proud to be an american ... proud to be a journalist?
time magazine, in an attempt to comply with a federal court order, is turning over its reporters notes. that reporter was ordered to testify before a grand jury in the investigation of the leaking of a CIA agent's name a few years back. in its statement, Time's editor said he disagreed with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the first amendment (the court rejected Time's and the NY Time's petition for certiorari), but that the magazine was not above the law. Presidents have had to obey court orders, and the magazine shall too.

i'm a big proponent of the first amendment. i believe in the power of the first amendment and the power of journalism, that it can and has changed the world at times. but i left journalism because it seems that media have become nothing but one big advertisement and mouthpiece for spin doctors.

let's examine why the leak happened in the first place (granted, this is my ad hoc, cynical analysis of the situation): reporters, who itch to get on the front page, above the fold, salivate at the thought of an exclusive. (in the end, they all just want to be famous and write books.) so without thinking, when some government official leaks the name of a CIA agent, the reporter includes that name. Never mind that that reporter has just become a pawn in some government official's attempt to get back at that CIA agent's husband for some negative things he said about Bush. Who cares, when he's got an exclusive.

Sure, even in recent times, reporters have written great stories and done some great investigation. e.g. the story about the purging of black voters from florida voting rolls -- broken by a man in britain, nonetheless. but to no avail. rather, the press is more interested in rehashing press releases and roundabout canned answers from bush's mouth than investigate or write about anything substantive. politicians, once at the mercy of reporters, have learned to play the game and now spin circles around journalists.

when the media aren't being political mouthpieces, they're trying to sell us crap -- movies, music, clothes, home furnishing, pop culture. (yes, i realize pop culture has value, but let me rant here!) time magazine features an actor on its cover who is starring in a movie that time's parent company is releasing. or some other synergistic ploy. argh!

i could go on, but i have work to do.

and my health to take care of. this shit just makes my blood boil.