When did reporting become trolling?
posted at 5:01 pm on September 9, 2012 by Jazz Shaw
Before diving into this I just wanted to say that I generally enjoy reading the work of Dave Weigel. He does a very solid job and interacts with his readers a lot in social media. But after the DNC wrapped up this week, he left me scratching my head when he took to the pages of Slate and described the conservative coverage of the Democrats’ platform debacle as “trolling.” (Sort of, anyway.)
“This time yesterday,” said the strategist, “I was sitting in my office and asking: Are we really talking about this? Are people really covering this? It’s over, I guess, but how stupid was that?”
Whatever lessons the Democrats take from Charlotte, whatever it did for the president or for the ambitious senators and governors who stalked delegate breakfasts and whispered “2016,” this is a fact: The convention was successfully trolled.
What he’s talking about is Jeff Dunetz blogging about the removal of the Jerusalem language from the DNC platform. After that it migrated to the Weekly Standard, Fox and CNN. Dave takes some time out to explain that it’s not, you know… trolling trolling here, but some new kind of trolling.
I don’t use troll in the pejorative sense. Actually, I may be trying to craft a neutral meaning of troll where none previously existed. The term, in its modern Internet usage, refers to people who want to start fights online to bring the universe into an argument on their terms. It comes not from Grimm literature, but from a fishing technique in which multiple lines are baited and dragged to haul in the maximum amount of cold-bloods.
Um… OK. But I’m still not clear on what the baseline complaint is here. Are you saying that nobody should have reported it? That it was somehow not newsworthy? Or are you implying that since the original reporting of the story took place on a blog, it somehow immediately disqualifies it as “news” in the eyes of the gatekeepers?
This is what I mean: We live in the age of trolling. Any comment made online, if it’s given the right forum, is as relevant as any comment made by some media gatekeeper. Think about a politician or a journalist on Twitter, and what he sees. If a colleague wants to tell him something, it appears in his feed with an @ symbol. If someone who just logged on and wants to bait a nerd logs on, he will send a message that appears with an @ symbol. Both are equally valid, at least in how they appear on-screen or on a phone. There is no ghetto-izing of comments into the bottom of a page, or into media that you don’t pay attention to.
And a small band of happy saboteurs took advantage of that. In Tampa, for the Republican convention, the Weekly Standard and the Washington Examiner, both owned by Philip Anschutz’s Clarity Media, had teamed up for a daily mini-magazine of happy-friendly-witty convention stories. A typical headline was “The Pride of New Jersey: Chris Christie, by Those Who Know Him Best.” In Charlotte, a team of four Washington Times reports dropped cluster bombs on the DNC opera, with stories like the platform series and “Another Dem. Compares Republicans to Nazis.”
Weigel even goes on to say that John McCormack wrote to him to say that “reporting” would be a better word than “trolling” in this case, and Dave agreed with him. But if you agree, then what was the point of the column in the first place? Dave stated that there were probably 15,000 reporters in Charlotte, “of whom maybe 14,980 could have given a damn about the party platform.”
I’m sorry, Dave, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t your argument have been that 14,980 of those reporters are drawing too large of a paycheck because they’re simply not doing their jobs? The article goes on to note how much time was spent at the RNC talking about the abortion plank in the platform, so clearly the details of the party platforms are not only fair game, but newsworthy in their own right. Yet while the abortion brouhaha was apparently “news” being handled by reporters, the people covering the Israel and God language changes in the Democrats’ documents were “a small band of happy saboteurs” for some reason.
This makes no sense.
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Don’t worry, they will be back on their knees by next week.
Alabama Infidel on May 15, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Not inclined to waste cells on it and not into entertainment at this time, but she has a pretty appropriate nom, the duncette.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 11:54 AM
I still think they could make better arguments. And why do some of them bother trying to convince us they have an open mind? I guess it’s hard to steal talking points from the paid hacks while HotAir and others are refuting them.
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 11:56 AM
…and a 1st Amendment these creeps live well off of, and which they encouraged to be destroyed (not to diminish the other amendments, but this applies to their existence).
They brung/kept Obama, along with all the other dunces, from both sides. May he destroy all, in full.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 11:57 AM
You will seldom see me request the ban hammer. I’m completely interested in differing opinions. Just wondering where the middle ground on the ability to convey those different opinions could be found.
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 11:59 AM
Liam on May 15, 2013 at 11:07 AM
You spoke too soon. The “glee over the white Boston bomber” showed up, ahead of you. Glee must have vanished, all of a sudden.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Yeah, that’s it. Sure. He’s not enough of a people person. He’s too aloof. If he only slapped some more backs, the media would all be supporting him more. Where’s LBJ when you need him? (sarc)
This analysis by Politico is stupid and wrongheaded on too many levels to count.
Burke on May 15, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 11:59 AM
He’ll hang himself. He’s good for HA Capitalism.
I like to know how they are. Only strenghthens my contention that they are all thugs, claiming to be so erudite, enlightened, egalitarian, free…compared to us, the rubes :)
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 12:06 PM
I glory in being a rube.
Cindy Munford on May 15, 2013 at 12:09 PM
When he promised TRANSFORMATION WAS COMING TO AMERICA, he wasn’t kidding, and all the idiots followed.
rjoco1 on May 15, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Because they actually believe that they do have an open mind. To positions they find reasonable, the type of ‘reasonable’ having nothing to do with reason.
Fenris on May 15, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Me too, Cindy.
———-
Expose this waste of dough, for retraining the obvious, fools of Obama. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brennan and Hagel would by now be converted to Islam already.
Schadenfreude on May 15, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Color me unimpressed by the press’s sudden burst of interest in executive branch overreach. They’ve been spiking stories for the last 5 years that document this SOB’s gross abuse of power, corruption, incompetence, and utter contempt of the law and civil society. Obama and his Stalinist followers have demonized and abused entire swaths of American society for years. Only now that he’s been caught abusing the press they finally take notice? They can eat crap and die for all I care.
RobertE on May 15, 2013 at 12:24 PM
lol
Resist We Much on May 15, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Her name is Allison. I call her Allidunce.
Resist We Much on May 15, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Exactly, a few phone calls, a couple of “beer summits”, a nice dinner, some “inside info”, and all will be forgiven…
right2bright on May 15, 2013 at 12:34 PM
This is bad news people. I am really sickened by the idea that BigGov sees fit to encroach upon my freedom. There is a reason the First Amendment leads the BOR.
I am almost sure that I have used one of the phones that was tapped. Breathe, it was years ago at Hartfod’s, Courant.
Without giving up too much info here are a few details:
Scores if not hundreds of people have used the phones all over that newsroom. Imagine your own office or home? Does anybody let a landline ring ceaselessly? No. People answer and use landlines at will. That likely means that people who have NOTHING to do with their investigation are now dockets and potential witnesses. (Would defense attorneys would be entitled to interview every person captured in those recordings?)
Feds trapped phone numbers and IDs for incoming calls to varying AP offices. This means that reporters, staff, custodians even third-party vendors could have incoming calls routed through the newsroom. How could they possibly filter thousands of incoming sources to protect your privacy? They can’t and likely did not.
I don’t know what the exact arrangement is but AP reporters seemin to freely use Courant facilities and vice-versa. Though the latter seemed somewhat limited access. That being said, I know that Courant reporters were able to login to AP photo and article DB from Courant workstations.
Also, AP files are accessable remotely from anywhere in the world I believe. Why not tap every phone in America? The potential for witnesses would be unmatched.
This is not a report. It is recalled off the top and simply meant to add context.
If you’re a fed, consider everything I just wrote a lie. Also **** you for violating our primary tool for freedom.
Capitalist Hog on May 15, 2013 at 1:27 PM
Translation: “When there’s no false narrative,
stuff like thisthe truth consumes you.”novaculus on May 15, 2013 at 1:27 PM
Do you know what “spiking” means? If so you realize that making such a statement requires specific instances or you’re simply making stuff up. I’m not saying stories don’t get spiked. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve been told to stop calling or interviewing subjects.
I don’t disagree with you. I just don’t believe you know what you’re talking about.
Capitalist Hog on May 15, 2013 at 1:29 PM
At least we know they investigated the Fast & Furious scandal to it’s fullest. So, they dodged that bullet.
BKeyser on May 15, 2013 at 1:30 PM
Reporter: How many reporters records were seized?
Holder: I’m not sure.
Capitalist Hog on May 15, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Well, there you go. He’s not good at math either.
Barnestormer on May 15, 2013 at 2:10 PM
Though it’s difficult to plumb the depths of leftist stupidity, especially the fools in the WH, turning on the media has to be one of the greatest blunders in ever. They made Obama, & by extension the low lifes around him. AG Holder quickly comes to mind in that area. So what do the lower order apes do, they contrive to wreck the relationship
arand on May 15, 2013 at 2:44 PM
“They’re just jealous they don’t have relatives of their top execs setting White House policy like we do. Holder, crush them!” – CBSABCCNNPMSDNC cabal
Steve Eggleston on May 15, 2013 at 2:51 PM
This would have been the Comment of the Day™, but you had the wrong owner/owned relationship. Presstitute organs don’t own who they spew for.
Steve Eggleston on May 15, 2013 at 2:53 PM
They thought their endless bum-nuzzling would give them an exemption. All they got for their effort was a brown mustache . . .
tpitman on May 15, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Charles Johnson over at LGF:
Capitalist Hog on May 15, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Up-Chuck Oddly Blind
Steve Eggleston on May 15, 2013 at 3:13 PM
The media is so utterly corrupt.
The result of this will be a couple people fired and the continued cover up of Fast and Furious and Bengazi. The left will continue to oppress those that fight their power with Big Government. This is just standard opporating procedure in any statist regime.
GardenGnome on May 15, 2013 at 3:31 PM
Aww, it’s never fun when the Brownshirt mob comes a’knockin on YOUR door, is it?
You dolts always said the “Pen is Mightier than the Sword”…prove it now. Otherwise, suck it up and put some ice on it…
Maggots.
BlaxPac on May 15, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Michelle Malkin’s header image alludes to that same cliché.
I don’t understand how so many conservatives fail to believe in and promote the importance of journalism. FOP comes before gun-owner rights. Dismissing all journalists is perilous.
This scandal has the potential to inspire more conservative journalists. But it won’t. Tea Partiers prefer extremism to being informed. GOP and moderates are too stupid, feckless and wussified to think outside the Tea Party box.
Capitalist Hog on May 15, 2013 at 3:55 PM
And Obama’s answer: No you can’t drive!
“After they drove the car into the ditch, made it as difficult as possible for us to pull it back, now they want to keys back. No! You can’t drive. We don’t want to have to go back into the ditch. We just got the car out.”
socalcon on May 15, 2013 at 4:23 PM
I’m not treated with respect…But I am the Atty. Gen. of the United States – Holder
workingclass artist on May 15, 2013 at 5:04 PM
CSPAN: WH asks Schumer to reintroduce a Press Shield law…
d1carter on May 15, 2013 at 5:19 PM
Since when has the AP behaved like an upstanding news organization? They use the power of the press to attack Tea Party groups and conservatives and Republicans. Note how quick they are to jump on scandals involving these groups and how they provide minimal coverage of Dem scandals. Often they leave out the political affiliation if a Dem is involved in a scandal.
Media elites have such a high opinion of themselves that this is the first time they’re really mad at Obama. How dare the administration attack the holy media! 4 dead Americans and a big lie about a stupid cartoonish video = no big deal. NDAA = no big deal. Fast & Furious = no big deal. AP phone records seized = (as Biden would say) a BFD.
Ibanez Lotus on May 15, 2013 at 8:18 PM
I do believe in the importance of true journalism. However, the MSM has not practiced true journalism in a long time. The majority of MSM reporters are registered democrats and that leaves us with a one-sided Pravda-like press.
Nice way to pretend to care about having more conservative journalists. Inspirational, the sweeping attack on such a large group of Americans. There are decent MSM reporters like Jake Tapper out there, but I think I’ll borrow your broad brush and call MSM reporters the Joseph Goebbels and Leni Riefenstahls of journalism.
Ibanez Lotus on May 15, 2013 at 8:30 PM
Screw the MSM you dolt.
Hmmm, did you know Michelle Malkin was one a mainstream media journalist? There are others here at HotAir too. I have always asserted that the right is well-suited to reproduce the Tea Party enthusiasm and growth in journalism instead of outrage.
You mention Jake Tapper. He’s pretty solid. But I bet you more Republicans conservatives listen to Glenn Beck who is mostly full of shiite. But I’m sure you’ll defend him. Per my presumption, you embody the problem. (Pardon my endogenous sleight of hand if you will.)
The Tea Party disgusts me. Journalism gives me hope. Too bad Republicans have screwed themselves by embracing the wrong avenue to extend the party’s lifeline. GOP is on an IV drip as evidenced by the hysterics which would normally be played out on the left.
Yes, there are people like Kevin Williamson and NR. There’s Howard Portnoy who now blogs/reports at Liberty Unyielding. He used to be in the Green Room here. Counter to that, there are so many angry voices that just rant and rave. Good reporting gets buried. Ha, bury the lede as a lifestyle.
Any so-called conservative who doesn’t long for conservative reporters is an idiot. You sound like an idiot.
Then I’ve been pretending for a long time.
You’re just so tragically partisan that you deign not to think for yourself. The thought of doing so frightens you. Also you must not know me very well because I don’t need an excuse. Read any one of my comments and you’ll figure that out quickly. I’m that a-hole. Got it?
You react to moderation like liberals react to black-conservatives. Since you make an assertion. I’d love to see you back it up. You can accuse me of being an insensitive jerk but you must realize that I back up what I say as often as time permits.
(This reply was a perfect excuse to blow my workout this morning. Thank you for being daft.)
Capitalist Hog on May 16, 2013 at 10:45 AM
MKH’s Green Room post shows the importance of conservative journalism is necessary. Angry voices don’t reach as many people as conservatives like to think. Americans still like their news soft-serve.
Jake Tapper is not enough. We need more unbiased voices in news.
Capitalist Hog on May 16, 2013 at 11:44 AM
I’m not surprised. Normal everyday people do disgust those who think themselves better than the mere rabble. Thank you for illustrating so succinctly what is wrong with “journalism” today.
dominigan on May 19, 2013 at 7:40 AM
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