Posts
John Miller: Steyn “does most of his research on blogsites”
by Scott Gilbreath ~ November 16th, 2008
In his latest blog post, “The Journalism Doctor” John Miller meditates on the preamble to The Canadian Multicultural Act of 1985, arguing that current objections to state censorship in Canada arise from ignorance of what multiculturalism entails.
Along the way, he slips in yet another drive-by smear of his nemesis Mark Steyn.
My fact-check analysis of Steyn’s book excerpt and columns in Maclean’s told me that he does most of his research on blogsites. He was guilty of multiple distortions. I don’t think that is “responsible.”
He’s conducted a “fact-check analysis” of Steyn’s Macleans columns? I hope he’s not referring to his repeatedly disputed assertion that a notorious quotation from Ayatollah Khomeini that Steyn cited was made up.
Be that as it may, since Prof Miller doesn’t receive comments at his blog, I sent a message via his “contact” box, asking him to send me a copy of his fact-check analysis. When I sent my request, this friendly message popped up: “Thank you for your submission! I’ll be in touch with you shortly.”
UPDATE: That was fast. Miller responded and says his findings are posted at his blog and a discussion ensued at the Canadian Journalism Project.
Miller levels two allegations against Steyn’s journalistic practices: (i) using “blogsites” as sources, and (ii) committing multiple distortions. In Miller’s view, apparently, using blogs as references is ipso facto evidence of irresponsible journalism.
He must be very disturbed, then, to see newspapers and reporters making increasing use of blogs. The Globe and Mail and the National Post actually give considerable server space over to blogs by reporters and columnists.
By no means is this happening only in Canada. Some of the most venerable newspapers in the English-speaking world are allowing—indeed, encouraging—their reporters to blog: The Guardian, the Telegraph, and The Times of London. In fact, the first newspaper blog I ever read back in the mid-90s was the Guardian’s.
The New York Times and Washington Post are getting in on the blogging act, too, but they’re American so perhaps that’s to be expected.
The worst of all, for Miller, must be to see his former employer, the newspaper he reported for and edited for many years, fall into the abyss of irresponsible journalism. It’s sad but true: The [Toronto] Star posts reporters’ blogs at its website. The Star has rather a lot, in fact: more than twenty.
That must just rot John Miller’s socks.
Be sure to read Binky’s rumination on the travails of Prof Miller.
Print This Post
November 17th, 2008 at 08:48 PM
[...] book; Take our word for it: Waiting times are shorter; John Miller: Steyn “does most of his research on blogsites” …. [...]