The fake calm during the storm or life in America

Helen praises and recognizes journalists that she admires, in the last chapter. It's a long list of people, that I want to research and learn more about. I feel lucky that I was able to see and listen to Seymour Hersh speak at the beginning of this quarter. Hersh is an example of a watchdog journalist.
The deeper I get into journalism, the more I realize how little I know.
Helen's epilogue shows very well how she is upset with the current state of journalism and feels that younger journalists have no sense of history, and that may be true. But sometimes I feel that the older generation is living in the seventies or a different time. They are trying to use old solutions to new problems. It also seems that we are potentially repeating history. The Iraq war is embarrassingly similar to Vietnam. And who's fault is that? The younger generation or the older? The younger for not learning history? Or the Older for not learning from history? It seems to me that everyone, young or old, is potentially at fault. Except for the future generations who will have to live with the decisions we make. Journalists have the duty to keep people informed so they can be free.
I like the quotation from Abe Lincoln at the end of Thomas's book: "Let the people know the facts and the country will be safe."

Poodle or Pitbull?

In chapter nine, Helen finally starts to make some important points about the current state of journalism. I agree with her when she says at the end of chapter nine, that journalists could have prevented the U.S. from going to war in Iraq, if they had only put the spotlight on George Bush's plans to go to war from the beginning. I liked the quote she got from Ted Stannard, "When watchdogs, bird dogs, and bulldogs morph into lapdogs, lazydogs, or yellow dogs, the nation is in trouble." The lack of watchdog journalism gave the people in power a free pass to go to war. Now that this crisis has happened, many journalists are waking up from their slumber and they are starting to reapply the pressure. There still needs to be more though.

In chapter ten, she continues talking about Iraq but kind of veers off the main topic of watchdog journalism once again. She talks about the dangers journalists face when they are out in the field reporting combat situations. In Iraq journalists are often the target of attack. Unlike Vietnam, where a journalism badge could grant a reporter immunity or at least save their life. The journalist who risk their lives to keep the public informed are very courageous. And should be commended for what they have done.