doesn't simply mean to include or to consist of. To entail means to include by necessity or generally to necessitate.

That is, to entail usually means to require as a necessary prerequisite. For example, getting rich entails working hard and/or having good luck.

To entail also sometimes means to involve as a necessary corequisite, or to compel as a necessary consequence.

Given Glenn's recent reporting (yes, reporting) about the NYT's Michael Gordon, the NYT's and WaPo's flagrant disregard for their own standards regarding anonymous sources, and now on the good job that the crew did over at Firedoglake--Whatever they are paying Howard Kurtz to be the "media writer" over at WaPo, Glenn is worth double. Too bad the market doesn't work to reward people with their real value in rightwing America.

All of Glenn's points are well taken, and FDL has performed an admirable service, but I think, at least with respect to the Washington-New York axis, the media's function is not to investigate, cover, or report stories or events; its function is solely to mediate the acceptable boundaries of debate and the issues open to debate. The details don't matter.

Thus, Michael Gordons's articles, under this standard, are perfectly acceptable "journalism." He's merely signalling an issue open to debate, and the boundaries of that debate. Facts don't matter in this particular propaganda dance.

In any case, what interest would the traditional media have in covering the Libby case? Not only does it expose the more general anonymous sourcing scandal, in this particular case the media was printing the administration's denials of leaks while the media itself was receiving and was in possession of those very (denied) leaks, a conflict that it never revealed to its readers.

Glenn,

I would be interested if you could address the disconnect between what good solid blogs can provide and the news that the vast majority of the population is getting (from mainstream media, and the numerous partisan blogs that do not have high standards of fact checking). The danger, to me, is that in abandoning mainstream media for the blogosphere, we will be creating a society in which there are a few people who access the reliable information available on the blogosphere and the rest of society which sees the world through the prism of sensationalistic journalism and partisan coverage (from various left-wing and right-wing blogs).

That's not to deny the extraordinary possibilities that the blogosphere creates. I just wonder if enough people will pay attention. Given that most people have such busy lives and often prefer to listen to infotainment rather than delve into the details of the complex issues of the day, can the extra reporting of the blogosphere filter into the lives of enough Americans to actually inform public opinion and affect public policy?

It's somewhat disheartening to realize that more people have probably read and internalized the ridiculous "quote" of Abraham Lincoln that you ably debunked the other day than have read and internalized the details of the Scooter Libby trial. How many people think that Abraham Lincoln supported hanging Americans who hurt the morale of troops? How many people can name the members of the Bush administration who, according to the reporters who testified, leaked Valerie Plame's identity?

Cheers,

Mike

I'm still trying to figure out how to maneuver around here. If I'm in the letters section, how do I get back to the Salon/UT main page? Does one even exist? Is there a page w/ all/most of GG's latest posts, or is every post on an individual page (that I can't seem to navigate to from within the comments section)?

bamage,

Here's how I do it (admittedly, this may not be most efficient). Once I've posted, or am reading posts, to go back to Glenn's main Unclaimed Territory area, I click on the upper left salon.com icon first, then on the left side there's a bar with several sections (Daily, I think it's called), one of which is Glenn Greenwald. Click on Glenn's name, it takes me back to the "front page" of Unclaimed Territory with the various articles.

Haven't found a faster way to do it than that yet. Hope this helps.

No kings,

Robert

Bamage,

the url for Mr. Greenwald's latest post is:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

I believe the main page for Salon is simply

http://www.salon.com/

Glenn,

I have just discovered you blog and will be reading it on a daily basis from now on.

Congratulations on your excellent work, especially where it concerns how the main stream media has walked away from their journalistic responsibilities.

I expect there to be a variety of opinions but when the NYT and WaPo spin the news to such an extent that it resembles more of a dis-information campaign that it does high quality news; our country and its constitution are in deep doodoo.

Unfortunately, too many voters rely on these sources for determining how they vote.

Good job and keep up the good work as I know you will.

WT,

I'm somewhat aware of the difficulties you describe, but have no expertise in this area.

But I do hope that bloggers begin to see that their records are historically important, and deserve preservation. Comments by grutherford and johnalive underscore this, in different ways.

I can't wrestle with the technical aspects of this, but I believe the first step is that bloggers--the owners of the material-- need to begin thinking about posterity.

Truly groundbreaking. FDL's coverage of this trial represented a subtle yet illuminating adaptation of the new media. Things will never be the same.

As I mentioned before, the MSM can no longer profit from provding news so it is up to the bloggers.

You are one of the few, Glenn, that writes well, thoughtfully and with a comprehensive approach that is well researched and easy to absorb and digest.

I'm a 43 yr old woman so maybe it's just the age thing although i've been online forever and have a personal and professional website....but what is painful and glaring at times is the quality of writing. It's generally poor and feels sophmoric. Maybe this will evolve into a more professional approach and becomes something otherly, a more polished alternative to infotainment. But I left the States 5 years ago because I felt the combination of christian, military and litigiousness was eliminating discourse and rendering a country that was and is having far too much difficulty coping in this globalized world. I luv the States but it's no longer a place that will allow both the left and right to comfortably head towards the moderate center. The blogs are great but they've a long way to go.

just a perception... Bailey/Paris. The Europhile.