This used to be the news media's job…

An item in the New York Times Sunday Review opinion section mentioned in passing that "fact-checking" seems to be a specialty job description for the Washington Post Fact-Checker and a couple other similar online sites…

The point is that news media in general don't seem to be doing too much fact-checking these days, thus a couple enterprising sites have stepped up to do the dirty work.

Sadly, this seems to be true. And devastating.

Haven't we heard all our lives that the news media are the "public watchdog"? It has been the hallmark, time-honored role for newspapers and the news media….but if that was ever true, it is no more. Too much media content is simply reporting what the "newsmakers" say, or trumpeting the latest gaffe or gotcha…

Are the smooth-talking pols stretching the truth? Somebody should fact-check 'em!


Too many dissimulating candidates telling lies? Somebody should fact-check 'em!

Sick of hearing the equivocating regulators and agency chiefs? Somebody should fact-check 'em!

It's not enough. Recently a polling director for the Romney campaign disdainfully said "we're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers."

But voters like you and me can demand more fact-checking 'til the cows come home.

Why aren't we seeing more of the "Pinocchio" stuff in the morning paper and on the 24-hour news channels?

Are you satisfied with nothing more than "balanced reporting" of the lies from both sides?

What does Romney really mean?

What Romney forgot to say....

Musing on the Republican convention...

What President Obama forgot to say......

Waiting for someone to tell the truth

Who's watching the watchdogs? Part 2

Who's watching the watchdogs? Part 1