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Buzzcuts
by Owen Perry
If you missed them, on Feb. 15 there were anti-war protests in about
600 cities around the world. Millions of people marched against the
possible war against Iraq. On the 18th, President Bush dismissed the
protests saying, "Size of protest - it's like deciding, well, I'm
going to decide policy based upon a focus group." One is left to
wonder Bush will be able to ignore the "focus group" of American
voters who may decide not to elect him (as they did in 2000) to be president
in 2004.
*****
The Syracuse Post Standard reported on Feb. 12 that WTVH Channel 5 in
Syracuse has been charging companies up to $600 for three-minute interviews.
Yes, that's right. The line between "news" and "commercials"
apparently doesn't mean anything to the station. Keep that in mind the
next time you turn on the TV and hear that Channel 5 is "On Your
Side."
*****
If and when the United States goes to war, all the people back home
will have a front row seat to all the carnage and bloodshed. The New
York Times reported on Feb. 18 that the U.S. military has assigned "at
least 500 reporters, photographers and television crew members"
to "slots with combat and support units and accompany them throughout
the conflict." This is a great step to better truth and accuracy
in reporting. Hey, all you fellow journalism students, better learn
how to use a gasmask.
*****
The Republican National Committee was up to some dirty tricks last fall.
The Boston Globe reported that it unwittingly published letters praising
President Bush that where not written by the people who signed them.
Copycat letters appeared in papers throughout the country, though with
different signatures. "'Readers have a right to assume that what
they read on the letters page is not canned public relations material,"
said Editorial Page Editor Renee Loth. Buzzsaw would like to go on the
record that, to our knowledge, the seven letters we've gotten in our
history have been real.
Owen Perry is a senior journalism major. Email him at operry1@ithaca.edu.
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