SocraticGadfly: Talking Points Memo further deepens “old media”-style reporting

October 29, 2009

Talking Points Memo further deepens “old media”-style reporting

With a post like this, progressive blog/online news source TPM’s latest news (newishness) about intra-Democratic national healthcare discussions, you’re about to Washington Post/New York Times level on the use of anonymous sources.

We have, in just a few hundred words:
But according to sources briefed on White House-Senate health care negotiations … According to a source briefed on White House-Senate health care negotiations … According to a separate source close to both parties … On the morning of the meeting, anonymous sources … "Reid actually asked Schumer to make the pitch," the first source said. … Multiple sources--including Schumer himself--now dispute this interpretation.

That’s SIX uses of anonymous sources in 750 words.

I guess the “new media” ain’t so new, after all, when it gets to a certain point inside the Beltway, eh?

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