I opened my New York Times yesterday to find, above the fold and on the front page, yet another “Biden is losing it” story. As angry as the headline made me (I won’t link here because shit on them and their algorithms), I decided to test whether my disgust with the Convicted Felon was clouding my judgment in my continued support for Pres. Biden.
So I read the story with a critical eye, unlike the way I normally read, which is with cursory glances until my attention wavers and I move on to the next piece.
So this long (a full-page jump, plus an entire column inside, in my edition) lacked the backbone of any news story, which is named sources. There is a direct quote buried in the story that says “there’s been a slowdown,” and two anonymous sources that do not support the story’s premise. The rest is conjecture on the part of the reporters, and then there are “supportive” stories that also are thin on sources, a practice that only larger newspapers seem to embrace. I mean, what is this shit?
All with anonymous sources and speculation.
Here’s where you should feel free to throw your coffee mug: These stories include a lot of “appeared to” and “many people are saying” references — in other words, journalism your local Patch website would not allow.
The newspaper accorded the same treatment to Hillary Clinton who has, from all observations, continued her post-D.C. life in good health.
The front-page Biden story is long and by virtue of its placement, considered important, but it is a political hit piece and unworthy of publication in the news columns. I am a Times subscriber, but this newspaper, by its slavish devotion to everything Candidate Trump has ever said or done, helped smooth the path for a Trump presidency, and they’re trying to do that again.
Biden has always been a gaffe machine. Trump has always been a fraudulent racist rapist. I am stunned at this high-level whataboutism as practiced by a newspaper that has lost its way and is trying to help the rest of us lose ours. I hate the thought of ending my subscription, as I eat my breakfast off my newspaper every single day and a bare table is just dull.
But this? Is malpractice. It is also a teachable moment for media literacy. Other news outlets are pushing back, and we should do no less. On this July 4th, it’s the American thing to do.
Malpractice is the word. "Many people are saying" is strongly reminiscent of the "big strong men with tears in their eyes." The NYT is desperate to make this look like an ordinary election, and to stay on Trump's good side. News flash: he doesn't have a good side. They'll be the first ones lined up against the wall under a Trump dictatorship. I cancelled last week. More money for Substack, Patreon, Mother Jones, The Nation, and local papers.
In many instances the NY Times has abandoned journalism standards and ethics. One-source, anonymous stories — just lazy journalism. No balance — too much emphasis on Biden. They should be educating readers about Trump’s Project 2025 — now that is one scary document. Do the vast majority of people know anything about it? Unlikely. Today, I will be attending a reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Enjoy the 4th and swords up.