Talon News Witch Hunt: Boston Globe Launches Bitter Investigation of New Media Reporter

February 2, 2005

Last week, at a presidential news conference, a new media reporter had the audacity to present a question many of us had, for years, been hoping that some reporter would ask. Three cheers for Jeff Gannon of Talon News! He actually asked it. I happened to catch the news conference and, at the time, wondered how long it would take old-leftist-media to attack Gannon.

My unspoken question was finally answered.

Today’s Boston Globe carried an “investigative piece” on Mr. Gannon in which Charlie Savage and Alan Wirzbicki (Boston Globe Staff writers) blasted Gannon when they wrote: “Now, the question of how Gannon gets into White House press conferences is coming under intense scrutiny from critics who contend that Gannon is not a journalist but rather a White House tool to soften media coverage of Bush.”

Bear in mind, the Globe is the same “newspaper” that was one of John Kerry’s PR machines, during the 2004 presidential campaign. It is, also, the same rag that employs the “reporter” who wrote a puff-piece “biography” on Kerry. Conflict of interest? But of course! And what was Gannon’s “crime”? He asked a question that is not allowed by the mainstream media.

Gannon’s question brought up the truth about the leftist press’ “reporting standards” when he asked President Bush: "Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the US economy. Harry Reid was talking about soup lines, and Hillary Clinton was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet, in the same breath, they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you said you're going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"

I have to admit that when I heard Jeff Gannon ask the question, I shouted a resounding “Yes!” at the television screen. But, the mainstream press was also shouting: “How dare he!” The fact that what Gannon said and what he asked bear the unmistakable ring of truth doesn’t matter. The leftist press will not allow any questions of the president that do not chastise and (at least) border on vilifying him.

I would like to formally thank Mr. Gannon for addressing an issue that many of us in the New Media have been writing about, as well as his asking the question many of us hoped would be asked. But now, the old media’s vilification includes Gannon. I am, however, convinced that he will not only be able to withstand the leftist arrows aimed at him but, will view each prick of an arrowhead as a badge of honor. Bravo, Mr. Gannon! We have been waiting for you.

Sher Zieve