Soros buys reporters for NPR to do "enterprise reporting"

[vaskidmark]

http://bigjournalism.com/wthuston/2010/10/18/george-soros-millions-buying-political-reporters-for-npr/

One might look at this plan and imagine that it isn’t such a bad idea. If states have lost reporters ready to hold local politicians accountable why is it so bad for $1.8 million to be spent to fill that gap? But in the NYT piece one can see why this donation should raise eyebrows instead of making folks feel at ease that the plan is merely helping fill a reporting gap.

Ms. Schiller said the journalists would not be part of typical statehouse coverage, but instead would work on enterprise journalism that looks at how state government decisions play out over years, and extend beyond a single state’s borders.

What exactly does “enterprise journalism” mean? This sure smacks of agenda journalism as opposed to mere reporting, doesn’t it? And even if that isn’t the intent, the rhetoric here is suspicious.

Nothing to see here, citizen.  Keep moving along.

stay safe.

[Ron]

In other news NPR fires Juan Williams for saying that when he gets on an airplane and sees people in Muslim garb onboard, it makes him 'worried' and 'nervous.'

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-juan-williams-20101021,0,2593969.story

[MicroBalrog]

In other news NPR fires Juan Williams for saying that when he gets on an airplane and sees people in Muslim garb onboard, it makes him 'worried' and 'nervous.'

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-juan-williams-20101021,0,2593969.story

Stupidity is now a fireable offense on NPR? I guess they should proceed to fire their entire staff.

[Sergeant Bob]

What is stupid about it? If someone gets bitten by a dog, it's only natural to be wary of dogs.

[MicroBalrog]

What is stupid about it? If someone gets bitten by a dog, it's only natural to be wary of dogs.

None of the September 11 attacks were carried out by people 'in Muslim garb'. Even if we forget the majority of the world's Muslims have nothing to do with terorrism  - and in fact are residents to nations allied with the United States - do you genuinely think terrorists will put on their Islam Uniforms when prepping for an attack?

[HankB]

None of the September 11 attacks were carried out by people 'in Muslim garb'. Even if we forget the majority of the world's Muslims have nothing to do with terorrism  - and in fact are residents to nations allied with the United States - do you genuinely think terrorists will put on their Islam Uniforms when prepping for an attack?

Why not?  Since even looking askance at them is now verboten, hiding in plain sight is a valid tactic.

It could even be a diversion. (Recall the case of the Flying Imams, which was almost certainly a probe of security.)

[longeyes]

The elephant's in the living room.  Too bad the living room is now a no-go zone.

[Ron]

Honesty is a fireable offense.

Jesse Jackson in a rare moment of clarity:

There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery, then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved....

Part of our survival instinct is pattern recognition. Juan's statement is not much different than Jesse's.

[Harrison Bergeron]

What is stupid about it? If someone gets bitten by a dog, it's only natural to be wary of dogs.

It might be natural, but I still do not think it is correct.

if you are bitten by a dog, that does not make all dogs aggressive.  it certainly will make you fear all dogs, though.

[lee n. field]

if you are bitten by a dog, that does not make all dogs aggressive.

No it doesn't, but

it certainly will make you fear all dogs, though.

generalizing from experience is called learning.

[MicroBalrog]

No it doesn't, but

generalizing from experience is called learning.

Human beings are not statistics.

[longeyes]

People operate, rightly or wrongly, on perceived probabilities. 

[MicroBalrog]

People operate, rightly or wrongly, on perceived probabilities. 

They may do that. And we may judge them on what probabilities they perceive.

And fire them from their taxpayer-funded jobs.

Can anybody point to me where the Constitution authorizes a National Public Radio?

[Monkeyleg]

Can anybody point to me where the Constitution authorizes a National Public Radio?

If we only had the functions enumerated by the Constitution, there would be just 30,000 federal employees.

[Sergeant Bob]

It might be natural, but I still do not think it is correct.

if you are bitten by a dog, that does not make all dogs aggressive.  it certainly will make you fear all dogs, though.

Thanks for making my point.

They may do that. And we may judge them on what probabilities they perceive.

And fire them from their taxpayer-funded jobs.

Can anybody point to me where the Constitution authorizes a National Public Radio?

Can't disagree about the Constitutionality of NPR, however, that is not the point of the discussion. If one were to listen to everything he said, not just the perceived "anti Muslim" quote, they might realize it was not just an "anti muslim" statement. No, the 9/11 terrorists weren't wearing "muslim" garb, but they did commit their acts in the name of their religion, so many people would have a tendency to associate it with the clothing.

There is nothing wrong with that, it is completely natural to do so. As long as you are able to logically separate your initial reaction to it from the truth of the circumstance and don't act simply on the basis of your initial fears. If you are bitten by a dog, it is natural to be wary of dogs. A logical person will sort then sort the bad ones from the good and not shoot them all on sight.

[TommyGunn]

If we only had the functions enumerated by the Constitution, there would be just 30,000 federal employees.

And that would be a bad thing???   

[MicroBalrog]

If we only had the functions enumerated by the Constitution, there would be just 30,000 federal employees.

Yes, and?

[Jocassee]

None of the September 11 attacks were carried out by people 'in Muslim garb'. Even if we forget the majority of the world's Muslims have nothing to do with terorrism  - and in fact are residents to nations allied with the United States - do you genuinely think terrorists will put on their Islam Uniforms when prepping for an attack?

Don't forget about the imams on a plane--don't remember where but in the US--they got on in traditional dress and started acting VERY suspiciously.

[MicroBalrog]

Don't forget about the imams on a plane--don't remember where but in the US--they got on in traditional dress and started acting VERY suspiciously.

And proceeded to... do what, exactly?

Is this the new standard? They might start being suspicious and weird at me ? On that standard I should be scaring myself .

[seeker_two]

If I didn't know that NPR was a bastion for open thought and free speech, I'd think they were pushing a dogma that their employees must support...or else....


 

[Monkeyleg]

NPR is really nothing more than "Radio Free Democrat", and has been since its inception.

When candidates ask what items should be cut from the budget, NPR and PBS should be on the list, along with the NEA. From there go on to the Department of Education, etc.

[TommyGunn]

And proceeded to... do what, exactly?

Act strangely?  Engage in Muslim prayer rituals?  Test reaction in preparation for another terrorist assault?  
We don't know.  YOU don't know.  I know -- and THAT IS NOT AN ANSWER.  Most people do not get on airplanes and behave in the manner they did.  Even Baptists don't do that.  Behaviour outside the norm tends to draw attention, and if you doubt this assertion I suggest you go to a nearby mall, take your clothes off, and do cartwheels through the place.  I think you will likely draw attention to yourself if you do this.  In fact, you will probably be arrested for indecent exposure, so actually, I recommend you not do this.

Is this the new standard? They might start being suspicious and weird at me ? On that standard I should be scaring myself .

By definition you wouldn't BE "scaring yourself."  "Once bitten, twice shy."  People who haven't been living in a cave since September 11th, 2001  know we're in a war with extremist Islamists.  To act ... "normal" in the face of people who are calling attention to themselves falls a bit outside the "normal" range of human reactions, IMHO.  Now, you may very well fall outside the "norm," but let's not be too hard on everyone who can't live up to your standards, OK?  

[MicroBalrog]

Here's the big challenge, IMO:

We live - you, I, doesn't matter if we're in Israel, Germany, America - everybody in the Western World lives in a society where we will meet - some of us, on a daily basis - people who don't only have different views from us, but who come from an entirely different frame of reference. Muslims, Amish, furries, Orthodox Jews, Fistful, Communists, LaVeyans.

The questions is, what to do about it. Naturally we're all sometimes weirded out by these people.

[sanglant]

and why are they so offended, by people paying attention to what they're doing in a PUBLIC place?

edit: fixing dumb typo, hopefully i didn't add ten more.

[roo_ster]

The questions is, what to do about it.

Well, if they act like Muslim nuts, treat them like Muslim nuts.

It is on them to conform to the American culture.  If they don't like it, they can go back to their dunghill country.