Patterico's Pontifications

2/12/2006

Los Angeles Times on Michael Yon

Filed under: Dog Trainer — Patterico @ 11:20 pm



A lot of people have written me about that L.A. Times piece on Michael Yon — another piece that came out while I was semi-computerless. But the truth is, I can’t provide any better commentary than Armed Liberal did in a pair of posts here and here.

I’ll add only this: it’s a cheap shot to say, as the headline does: “As his profile grew, so did debate on the quality of his work.” No kidding. Anybody with a high profile is the subject of debate about the quality of their work. Anybody.

And reporter James Rainey can’t blame it on the headline writers. His own story says: “As Yon’s profile grew, so did disagreements on the Internet about his work.” Duh. There are disagreements on the Internet about freaking everything. Yet Rainey uses that formulation to suggest that there may be something shady about Yon. As if anyone who gets criticized on the Internet must necessarily be suspect.

Now go read Armed Liberal’s posts.

4 Responses to “Los Angeles Times on Michael Yon”

  1. Hmmm … I guess that the debate over James Rainey’s reporting is growing as well.

    Kevin Murphy (6a7945)

  2. Although the profusion of links gives an indication of Yon’s growing popularity, the blogger has yet to draw an audience as large as many traditional news outlets, which measure their traffic in millions.

    Would those be the same news outlets that have been in business for 100+ years that have hundreds of employees? Maybe thousands of employees? How many people buy the LA Dog Trainer just for the thrill and excitement of reading James Rainey articles?

    perfectsense (024110)

  3. My letter to the LAT editor re the story: “Meow.”

    Patricia (2cc180)

  4. I love the idea that Yon isn’t entitled to ‘report’ or be taken seriously because he didn’t go to J-school. But if Mike Wallace does a story on 60 Minutes it’s okay even though he was a game show host and tobacco pitchman, or the late Peter Jennings even though he was a high school dropout. What about John Roberts? He was a DJ in Canada and almost became the lead anchor at CBS and now works at CNN.

    We’re watching the death throes of the MSM and it isn’t pretty.

    Drew (3d217a)


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