Thank you for this eminently sensible ranking, Mark.
It is worth stressing that The Guardian is at the top of the list because of the fact that it is administered by an independent trust that was established to "secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity."
If only this could serve as a model for our news outlets here, rather than having their ownership rest in the hands of giant corporations with other, larger financial interests.
One disagree: Imo the NYT Times doesn't deserve a C. I'd give it a C- at best and that's just for old times sake. It used to be a GREAT paper. I lived on Long Island 50 years ago and couldn't imagine a day without my Times (and that was coming from the golden days of WaPo in DC). Now? I wouldn't train a puppy on the Times (or WaPo).
Thank you for this, and for blasting the whitewashing of some media outlets, especially NPR. 15 years ago, after several friends of mine said the only radio station they listen to is NPR, I decided to audit it. What I found was the most strained bothsidesism I have ever encountered. Every issue had to have two exactly equal sides. But sometimes there's only truth, and sometimes an issue can have 5 or 6 sides. But it was Cokie Roberts saying that the biggest issue for voters in the upcoming midterms was "civility in Washington" that did it or me. I went "Lady, you've been inside the beltway too long," and turned NPR off for good.
I think the saddest outlet is the Washington Post, which I started subscribing to when the NY Times created the "her emails" narrative and put Trump in the White House. It went from probably an A- or B+ to exactly where you have it now. Its daily newsletter, which I still get, is a joke, with powder puff stories about "improving your gut health" subbing for news and rightwing takes given prominence (a story about how some veterans game the VA system at a time when massive cuts are hurting veterans, playing into the whole phony "waste, fraud and abuse" narrative.) It actually began its slide 3 or 4 years ago when I noticed it running worshipful stories about anti-choice women zealots shortly before the Dobbs decision.
Wow, this is a spot on take of the MSM over the past 10 years! I too left the NYTimes for WaPo, only to leave that when things started going south. You described my feelings for NPR exactly. Glad to know others were hearing/feeling the same thing I was, even if I couldn't exactly put my feelings into words like this.
Agree with most of the list. My only quibble is about PBS nightly news. They seem to me to be the model of both sides ism. The news features are fine with solid reporting. But it seems toe the interviewers seldom push back against evasive or false answers.
I also have noted the heavy emphasis on both sides ism from the PBS News Hour. Judy Woodruff's series on why Americans are so divided missed the big picture in its quest for a kumbaya moment. I have turned it on occasionally but can barely stand to listen, and I was a long time PBS News Hour listener, going back to McNeill and Lehrer. The Atlantic has destroyed Washington Week.
Agree. I'm trying to hone that down because I've become deluged with them. I want to help them but subscribing to all the good ones would consume my entire grocery budget.
The Guardian and Pro Publica are outstanding. Pro Publica has also exposed a lot of the chicanery by forces trying to destroy public education in this country.
And if Disney hands the successor reins to Dana Walden when Iger retires, you know Disney/ABC will have totally capitulated to Trump. Walden was the one who delivered the cancellation news to Kimmel and is in the running to succeed Iger. She likely was involved in the decision to pay $15M to Trump to settle the frivolous lawsuit.
I agree with most of your grades. I probably would have given NBC a B- and The Atlantic a B. I don't know what planet a few of their articles come from like that one you mentioned, but most are pretty good. Other than those, you are spot on.
Mark--thank you for not grading on a curve. But, would you adjust grades after the Pentagon Press Association and other media outlets announced they would not sign the Pentagon's new rules saying the revamped rules create "unprecedented restrictions on our ability to report the news”.
Thank you for this eminently sensible ranking, Mark.
It is worth stressing that The Guardian is at the top of the list because of the fact that it is administered by an independent trust that was established to "secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity."
If only this could serve as a model for our news outlets here, rather than having their ownership rest in the hands of giant corporations with other, larger financial interests.
Mostly I agree, and thanks much for this.
One disagree: Imo the NYT Times doesn't deserve a C. I'd give it a C- at best and that's just for old times sake. It used to be a GREAT paper. I lived on Long Island 50 years ago and couldn't imagine a day without my Times (and that was coming from the golden days of WaPo in DC). Now? I wouldn't train a puppy on the Times (or WaPo).
I'm all in on The Guardian tho. 🙂
As a friend of mine once told me, "The New York Times is very good when it's not terrible."
Thank you for this, and for blasting the whitewashing of some media outlets, especially NPR. 15 years ago, after several friends of mine said the only radio station they listen to is NPR, I decided to audit it. What I found was the most strained bothsidesism I have ever encountered. Every issue had to have two exactly equal sides. But sometimes there's only truth, and sometimes an issue can have 5 or 6 sides. But it was Cokie Roberts saying that the biggest issue for voters in the upcoming midterms was "civility in Washington" that did it or me. I went "Lady, you've been inside the beltway too long," and turned NPR off for good.
I think the saddest outlet is the Washington Post, which I started subscribing to when the NY Times created the "her emails" narrative and put Trump in the White House. It went from probably an A- or B+ to exactly where you have it now. Its daily newsletter, which I still get, is a joke, with powder puff stories about "improving your gut health" subbing for news and rightwing takes given prominence (a story about how some veterans game the VA system at a time when massive cuts are hurting veterans, playing into the whole phony "waste, fraud and abuse" narrative.) It actually began its slide 3 or 4 years ago when I noticed it running worshipful stories about anti-choice women zealots shortly before the Dobbs decision.
Wow, this is a spot on take of the MSM over the past 10 years! I too left the NYTimes for WaPo, only to leave that when things started going south. You described my feelings for NPR exactly. Glad to know others were hearing/feeling the same thing I was, even if I couldn't exactly put my feelings into words like this.
Thank you for this, Mark. Sharing it .....
Agree with most of the list. My only quibble is about PBS nightly news. They seem to me to be the model of both sides ism. The news features are fine with solid reporting. But it seems toe the interviewers seldom push back against evasive or false answers.
I also have noted the heavy emphasis on both sides ism from the PBS News Hour. Judy Woodruff's series on why Americans are so divided missed the big picture in its quest for a kumbaya moment. I have turned it on occasionally but can barely stand to listen, and I was a long time PBS News Hour listener, going back to McNeill and Lehrer. The Atlantic has destroyed Washington Week.
PS. I gladly support The Guardian & ProPublica! And was surprised about NPR. Thank you for sharing your rundown.
Interesting and I agree
The superb Will Bunch and the Philly Inquirer
I agree that Will is excellent.
And if I’m not mistaken the Inquirer has nonprofit status.
I give your pro-democracy grading an A++
Thank you we needed this. The problem is you didn’t identify enough worth consuming
Well, I didn't get into newsletters, which are increasingly a good way to consume news and opinion. I'll do that sometime down the road.
Agree. I'm trying to hone that down because I've become deluged with them. I want to help them but subscribing to all the good ones would consume my entire grocery budget.
Please do this soon. I am overwhelmed and need help culling the herd. I could do it myself but I can't find the time to read all of them:(
That's a job and a half!
What about the Substacks? My sr. brain can't even begin to parse them. I haven't watched corporate media since last Nov. 4.
The Guardian and Pro Publica are outstanding. Pro Publica has also exposed a lot of the chicanery by forces trying to destroy public education in this country.
And if Disney hands the successor reins to Dana Walden when Iger retires, you know Disney/ABC will have totally capitulated to Trump. Walden was the one who delivered the cancellation news to Kimmel and is in the running to succeed Iger. She likely was involved in the decision to pay $15M to Trump to settle the frivolous lawsuit.
Thank you so much Mark. I trust you and will use this as a guide. I do read an overwhelming number of newsletters
I agree with most of your grades. I probably would have given NBC a B- and The Atlantic a B. I don't know what planet a few of their articles come from like that one you mentioned, but most are pretty good. Other than those, you are spot on.
Too high for current Guardian.
I read the bulwark to remind myself that there are a few principled conservatives left
Mark--thank you for not grading on a curve. But, would you adjust grades after the Pentagon Press Association and other media outlets announced they would not sign the Pentagon's new rules saying the revamped rules create "unprecedented restrictions on our ability to report the news”.
That was an encouraging development.
Too bad the Washington Press Corps didn't come together when Trump went after the AP for calling the Gulf of Mexico by the correct name.