TORSTAR ARTICLE: “Meeting some friendly, doomed U.S. marines”
Brian Stewart, retired CBC foreign correspondent
_______________
Tired and diminishing vitality
The Toronto Star looks like it is losing its energy, drive and enthusiasm when it publishes articles such as the one by Brian Stewart. Or is this a case of ‘same old, same old.’
Brian Stewart should be recognized as a member of the hallowed halls of past renowned journalists in the same high regard as the likes of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Barbara Frum. He was never a slouch. But the Star’s publishing a two-page spread written by Stewart about the war in the Middle East, likening it to Vietnam no less, is an example of lame and tired reporting.
The story’s publication verges on beating a dead horse. The news story is old and stale, rehashed repeatedly ad nauseam for the last few weeks in the media everywhere. What can Stewart write that could make this story fresh and worth hearing about again? We have no qualms about the tragedy occurring in the region, the devastation and human rights violations, the starvation and deaths. Nor do we have any doubts about the American marines in the region, their courage, their bravery, their dedication in defense of democracy.
What we find bothersome and open to criticism is the reason for publishing this story as if it is news. There can be no justification or rationale for its publication other than promotion of Stewart’s latest book. The story has been in the news for months. There is nothing fresh about it. It isn’t news, and its publication would be more appropriate in the book section of the Star.
This is not a criticism of Stewart, nor of the content of the article. Rather, this is a criticism of the Toronto Star for publishing what is not only old news, but publishing stale news, news which has been beaten to death in the past few weeks, maybe even months.
The Toronto Star is a multi award winning publication, likely viewed as the #1 newspaper in the country. This story does not serve that reputation well. It is musty, tired and pedestrian reporting, news reporting at its nadir. The Star needs to wake up and restore itself to its former level of publishing.
POSTS somewhat related to the above post...
OPINION: Toronto Star, tired and dragging
TORSTAR ARTICLE: “Meeting some friendly, doomed U.S. marines”
Brian Stewart, retired CBC foreign correspondent
_______________
Tired and diminishing vitality
The Toronto Star looks like it is losing its energy, drive and enthusiasm when it publishes articles such as the one by Brian Stewart. Or is this a case of ‘same old, same old.’
Brian Stewart should be recognized as a member of the hallowed halls of past renowned journalists in the same high regard as the likes of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and Barbara Frum. He was never a slouch. But the Star’s publishing a two-page spread written by Stewart about the war in the Middle East, likening it to Vietnam no less, is an example of lame and tired reporting.
The story’s publication verges on beating a dead horse. The news story is old and stale, rehashed repeatedly ad nauseam for the last few weeks in the media everywhere. What can Stewart write that could make this story fresh and worth hearing about again? We have no qualms about the tragedy occurring in the region, the devastation and human rights violations, the starvation and deaths. Nor do we have any doubts about the American marines in the region, their courage, their bravery, their dedication in defense of democracy.
What we find bothersome and open to criticism is the reason for publishing this story as if it is news. There can be no justification or rationale for its publication other than promotion of Stewart’s latest book. The story has been in the news for months. There is nothing fresh about it. It isn’t news, and its publication would be more appropriate in the book section of the Star.
This is not a criticism of Stewart, nor of the content of the article. Rather, this is a criticism of the Toronto Star for publishing what is not only old news, but publishing stale news, news which has been beaten to death in the past few weeks, maybe even months.
The Toronto Star is a multi award winning publication, likely viewed as the #1 newspaper in the country. This story does not serve that reputation well. It is musty, tired and pedestrian reporting, news reporting at its nadir. The Star needs to wake up and restore itself to its former level of publishing.
POSTS somewhat related to the above post...