July 16, 2001

8:59 AM

Liberals Now Target MediaTerry Anzur is not happy with reporting on the internet. She is unhappy that anybody with a website can be a reporter or a pundit.
posted by headlemur (13 comments total)

send her my way, ill keep her occupied while the rest of you steal back the practicum idol.
posted by clavdivs at 9:08 AM on July 16, 2001

I'd say it's more like "one columnist who feels him/herself unfairly targeted by a website and its audience, cries out upon discovering that not everything posted on the web is true or unbiased".

it's tough coming up against someone who has nothing to lose.
posted by rebeccablood at 9:10 AM on July 16, 2001

it's tough coming up against someone who has nothing to lose.

More like seeing your job swirling around the bowl of history and headed for the big plunge.

When everyone is a columnist, whither "Columnists"? They'll be going the way of stevedores and coal miners.
posted by UncleFes at 9:36 AM on July 16, 2001

The Media Whores Online site reminds me of Buddyhead. First, they post a rumor, and then they publish contact information (a phone number, an email address) for the person the rumor's about. That person gets flooded with nasty emails or voice mails based on an allegation.

Anzur was obviously caught on the wrong side of the email flurry.

On another note, has anyone been sued for libel for publishing something on the Internet?
posted by timothompson at 9:48 AM on July 16, 2001

Matt Drudge was sued by Clinton presidential aide Sidney Blumenthal after Drudge published an unnamed source's statement that Blumenthal had covered up incidents of domestic violence in his marraige. Blumenthal settled the suit a couple of years later.
posted by rcade at 10:01 AM on July 16, 2001

Terry's just pissed off that now anyone can be just like him/her.

makes for more competition.
posted by jcterminal at 11:05 AM on July 16, 2001

I agree that this sounds a bit like its informed by her anxiety that professional journos aren't the privileged godhead for political opinion anymore.

But I can relate to that sick feeling you get when people who disagree with you leap at you with "bitch" and "whore." There *is* a culture of attack, and particularly ad hominem attack, that's been fostered in this medium. It's not healthy, it's not smart, and it's not confined to one political persuasion -- I used to associate the sort of thing she experienced with the right wing, but I think there's equal opportunity hate out here now.

In short: yeah, she may be whining. But I do see more evidence of a corruptive trend here.
posted by BT at 11:22 AM on July 16, 2001

Maybe so, but a little more self-awareness on the Web might not be a bad thing. It's better than liberals and conservatives talking only to themselves and discarding any facts that conflict with their opinions.

This section at the end had the most resonance with me. I am learning the value of reading/listening to the viewpoints of others that do not agree with mine. It is very easy retreat to listening only persons with the same worldviews and opinions as you.
posted by internal at 11:40 AM on July 16, 2001

For the last time: There is no left-wing or right-wing bias in the media! Face it, "the media" is too large, too diverse, and too *everything* to have a tilt one way or another. Those who want to see left-wing bias WILL see it, and those who want to see right-wing bias WILL see it.

It all balances, much like Monty Burns, who has every conceivable disease & malady known to mankind, but the sheer volume of viruses, bacteria, and malignancies cancel each other out, leaving him...healthy.
posted by davidmsc at 11:41 AM on July 16, 2001

"Smithers. (opens his robe) call in the press"
posted by clavdivs at 12:02 PM on July 16, 2001

(((shudder))) Anytime I picture Monty naked (not often, thankfully) I get scared. Very scared. Give me Homer's jelly-belly anyday! Oh, wait...I already have one.
posted by davidmsc at 2:44 PM on July 16, 2001

davidmsc. i liked the analogy, thought it was brilliant. Ive got a good sized homer roll me self. (fu ov luv and happy taughts....alghalgarrr...jelly-bellys,)
posted by clavdivs at 9:37 AM on July 17, 2001

dmsc.disregard"roll" insert belly. shhh. im sorrry...i ah...hope, ah, noone sees a homosexualallusion, ahhh(homer exits, goes to moes, gets lenny and goes to "The NudyBar".) .)-.)

tada-da-da-dadada.(would it not be great to write in musical note)
posted by clavdivs at 10:12 AM on July 17, 2001