Reply #132: Part Fifty-Five, First Add: Very Useful Tools for writing WaPo folks:

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Some Very Useful tools for writing WaPo's Ombudsman and others
THANK YOU to DUer Douglas Carpenter, 6 18 05:

First of all, take a deep breath and calm down. A firm, factual and a polite tone go a long way.

It might be good idea to read Dana Milbank's article again. If ever there was a case of biased and sloppy reporting this would be it.

Here is the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

After that take a Valium or meditate and wait a few minutes.

The good people at Media Matters for America and FAIR-Fairness and Accuracy and Reporting have just put out some great information that specifically deals with the Washington Post:

For Media Matters--see this link:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200506170006#1



The FAIR info-package is at this link:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2556

And this is my own personal letter to Mr. Michael Getler the Washington Post Ombudsman:

E-mail: [email protected]

Washington Post
Ombudsman
Michael Getler

Dear Mr. Getler:

On June 8, Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank referred to media activists as "Wingnuts" for suggesting that the media has not properly held accountable the Bush Administration for possibly deceiving the American people. On June 17, 2005 Mr. Milbank mocked and ridiculed one of the U.S. House of Representatives most distinguished statesman for having the gall to challenge the White House’s line and the Republican Party’s uncompromising control over the investigative responsibilities of Congress.

Now let me say Mr. Getler that if this article was just one of many articles expressing a range of opinions, I would have little complaint. Is it not unseemly Mr. Getler that two of the very few pieces run by one of the world’s leading newspapers about a matter of such grave importance consist of insults, name-calling and personal nastiness? Do facts matter any more sir?

Is it not disconcerting sir, that the whole question of whether or not the Bush Administration deceived the American Congress, media and people on an issue of such grave importance has received so very little attention in the Washington Post?

Am I incorrect if I read between the lines that the general attitude of your newspaper is, “Yah-ya--we know Bush lied. That’s not news.” Well sir, I would suggest that perhaps it might be news to many, many people.

I do hope that the Post will commit itself to a thorough, independent and in-depth investigation of its own on the whole question of the Bush Administrations possible manipulation of intelligence. If it is true Mr. Getler that the White House intentionally misled the nation--should not the Washington Post of all papers be leading the journalistic world in investigating this matter?

Sincerely,

__________________________________________________

DU thread:
Some Very Useful tools for writing WaPo's Ombudsman and others
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3888261

MANY good things in this thread - thanks guys!