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Topic: Letters Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 3/29/2006 2:26:15 PM
Title: Alexander's wrong about media critics
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
From RACHEL SKLAR: I write to respond to Amy Alexander's letter regarding the "unwarranted access" she ascribes to "amateur" media critics like Ankush Khardori, whose post was published yesterday on the Huffington Post.

Ms. Alexander contends that "mere consumption of media does not a media critic make." Leaving aside her dismissal of media consumers (you know, those for whom said media is actually produced), the question here is moot because Mr. Khardori offers far more than "merely" an impressive media diet. In my capacity as the media editor at the Huffington Post, I invited Mr. Khardori to contribute to the site after reading the thoughtful, well-informed commentary at his blog, Penguins on the Equator, which he began on January 28, 2006. (If Ms. Alexander thinks that doesn't sound like enough time to generate much thoughtful, well-informed commentary, I would invite her to try to read its contents in one sitting.) The blogosphere has opened the floor up to a whole host of new voices (myself included), and many of them are highly informed and offer an intelligent perspective and well-argued conclusions. I do not think I am alone in considering those contributions to be welcome.

Ms. Alexander also addresses the substance of Mr. Khardori's post; namely, whether media critics ought to venture to Iraq to cover the coverage from the ground. It is not the purpose of this letter to defend Mr. Khardori's argument, but I did take issue with her bewildering reference to "the other landed gentry White Guy" cited in his post. Was that Kurt Andersen? Michael Massing? Orville Schell? Nicholas Lemann? I am unsure what they or any other "Elite, East Coast Intellectual News Orgs-Ad nausem-Infinitum" writers have to do with her arguments against either Mr. Khardori's credentials or sending media critics to Iraq. All I know is that of all the persuasive tactics possible in a letter such as this, gratuitous name-calling is not the most effective. [Permalink]

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