Where Are The Watchdogs? (Wizbang)

One of the most disconcerting aspects of the comments by CNN's Eason Jordan at the World Economic Forum (see Do US Troops Target Journalists in Iraq on the WEF blog) is the lack of coverage from those who are paid to cover the media.

This tidbit from an article about the 1998 World Economic Forum (emphasis mine) may be telling:

Conference expenses are easily covered by membership dues and attendance fees. Each Davos forum now nets approximately $12 million, which is re-invested in the "non-profit" WEF foundation. Membership in the WEF costs around $12,000 ($15,000 for banks), and attendance fees for the 1997 Davos forum came in at $7,200. Fees for the 1998 forum were higher than ever, although journalists and politicians were invited free of charge. (And any journalist knows the implications of a free lunch, let alone a free ticket to hobnob at Davos. Don't expect to find any critical coverage of the event from the establishment media.)

And where are industry watchers like Poynter Online (zero mentions), I Want Media (zero relevant mentions, or Howard Kurtz*** ?

In fact a Google News search reveals that the coverage is limited to blogs and assorted online publications.

Update: I forgot to check Hugh Hewitt's site first. Hugh has been pushing this story forward, and he notes that he did prevail on PressThink's Jay Rosen to look into the situation. Jay, as usual, does a thorough and balanced offering on the story. When the promised video of the event is released Wizbang is set to host it.

Update: La Shawn Barber has a repository of links to the various sites covering the story and all the updates. Check it out.

Update 2: The inevitable Easongate.com has debuted.

*** Mickey Kaus noted earlier that Kurtz has gone pretty easy on CNN, perhaps because he has a show on CNN.

Comments (9)

Ted Turner has hated Americ... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Rod Stanton | February 5, 2005 3:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Rod Stanton:

Ted Turner has hated America for 35 years. Of Course CNN smears America, he would not have hired them (reporters amd mgrs.)if they did not also feel America was evil. BTW Eason said almost the same thing last Oct. It is why Turner promoted him.

Posted on February 5, 2005 15:59

The Washington Post did run... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by mesablue | February 5, 2005 4:28 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

mesablue:

The Washington Post did run a story yesterday or today, looking for the link.....

Posted on February 5, 2005 16:28

Yikes, Sorry, it w... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by mesablue | February 5, 2005 4:32 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Yikes,

Sorry, it was The Washington Times:

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20050203-094808-5506r.htm

I thought it was too good to be true.

Posted on February 5, 2005 16:32

THe MSM would never let sto... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by minnie | February 6, 2005 4:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

minnie:

THe MSM would never let stories from the G7 Conference like this one be published here, it just goes to show they're all still trying to cover up the massive Klinton budget deficit.

Central bank leaders warn U.S. over massive deficits

Posted on February 6, 2005 16:14

<a href="http://www.theglob... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by minnie | February 6, 2005 4:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050204.wg70204/BNStory/Front/

Minor typo:(see Do... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by James | February 7, 2005 3:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

James:

Minor typo:

(see Do US Journalists Target Journalists in Iraq on the WEF blog)

should be

(see Do US Troops Target Journalists in Iraq on the WEF blog)

...though I think there are a number of places you can go when starting "Do US Journalists Target"...

Posted on February 7, 2005 15:38

Typo fixed. Thanks!... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Kevin | February 7, 2005 3:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Kevin:

Typo fixed. Thanks!

Posted on February 7, 2005 15:43

" it just goes to show they... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by Tom Lowe | February 7, 2005 6:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Tom Lowe:

" it just goes to show they're all still trying to cover up the massive Klinton budget deficit"

You idiots drank the Kool Aid.

Posted on February 7, 2005 18:25

The BBC is of course part o... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by JohninLondon | February 7, 2005 7:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

JohninLondon:

The BBC is of course part of the cover-up - its head of world news services, Jordan's opposite number, was on the Davos panel and is now issuing a weaselly defence of Jordan.

Posted on February 7, 2005 19:23