At Reform Conference, Dan Rather Catalogs the 'Journalistic Sins' of Corporate Media
June 12, 2008 | 6:40 p.m
This past weekend at the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis, Dan Rather delivered a wide-ranging speech that lasted some twenty or so minutes. Along the way, he criticized media consolidation, the corporate news environment, "message discipline," media cowardice, news-for-profit, celebrity fluff, "so-called human interest stories," sensational trials, gossip, "news you can use," partisan shouting matches, and a whole range of other journalistic sins.
"It is rare now to find a major news organization owned by an individual, someone who can say, in effect, the buck stops here," said Mr. Rather. "The more likely motto now is: The news stops with making bucks."
That last line drew much applause.


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