A disgrace to journalism: shoe-throwing
December 16, 2008
- Posted by Deborah Jones
In a tone of hilarity and snickering approval the story of Iraqi "journalist" Muntadar al-Zaidi's throwing his shoes at U.S. president George W. Bush at a news conference has flooded all forms of media.
Responds an editorial in the Globe and Mail:
"The moment world leaders think they will be the target of projectiles thrown by reporters is the moment that the privileged access will end, not just for Mr. Zaidi, but for other journalists as well, harming the vital work of a free press."
'nuff said.
From my experience working in the Middle East, Turkey and Eastern Europe, journalism does not have the same "detached" principles as North American journalism claims to have and espouse. (Isn't that laughable?)
Outside of Canada and the USA I have found that "journalism" is a very personal matter and "journalists" are upfront with there personal bias, causes and agendas. Journalists see themselves as the voice of the “struggle” or the cause de jour.
I wasn’t surprised at the shoe throwing.
Journalism is often used advance the causes everywhere ...even in Canada.
Good thing we don't throw our winter boots.