09/12: R.I.P. Journalistic Quality at NEWSWEEK
Category: Media and Politics
Posted by: Martian Mariner
I read Newsweek sometimes. Fareed Zakaria does some good pieces, like this one (although it's not actually IN Newsweek, but Foreign Affairs). Plus, I like the page toward the front that has cartoons and quotations on it. Usually good stuff there.
But this week's cover story by Lisa Miller does a good job of wiping away any respect I held for the mag. As journalism, the piece is lacking - she only interviews one side of the debate, and makes assumptions as to the arguments of the other. As biblical exegesis (hey, it's what she's purporting to do, so she should be judged on it) it is un-nuanced, incomplete, and dead wrong on several assertions.
I'd go on, but Molly at getreligion.org did a much better job than I could - LINK.
I have no idea how this made it in the mag, let alone got the cover. I can only think that the magazine as a whole is completely shot. Sorry, Fareed, but your next article will have to make it to Foreign Affairs, too, before I'll get around to reading it.
But this week's cover story by Lisa Miller does a good job of wiping away any respect I held for the mag. As journalism, the piece is lacking - she only interviews one side of the debate, and makes assumptions as to the arguments of the other. As biblical exegesis (hey, it's what she's purporting to do, so she should be judged on it) it is un-nuanced, incomplete, and dead wrong on several assertions.
I'd go on, but Molly at getreligion.org did a much better job than I could - LINK.
I have no idea how this made it in the mag, let alone got the cover. I can only think that the magazine as a whole is completely shot. Sorry, Fareed, but your next article will have to make it to Foreign Affairs, too, before I'll get around to reading it.
A Waco Farmer wrote:
While I completely agree with you (and Molly) in the egregiousness of the Miller piece, I will say that NEWSWEEK is still my news weekly of choice.
Undoubtedly, this is damning with faint praise, but NEWSWEEK remains heads-and-tails above TIME. Also, I continue to admire John Meacham and Evan Thomas.
In fact, I am a bit surprised that Meacham allowed the Miller "abomination."
He must have been asleep at the wheel.