Once again the blogosphere shames mainstream media (MSM). On Wednesday, Ed Morrissey of Captain’s Quarters wrote a post called ABC News: Too Lazy To Hide The Bias. Via Power Line, he found this request on ABC’s web site:
For a possible Inauguration Day story on ABC News, we are trying to find out if there any military funerals for Iraq war casualties scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20.If you know of a funeral and whether the family might be willing to talk to ABC News, please fill out the form below[.]
On the day of the inauguration, ABC wanted to cover the funeral of an American killed in Iraq apparently to contrast it with the festivities of the president’s inauguration. Ed wrote:
So here we have a public broadcaster who explicitly intends on using the death of at least one American serviceperson — specifically in Iraq, so dead American soldiers or Marines in Kosovo or Afghanistan need not apply — as a means to make a political statement about Bush’s inauguration. If your son or daughter, sister or brother, or friend or neighbor isn’t lucky enough to be buried on January 20th, don’t bother applying, because ABC and Disney won’t give a rat’s a** about him or her.
Instapundit and several other bloggers linked to the post, and shortly after, ABC, probably embarrassed, removed the page. But like all conscientious bloggers, or at least the ones involved in Rathergate, Ed archived the page. It was good to see the story receiving coverage, although from an online conservative news site, CNSNews. Rush Limbaugh mentioned it, but I don’t know if he credited Captain’s Quarters specifically.
To my knowledge, MSM have not picked up on this story, if it indeed is a story, but I wanted you to be aware of it in case it grows. This episode won’t reach Rathergate proportions, but no doubt the power of the blogosphere to generate stories and call out MSM is growing.
Links are very important to most bloggers because they bring traffic. As of this writing, Captain’s Quarters has risen to #9 in the Ecosystem rankings, and he thanks you.
Also see ABC’s Inauguration Plans.
Update: Ed’s not done with ABC yet.
More info on media vs. bloggers: Wizbang, The National Debate, PressThink, Tim Worstall…
Update: The Heritage Foundation is holding a discussion on bloggers and Rathergate next Friday. Sounds like fun. I might check it out on my lunch hour. (Hat tip: Wizbang)
Update II: It bothers me when journalists write about bloggers and don’t link to them. I’m not the only one who feels this way. Check out this blog. And I don’t think I like the idea of a bloggers’ “code of ethics,” either. Developing…
