Journalists seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to be watchdogs — not cheerleaders of government corruption.
By Faiz Shakir and Nico Pitney and Amanda Terkel and Payson Schwin and Satyam Khanna, Center for American Progress.
For six years, conservative domination of Washington created a drought of oversight and accountability. Now, as Congress finally begins to take action and shed light on the executive branch, establishment media figures are aghast. In recent weeks, reporters and editorial boards have repeatedly criticized members of Congress for investigating the White House or acting as counterweights to President Bush. As Salon.com’s Glenn Greenwald noted, “Journalists are supposed to be, by definition, eager for investigations of government misconduct. That is supposed to be their purpose, embedded in their DNA.” Yet time and again, media figures have ignored public opinion data and claimed that members of Congress risk severe political damage by carrying out their constitutional oversight responsibilities. Journalists have a critical responsibility to not be complicit in corruption, government malfeasance, and possible criminality. They shouldn’t be mocking or criticizing efforts to hold the White House accountable; they should be furthering them.
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