Big media and AP deserve a ‘POOlitzer’ for covering terrorism, Iraq

By Kay B. Day

Jacksonville's daily paper carries many wire service stories.I’ve begun to track Associated Press stories with interest, since learning of the wire service’s disclosure about outsourcing newsgathering to nonprofit organizations I consider part of the Leftosphere. We should create a committee to hand out ‘POOlitzers’ for some of these stories carried in thousands of daily newspapers whose editors’ dictionaries apparently omit the word ‘bias.’

Some readers may recall the analysis I did of a questionable story by AP writer Laura Jakes after a Navy SEAL was acquitted in a military trial in Iraq. The SEAL had been charged with various offenses related to an Iraqi detainee’s treatment. I don’t know Jake’s employment status, but she covers Iraq regularly.

In Wednesday’s paper, a story by Jakes noted Monday was “the country’s bloodiest day" this year. She said at least 119 people were killed in bombings and shootings. Who killed them? Not US troops—that would’ve likely been in her lead.

The killers were “militants aiming to exploit the void…” The void exists because Iraq can’t seem to get it together and form a viable government.

Jakes just can’t bring herself to use the word ‘terrorists’ although a major general used that word in remarks included further down in her story.

Jakes isn’t the only AP writer who appears squeamish when it comes to pointing fingers at the really bad guys.

Jesse Washington’s byline is on an AP story in my Tuesday paper—‘US terrorists walk line of citizen and stranger.’ To his credit Washington doesn’t appear squeamish about the T word. Note the headers vary from print paper to print paper; it's hard to find AP content in the online version of my daily.

Washington expounds on the dilemma of Faisal Shahzad, wannabe Times Square [alleged] bomber. He quotes a couple Muslim scholars who say things like “You can’t abuse Muslims while you try to assimilate them.”

Washington does point out Shahzad wasn’t poverty stricken or ignorant, the favored excuses offered for bad guys.

But he provides another quote from an author who wrote a book about Muslim life after 9/11. That author said, “Globalization has changed the nature of assimilation…Other minorities diden’t perceive that the United States was at war with them. The Muslims here identify with the Muslims [overseas].”

Washington didn’t think to ask her if the identity is so strong, shouldn’t these unhappy immigrants return to their homeland?

Why would you make excuses for a terrorist whose actions are straight out of al Qaeda’s popular terrorist play book? Why would you chalk up terrorism as a product of lack of assimilation?

AP writers appear to have no qualms about domestic terrorist acts—if the culprit can possibly, even doubtfully, be painted as a rightwing extremist, you bet your AP style book the reporter will eagerly detail his faith, his gripes and sometimes his tax return status.

A reporter may even tiptoe close to fabrication, as widespread coverage of the alleged ‘N’ word incident and accusations levied at Tea Partiers, the group big media really does despise.

The AP and other media outlets with a broad reach should all get a ‘POOlitzer’ for their war coverage. Had President George W. Bush been in office, all of these stories would have a different narrative and an abundance of adjectives and adverbs driving home the horror of war and the culpability of the US.

‘POOlitzers’ to all these media farms and a pox on their advocacy journalism as well.

Comments

[NYPatriot]

Kay, info from boots on the ground. He's not sponsored by any media outlet and is ex-military.

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/

[NYPatriot]

Sorry Kay, I see you're familiar with Michael's work.

[Kay B. Day]

NYP--I am familiar, having discovered it a few months ago--I did a feature on him for my column at The Writer and I've written about him here too. He is exceptional! Thought I better add--yes, am talkin' about Michael!