What blogs do…
Sort of an interesting and insightful discussion going on with regards to my other post about the New Yorker and the author Dan Baum. I wasn’t particularly clear about my hostility there, but it was that the editors at the New Yorker, who are undoubtably very intellectual guys, aren’t well versed in military stuff. Not a slam on them, and not on Dan Baum either, who from the comments on his website actually seemed to be engaging in an altruistic endeavor to get our word out. It was more a indictment of the New Yorker as a whole that they haven’t hired a guy like Alex Horton or someone else who knows the language if the military, and wants a career in that field. I have NO DESIRE WHATSOEVER to be an actual journalist. One comment of Mr. Baum’s in particularly has me somewhat philosophical about our overall goal, to wit:
Although I’m not entirely sure that calling people names precludes one from knowing facts, I take more issue with him suggesting I want reporters to call me up for facts. Actually, I even feel bad arguing at all with him, since again, he seems largely blameless in this whole affair.
I was interviewed yesterday at the National Press Club in my official capacity with my day job, and that showed up in several news items today. (Albeit not big ones, so don’t bother looking.) I wanted the reporters there to get the facts about what I said, but I didn’t want them to rely on what I said about extrinsic facts to write their article. I’m an advocate, not a universal fact-checker and truth relayer. If I said the Earth is located 10 miles from the Sun, I expect them to verify that I said that by asking me. But also, they should verify that the Earth is IN FACT 10 miles from the sun with someone who has a clue what he is talking about. Don’t take my word on it, shit, I don’t know nothin ’bout no ‘stronomy.
So, what is a blog for in my opinion? 3 things to me. 1) It offers me some catharsis on stuff that bugs me, phony vets etc. 2) We get to tell stories that the media won’t be covering, and/or provide some context if anything is missing, like Colonel Evan, or more on Rick Duncan, or talking about the WLF. As for the third….
This is how I envision Jonn, COB and me with regards to print and televised media….
Category: Politics
Earth to Sun: 1 AU.
Your welcome.
Best MST3000 line ever.
Film: “The blood of Uranus will flow like a river”
Guys: (in unison) “WOAH!”
Had to look up Space Mutiny, seems it was made in South Africa during the late 80s. I was called “Quite possibly the worst science fiction/space adventure film made in English”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Mutiny
I, on the other hand, would enjoy having reporters call me up daily, if only so I could tell them exactly where I think most of them should go and what they should do there.
I’ll admit that I get excited when we get asked for interviews from the old media, which happens more than many of you realize. But I don’t get excited because I get to see my name in print – I get excited because the old media is finally figuring out where to find subject matter experts.
The last time TSO did an interview, we were “a Washington veterans group” but it doesn’t matter what they call us, just so long as they call us.
In case you’re wondering, all of the calls we get are about the military’s problem children.
“One comment of Mr. Baum’s in particularly has me somewhat philosophical about our overall goal, to wit:
Christ almighty, listen to you children calling each other names. And you’re the guys you want us reporters calling up to check facts?”
I would have told him the MSM needs to clean out its own closet with respect to name-calling and sloppy, leftwing ‘journalism’. William Arkin and Ted Rall come to mind.
Don’t send them my way! I’ve added journalism to my Last Resort Column. By the time I graduate, there will be about three papers in the country to work at. I’m going for a degree in international relations so I can get a cushy government analytical job type job.