line. At this point, I would almost rather read a manuscript, a memo – and the newspaper on the computer screen.
For more commentary on the Washington Post and the virtual world of blogging, see my Tentacle column on January 25th, 2006: “How is Internet media held accountable?”
And yes, before your itching fingers reach for the keyboard, the Washington Post still has some political writers that have not read “the memo,” but old habits die hard for some.
I continue to be encouraged by what the Washington Post is doing these days and endorsing Governor Ehrlich for another term even raises further their standing with me. Hopefully many of the folks at the Washington Post can take credit for the transformation of the paper - - I credit Jim Brady.
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