Glenn's mention of Spitzer reminded me about a NYT piece I read the other day that pretended to be about Spitzer's comments about AIG when in reality it was nothing but a hit piece against Spitzer. I sent an email to the Public editor (Clark Hoyt), the columnist (N.R. Kleinfield) and the Asst. Managing Editor for news (Richard L. Berke) complaining about it. So far, I've received no response. Here is a link to the article and a copy of the email I sent to the public editor.

After reading the Taibbi piece I think what we have here is a business reporter mad that Spitzer is unmasking his "sources" and so he's going to discredit what Spitzer is saying by trying to discredit Spitzer behavior on a totally unrelated topic.

Dear Mr. Hoyt,

While reading the Times today I ran across a supposed news piece in the business section that was nothing but an opinion piece. I was so angry that I sent an email to the reporter expressing my opinion about his/her "opinion piece" masquerading as news. I'm forwarding a copy of that email to you because the more I thought about it the angrier I got. Spitzer is no angel and certainly has tarnished his own reputation with his personal failings but he does have independent knowledge about AIG that might be valuable in the discussion about AIG. Does the Times really consider this an appropriate news piece?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/business/19spitzer.html?scp=2&sq=spitzer&st=cse

Dear N.R. Kleinfield,

When I clicked on your Spitzer story today I expected to read about what Spitzer had to say about AIG. Instead I found a hit piece about Spitzer and very little about AIG.

caustic echo of yesteryear,

dethroned New York governor

thrust himself into the strident debate

If I wanted to read an opinion piece about Spitzer I would have gone to the opinion section of the Times not business news. In light of the content of your piece I think the Times should warn readers by having a more appropriate headline - something like - N.R. Kleinfield Trashes Spitzer - N.R. Kleinfield Uses AIG as excuse to Whack Spitzer. Shame on you for using your position as a reporter to vent your personal feelings about Spitzer.

This reminds me of the TV commercial that the Ladders.com runs on TV where they brag that they only handle the "big talent" and suggest, by using Godzilla like creatures in their ad, that people who use Monster.com to search for jobs are the "little people" not worthy of the $100,000 plus jobs offered by the Ladders.com. It is so elitist that I get angry every time I see it on TV.

See why TheLadders only works with "big talent." Watch our new commercial as hordes of engaging "tiny creatures," not quite ready for the big jobs, unsuccessfully attempt to wreak havoc on the city.

http://www.theladders.com/video-audio-clip

I recently signed on to Twitter just so that I could see what was so wonderful about it. I still don't know if I'm using it correctly but I have sent "tweets" to David Schuster when he asks for suggestions for his show (I send them when he doesn't ask for them too). I've actually sent him several links to Greenwald pieces hoping that he will cover them on his show and I constantly ask for more coverage on the Bush administration's torture. I keep hoping that if enough of us send those kind of tweets to the "twitter bugs" in the media that they will get the message and start covering the stories.

The new ombudsman at the Post is actually a "real" ombudsman. Check out his latest column.

A Corrections Process in Need of Correcting

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2009/02/25/LI2009022502075.html

And his previous column

Lagging in the Fight for Open Government

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/13/AR2009031302568.html

Mosquitos and gnats I tell you. What we need is for someone to come up with something more substantial, with a more generous character allowance.

Sometimes gnats and mosquitos are more troublesome than their bigger brothers and sisters.

The reason I think these tweets can be effective is because our sound bite media is paying attention to Twitter. They don't pay much attention to blog comments. If they're paying attention to Twitter then we have to figure out how to use it to our advantage.

I think the best way is to start out complimenting the media person you're following so they pay attention to you. Don't lie but give them a pat on the back when they do something right. Later you can start trying to influence them with your comments or links.

I picked David Schuster to follow because I think he's paying a lot of attention to Twitter and he's open to suggestions. That's a good combination if you want to foment change. It may not ultimately work but it's worth trying.

Thanks for posting the Horton links. I read both of those early this morning and they are both excellent. I will include both links in a couple of tweets to David Schuster.