Have Journalists Lost Their Mojo?
William Powers discusses why the Iraq war has not become an “Alpha story”, aka, “one that effectively blots out the rest of existence.” (he cites the O.J. Simpson trial, September 11, Hurricane Katrina and the Clinton-Lewinsky story as examples).
“Why is the war not an Alpha? It certainly was during the invasion, when all of those American reporters were embedded with U.S. troops. But over time, the story has morphed into something less. Often it’s a Beta, and occasionally a Gamma or a Delta. Even the Academy Awards coverage felt bigger for a day or two…
“The gap is emotional, and it’s at the Washington end of things. When Washington reporters are truly hot on a story, nothing can stop them from playing it large…
“The press corps seems weary and beaten down. Somehow, even when this president is riding low with the public, he still has a way of making the journalists who cover him seem small and powerless — as if they fear that the mandate he claimed after the 2004 election is still firmly in place.
It isn’t, and this week it became clear that if the journalists don’t realize this, nonjournalists do. News outlets reported that in Bush’s travels around the country, he has been encountering more hardball questions from ordinary citizens. In a headline, USA Today called these meetings “feisty forums.”…
Once upon a time, journalists told the people which stories mattered most. Now the people are leading the media.
