My ideal job, apparently, is a mime

http://www.jobpredictor.com/

Dan Rather gets teary and it's a-okay with me!

One of the highlights of the IRE conference was hearing Dan Rather give a talk. I got to the ballroom early and staked out a coupla seats so I could be within eye-level of Dan. He is a short guy! I'd heard that but was surprised to see him in person. He comes across as much taller.

Dan got choked up and teary a few times during the speech, especially after he got a standing ovation from the hundreds of journalists. I did not mind in the least that he got emotional. That is what makes him a good reporter and not a robot. Plus, he has gotten so much flak over the past few months that I am sure he appreciated the applause.

He was down to earth, his usual folksy self and interesting.

"I stand before you as a reporter who got lucky," he told the crowd.

I appreciated hearing that, since sooooooo many reporters at conferences like IRE can just be bloated and full of themselves.

"I also stand before you with some scars and self-inflicted wounds," Rather said.

He admitted he made some mistakes and hoped he has learned from them.

Investigative reporting is more addictive than crack, he said, but it can be VERY hard to get to the truth when powerful people don't want the truth to come out. Government oficials possess and use enormous power to manipulate the press, he said.

Reporters must be prepared to defend every part of the story. That is what he did with the CBS story about Bush's military record, he said. Although it soon came out that there were serious flaws with the story. He defended the story and his investigative team, he said, because he wanted to stand up for the people he worked with.

A war rages daily between "sensationalism and seriousness" in the American media, he said. "And sensationalism is winning."

What reporters do is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution, he said, even though many Americans don't appreciate or understand that.

"Our calling is not to be liked, but to make a difference," he said.

Amen, Dan. And courage.

To read the transcript of his speech, click here:

http://poynter.org/forum/?id=misc

 

 

Russell Crowe arrested for throwing a phone. At someone.

Russell, Russell, Russell. How I long for those days of yore when you came to West Palm Beach and I raced out of the newsroom as if I were on fire to try and chase you through a shopping center.

However, I do not judge you for this lapse of judgement. Who among us has not wanted to throw a phone? Perhaps not AT someone (unless we are Naomi Campbell).

Of course, all this spells anger management classes and lawsuits. I send Russell some calming vibes and soothing lavender aromatherapy.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/316425p-270727c.html

Seymour Hersh rules!

Hi there Blog Readers. I am still in Denver where I spent the last four days at the Investigative Reporters and Editors convention. www.ire.org  Lots of fun and I ran into all kinds of people I had worked with or met or read about.

One of the stand-out sessions was about Military Reporting and led by none other than Seymour Hersh, the investigative reporter who broke the Abu Ghraib prison scandal story in the New Yorker. Hersh was acerbic, intelligent and to the point.

Here is some of what he said:

There is a "total failure of Congress," to investigate the prison scandals. Hersh broke the story, brought it to light and has been disappointed at how little Congress has done to correct the problems.

Hersh was quite critical of the Bush administration, which should be no surprise. He called Bush and his administration "inert" because they do not seem to care what reporters print and broadcast. The White House has its own agenda, Hersh said, and Bush truly believes he is bringing peace to the Middle East.

"We really have a problem," Hersh said. "We have a president who isn't responsive."

Hersh, a veteran, has many contacts within the U.S. military and said that many of the soldiers are quite upset about the prisoner abuse scandal.

He called the war in Iraq "nonsensical" and the single worst mistake of the Bush administration.

History will judge the administration, the military and us, he said.

"What goes around comes around," he said.

To reporters who are frustrated by the stone-walling of military spokesmen and sources, and the outright deceptions sometimes told by them, Hersh said reporters should not be surprised. The war in Iraq is paramount to the administration and must be protected at all costs. Stay away from official Washington sources, he said, because they are "contaminated."

"This is a White House that thinks only two inches in front of its nose," he said.

In a funny moment, one of the last questions was from a reporter who asked Hersh how he gets his sources and develops relationships with them. Hersh looked at the reporter as if he were crazy. Then he asked the reporter if he were crazy.

No way, Hersh said, he was not going to give away the tricks of his trade. Even to fellow investigative reporters.

Taking a break

RandomReality is taking a blog break. The journal will return the week of June 6.

Live Aid 2 might actually happen!!!!

And the Spice Girls might reunite! Oh dare to dream!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/26/britain.spice.reut/index.html

Dear Tom Cruise: You are a moron

Tom Cruise, an ardent Scientologist, criticizes Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants after her bout with severe post-partum depression. Said she could have cured herself using vitamins.

Dear Tom: You are a moron. Depression is a biological condition. Sure, vitamins help and exercise and prayer and positive thinking. But mostly, it is a problem of brain chemistry.

Oh wait. You are a Scientologist. You believe that aliens actually live in our brains and control us. Yes folks, that is what Scientologists learn once they pay all that money and achieve all those "levels." They are deeply suspicious of psychiatrists and psychologists. Perhaps because they would tell Scientologists they are CRAZY????

http://www.nydailynews.com/05-23-2005/news/story/312030p-266946c.html