Saturday, August 25, 2007

I want my Mike Vick fix

If you haven't caught my tongue and cheek posts about America's favorite dog trainer, Michael Vick, I think it's time to explain myself.

First, the media coverage of this is down right deplorable. With each and every 24 hour news cycle, a new twist on the case seem to arise. Except that there was actually nothing to report.

You see in the tax business, we use the terminology "taxable event". What that means is something happens that justifies a certain tax treatment. For instance, if I transfer money from my savings to my checking account, it is not a taxable event. If you pay me for accounting services, a "taxable event" just occurred.

Journalism needs the same terminology.... call it a "news event". People meeting behind closed doors discussing something is not a "news event". Speculation and hear say are not "news events". Actually being charged with a crime qualifies as a "news event". A conviction also qualifies.

In addition to the terminology, news outlets need to actually report what event just occurred. In the Vick case, when an actual "news event" actually occurred, the media totally misreported it. All day yesterday, it was reported by all the media outlets that Michael Vick agreed to a plea bargain but did not and would not admit to any gambling or killing of dogs. His actual plea agreement did no such thing.

But the media let Vick's attorney's play them because they are all dumb asses. They really don't have the ability to read a legal document and report on it so they allow the attorney's to feed them more lies and speculation about the deal. Is it any wonder the profession is dominated by liberals?

This is why the American population places the media right next to car salesmen in terms of trustworthiness.

They can't discern what is actually news and they can't, or won't, report the news that actually occurs....... accurately.

Now where the hell is Natalie Holloway?

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