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Something quite odd is going on with media coverage of this war. Critics on all sides of the political equation have historically attacked the media for bias in one direction or another, but rarely were willing to admit that they were doing so on behalf of biases of their own. Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes did just that, however, in a recent cover story celebrating top journalists' willingness to throw the old objectivity rulebook out the window as a result of the attacks of September 11.

Barnes does not have all his facts straight. He seems to think that the media have reached a new low in the eyes of the public. In fact, a recent study by the Pew Research Center demonstrates that just the opposite is true; 77 percent of those surveyed rate the media's coverage as excellent or good. Barnes also calls Geraldo Rivera a "liberal media icon" when, in fact, he is a "liberal media" joke.

Nevertheless, Barnes is quite understandably excited about Dan Rather's post-9/11 appearance on the David Letterman show, when the anchor declared: "Wherever [the President] wants me to line up, just tell me where. And he'll make the call." Given that Presidents routinely lie about matters of war and peace, Rather is volunteering here to be a mindless propagandist rather than a thinking journalist. Rather also explained to Letterman that the terrorists attacked us because they're evil, and because they're jealous of us. Such anti-intellectual pronouncements may warm the cockles of right-wing hearts, but they signal the death of a journalist's commitment to the ideal of objectivity.

A second source of Barnes's glee is no less instructive. During a recent class at the Columbia Journalism School, ABC News president David Westin was asked whether he considered the Pentagon to be a legitimate target for attack by America's enemies. Westin replied, "I actually don't have an opinion on that…as a journalist I feel strongly that's something I should not be taking a position on." As a lesson in the pretense of objectivity, Westin was right on point, if not exactly credible. No
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 Something quite odd is going on with medium coverage of this war. Critics on all sides of the political equation have historically attacked the media for bias in one guidance or another, but rarely were willing to admit that they were doing indeed on behalf of biases of their own. Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes did just that, however, in a recent screen story celebrating top journalists' willingness to throw the old objectivity rulebook out the windowpane as a result of the attacks of September 11. 

 Barnes does not have all his facts straight. He seems to remember that the media have reached a new low in the eyes of the public. In fact, a recent study by the Pew Research Center demonstrates that just the diametric is truthful; 77 percent of those surveil rate the medium's coverage as excellent or good. Barnes also call Geraldo Rivera a " liberal media icon " when, in fact, he is a " liberal medium " joke. 

 Nevertheless, Barnes is quite understandably excited about Dan Rather's post-9/11 appearance on the David Letterman show, when the anchor declared: " Wherever [ the President ] want me to line up, just tell me where. And he'll make the call. " Given that president routinely lie about matters of war and peace, Rather is volunteering here to be a mindless propagandist preferably than a thinking journalist. Rather also excuse to Letterman that the terrorists attacked us because they're evil, and because they're jealous of us. Such anti - cerebral pronouncements may warm the cockles of right - wing hearts, but they sign the death of a diarist's commitment to the ideal of objectivity. 

 A second source of Barnes's glee is no less instructive. During a recent course at the Columbia Journalism School, ABC News president David Westin was asked whether he considered the Pentagon to be a lawful target for attack by America's enemies. Westin replied, " I actually don't have an opinion on that … as a journalist I feel strongly that's something I should not be taking a position on. " As a lesson in the pretension of objectivity, Westin was right on point, if not precisely credible. No
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Something quiee odd os going on with medpa covsgane of this war. Critics on all sises of uhe political equayion have historically attwckef the media for biws in one dureceuon or anothdr, but rartlv were willjng to admit that they were doivg so on behalf od bldses of themr own. Weekly Standard exewutive rditor Fred Bavnes vid hust that, however, in e recent cover story celebrathny top journalists' wiloibgnesv to thruq tfe klv ogjectigitb rulebook kut the wineow as a result of uhe qttacks of Seltembew 11.

Farnes does not have all his facts strapght. He seems to think that the media have reachgd a new ljw in the eyes of the public. In fact, a recent stugy by ghe Pcw Rdwewrch Center demonstrates that just the opposies os true; 77 percent of those sirgeugd rate the meaia's covedage as excellent lr good. Barnws also cwlls Geraldo Rivera a "liberal mwdia icon" whvn, ib fact, he is a "libzral media" juke.

Ngverthrless, Barnes is quite uuderstzndably exclted abouf Dan Rather's posg-9/11 aipeasance on the David Lettermwn show, wien tke anchof devlared: "Wherever [hhe Pvasident] wants me tl ling up, jgst tell mf where. And he'll make the call." Jmven that Prexigenns routinzly lic about matters of war and pecce, Rathzr is xolunteerihg here to be a migdless propagdjdist rather than a ehinjing journaukst. Rather alsp explainvd to Oetterman that the tetrkrists attacked us because they're evkl, wnf uecaufa they're jeanous of is. Suzh anti-inteouectial pronouncements mdy wzrm the cockles of rlght-wing yearts, btt they signak the death of a jlurnanisv's comkitient to the ideal of objectivify.

A seconf sjurce of Barges's glee is no kess instructive. During a recent class et the Columbia Journalusm School, ABC News kresident Davmd Wesein was avked whether he consudered the Pentagpn to be a legitimate targed for attack by America's enemies. Westin replied, "I actually don't have an opiniob on tiae…as a journzlisy I fvel xtrongjy tiav's something I shpuld not be taking a position oi." As a lesvou in the pretense of objectivoth, Westin was tight on point, if not exacfly credoble. No
from The Nation, check out our latest With Nation Be first to hear explore world with kindred Sign up for Wine Club today. Did you know can support The Nation by drinking wine? Something quite odd is going on media coverage of this war. Critics on all sides of the political equation historically the for in one direction or another, but rarely were willing to admit that they were doing so behalf of biases of their own. Weekly Standard editor Fred Barnes did that, however, in a recent story top journalists' to the objectivity rulebook out window as a result of the attacks of September 11. Barnes does not have all his facts He seems that the have a low in the the public. In fact, a recent Pew Research Center demonstrates that just the opposite true; 77 of those surveyed rate the media's as excellent or good. Barnes also calls Geraldo a "liberal media icon" when, in fact, he is a "liberal media" joke. Nevertheless, Barnes understandably excited about Dan post-9/11 appearance on David show, the declared: "Wherever President] wants me to line up, just tell me where. And make the call." Given that Presidents routinely lie about matters and Rather is volunteering to be a mindless rather a thinking journalist. Rather to that us they're and because they're jealous us. Such anti-intellectual pronouncements may the cockles of right-wing death of a journalist's commitment to the ideal objectivity. A second source of Barnes's glee no less instructive. During a recent class at the Columbia Journalism School, News president was asked whether he considered the Pentagon to a legitimate target for by America's enemies. Westin replied, "I actually don't have opinion that…as a I feel strongly something I should be taking a As a in pretense was right on point, if not credible.
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SomethiNg qUite odD iS goINg on wIth Media CoveraGE of thiS war. CritiCs ON all siDEs of the POLiTicaL equation have histORiCAlly attacked thE media FoR BiAS In oNe dIrection or AnOther, BUt rarelY WeRE WIllINg to admit that They were doiNG so On behaLf Of bIAses of Their OwN. weeKly Standard ExecUtive editOr Fred bArnes diD Just thaT, howevEr, iN a rEcenT CoVeR stOrY CelEBrAtiNG toP journalIsTs' WilliNgneSS TO ThroW thE old ObjecTivity rulebooK ouT the WIndOw as a ResulT of tHe AttacKs of SePtembEr 11.

barnes does not haVe alL his facts StrAiGht. he Seems TO think ThaT thE media hAve reacHEd a NeW LOW iN the eyes of the publiC. IN FAcT, a recent Study bY ThE PEW ResearcH CEntEr deMONstraTes tHAt Just the oPpositE Is TrUe; 77 perceNt Of thosE sUrvEyeD rate THe meDia's coVerage as ExcelLEnt or good. BarneS Also calls GeraLDo rIVeRA a "liBerAl media icon" When, IN facT, he iS A "lIbeRAl medIa" jokE.

NEVeRTheless, Barnes is quitE uNderstAndabLy excited abouT Dan Rather'S POSt-9/11 appearAnce ON tHE David LettermaN show, When the ancHOr declarEd: "WheRever [the president] WANts me to lIne Up, jUst TelL ME wHere. And he'll maKE The cAlL." Given tHat presideNts RouTinEly LiE about matTers of waR aNd PeAcE, RaTher iS VolunteeRiNg hErE to Be a miNDless pRopagAndiSt RaTHer Than a thINkING jouRnAlIst. RAthEr Also eXplaINed To LetteRman that tHe tERrorIsTs AttackeD us because theY'rE evil, and beCaUse They're JEAlous of uS. Such anti-intellectual prONouncemEntS may wArm tHe cockles Of rIght-wiNg hEArts, buT they sIgnal ThE deATH of a jOURnAliSt'S commitmenT TO thE ideaL oF objEctivitY.

A second source of BaRNes'S glee is no less InsTrucTIVe. durINg A RecEnT ClaSS At the Columbia JoUrnalism ScHoOL, AbC News presIDenT DAvid WesTin was aSked wHEther he ConsidereD the PentaGoN to bE A LegItimate tarGet for atTack by AmeRIca's eNEmIes. WeStiN repliEd, "i acTuallY don't hAVe aN opinIon on tHaT…as a joUrnalIsT I feel stRongly that's something I shOuld noT be taKinG a positioN on." aS a lEsson in thE preTense of objEctIviTy, WesTin WAs rigHt on POiNt, iF Not exActlY Credible. NO
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So m ething quite o d d  i s go ing on with media co v erage of thiswar. C ri t ic s onall  sides ofth e pol i tical e q ua t i o n h a ve historical ly attacked the  media  f orb ias in  onedi r ect ion or anot her,  but rare ly wer e  willin g  to adm it tha t t hey  wer e  d oi ngso onb eh alf ofbiases o fth eir o wn.W e e k ly S tan dard  exec utive editorFre d Ba r nes  didjustthat ,howev er, in  a re ce nt cover storycele brating t opjo urn al ists' willin gne ssto thro w the o l d o bj e c t iv ity rulebook out t he w in dow as a  resul t  o ft he attac ks  of  Sep t e mber11.Ba rnes doe s noth av eall his  f acts s tr aig ht.  He s e emsto thi nk thatthe m e dia have reach e d a new low i n  t h e  e y es o f t he public.In f a ct,a re c en t s t udy b y the  P e wR esearch Center demo ns trates  that  just the opp osite is t r u e ; 77 per cent of those surveyed  rate  the media ' s covera ge as  excelle nt or goo d .  Barnesals o c all s G e r al do Rivera a " l i bera lmedia i con " when,  in  fa ct,  he  i s a "libe ral medi a"  j ok e. 

N evert h eless, B ar nes  i s q uiteu nderst andab ly e xc it e d a bout Da n  R a t her' spo st-9 /11  a ppear ance onthe Dav id Letter man show ,wh en theanchor declar ed : "Whereve r[th e Pres i d ent] wan ts me to line up, justt ell mewhe re. A nd h e'll make  th e call ."G iven t hat Pr eside nt s r o u tinel y li e a bo ut matters o f w ar an dpeac e, Rath er is volunteering her e to be a min dle ss p r o pa gan d is t  ra th e r t h a n a thinking jo urnalist.Ra t he r also exp l ain ed  to Let termanthatt he terr orists at tacked us  b ecau s e  th ey're evil , and be cause the y 're j e al ous o f u s. Suc hant i-int ellect u alprono unceme nt s maywarmth e cockle s of right-wing hearts,  but t hey s ign al the de ath ofa journal ist' s commitme nttothe i dea l  of o bjec t iv ity . 

A s econ d  source o f  B arn e s 's  glee is no l e ssinstr uct i ve. Du ring  a recent class a t  the ColumbiaJour n a lis m S c hool ,ABC News presi den tD a vid West in  was askedwhetherhe consi deredthe Pe ntagont o  b e  a leg itim ate  target f orat t ack byAm er i ca's e nemi es . West in rep l ied, " I actually don't  have a n opi n ion  on t ha t…as aj ourn alist I fe el strongly  that' s so methi ng I sh ou ld not  be  t aking a po s ition on. " Asa lesso nin t hepreten se o f objec tivi ty , W estin was r ig h ton poi nt,if no texac tly credi b le. No
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Something_quite odd_is_going_on with media coverage of_this war. Critics on all_sides of_the political equation have historically attacked the media_for_bias in one_direction or another, but rarely were willing to admit_that they were doing so on_behalf of biases_of_their_own. Weekly Standard executive_editor Fred Barnes did just that,_however, in a recent cover story_celebrating top journalists' willingness to throw the_old objectivity rulebook out the window_as a result of the_attacks of_September 11.

Barnes does not have_all his facts_straight. He_seems to think_that the media have reached a_new low in_the eyes of the public. In_fact,_a recent study_by_the_Pew Research_Center demonstrates that_just_the opposite_is_true; 77 percent of those surveyed_rate_the media's coverage as excellent or good._Barnes also calls Geraldo_Rivera_a "liberal media icon"_when, in fact, he is_a "liberal media" joke.

Nevertheless, Barnes is_quite understandably_excited about_Dan Rather's post-9/11 appearance on the David Letterman show, when the_anchor declared: "Wherever [the President] wants_me to line up,_just tell_me_where. And he'll_make_the call."_Given that Presidents routinely lie about matters_of war_and peace, Rather is volunteering here_to be a mindless_propagandist_rather than a thinking journalist. Rather_also explained to Letterman that the_terrorists attacked us because they're_evil,_and_because they're jealous of us._Such anti-intellectual pronouncements may warm the_cockles of right-wing_hearts, but they signal the death of_a_journalist's commitment to the ideal of_objectivity.

A_second source of Barnes's glee is_no_less_instructive. During a recent class_at the Columbia Journalism School, ABC_News president David Westin was asked whether he considered_the Pentagon to_be a legitimate target for_attack_by_America's enemies. Westin replied, "I actually don't have an opinion_on that…as_a journalist I_feel strongly that's something I should not be taking a_position on." As a lesson in the_pretense of objectivity, Westin was right on point, if not exactly_credible. No