Protest Long & Strong When a True Journalist Gets Smeared!
— Forget not Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange has sat three years in a high security prison for skipping bail because he feared for his life
[NOTE: Before I write anything, I declare the following: I support and believe in the journalism of Ben Norton!]
Before the advent of AOL 1.5, Netescape, Metacrawler and Ask Jeeves, I read multiple newspapers a day: two nationals (NYT & WashPo); depending on the state I was living, one state newspaper, (NH Union Leader or Boston Globe); and all of the local daily and weekly newspapers I could find.
One could argue then that I was well- read. I also worked for newspapers as a typesetter and as a sports correspondent. So one could also argue I was newsroom experienced.
Moreover, I also served in NH’s state legislature for two terms and I was executive director and organizer of two national drug policy conferences — featuring dozens of renown speakers, including the US drug czar — at Harvard University.
I understand the politics.
When the Internet first hit I was a member of SiliconInvestor.com (SI). Indeed, SI was Facebook and Twitter well before Facebook and Twitter came into existence. In fact, it was on SI in 2003 that I created and hosted the Internet’s 1st-ever substantive anti-war debate. It was called DON’T START THE WAR and later became Stop The War!
I know, based on my own belly in the beast experience, which news journals got the War on Iraq right and which ones got it all wrong. One would have thought the ill-fated circumstances would have improved the media. But this didn’t happen. Instead it worsened. On the heels of America’s Occupy Movement, with five conglomerates controlling 90% of all media, the press totally tightened up and has become a tool of the state. There now exists a clampdown on independent journalists.
I very well know the difference between news that is controlled and news that is covered.
For me, it was depressing when all of the main media news ombudsmen critics got fired, and when the investigative journalism ranks swelled with ex-intel hacks or potted-plant White House, State Department, Pentagon, FBI, CIA and NSA stenographers posing as writers. Many of these types, all well-funded, also entered elective office.
Based on my experience as a common man, I hereby proclaim Ben Norton’s journalism is true and right on. I look forward to everything he presents as a writer and analyst. I applaud his journalism!
