I agree. I think we all hold them to a higher standard but, as we also agree, it is not simply a collective judgment. There is variation, sometime a great deal, between individual reporters, columnists, investigative journalists, etc. Apple, as you probably know, replaced Tom Wicker who replaced, whatshisname, the great Lion of Washington correspondents. The last named was far too plugged into administrations--Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, and Nixon to get much distance. Wrote, as always with the Times, like a charm. Had access up the proverbial gazoo. But was in the hip pocket for whichever administration happened to be in town. Thus, the access.
I don't know whether Apple had the access but his columns just never had bite to them. For whatever reason. Trying to please too many audiences, trying to be a sage like Lippman but not having sage like things to offer. Who knows. |
