No politicization at NPR:
A WOULD-BE TRAITOR AT NPR . . .
nypost.com
October 19, 2001 --
National Public Radio's senior foreign editor, Loren Jenkins, says that when it comes to covering military campaigns, loyalty to a journalist's "profession" comes first.
Asked by Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Johnson whether he would report the presence of an American commando unit, unknown to the enemy and preparing to strike, in northern Pakistan, Jenkins replied:
"You report it. I don't represent the government. I represent history, information, what happened."
Ernie Pyle he ain't.
Pyle was among the great war correspondents; he understood that patriotism and journalism are not mutually exclusive.
But then, Jenkins is not the first high-minded journalist to spew such rubbish.
During a 1989 PBS series on ethics, "60 Minutes" icon Mike Wallace angrily denied that, as a journalist, he would have an obligation to warn American troops that they were about to be attacked.
"You don't have a higher duty," said Wallace. "You're a reporter."
ABC's Peter Jennings initially thought otherwise - then changed his mind and agreed with Wallace, admitting that "He's right - I chickened out."
No wonder that so many people shake their heads in disgust and bewilderment at the mouthings of the media elite.
But it's especially outrageous in the case of NPR, which is taxpayer-funded both directly, through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and indirectly, through the tax deductibility of private contributions.
Most of Jenkins' colleagues have thus far demonstrated a sense of awareness of the need for military security.
But it's the exceptions - that is, people like Loren Jenkins - who stand to endanger the lives of American soldiers. |
