Journalistic Courage

Walter Pincus has a great little essay on the subject. Money shot:

A new element of courage in journalism would be for editors and reporters to decide not to cover the President's statements when he -- or any public figure -- repeats essentially what he or she has said before. The Bush team also has brought forward another totally PR gimmick: The President stands before a background that highlights the key words of his daily message. This tactic serves only to reinforce that what's going on is public relations -- not governing. Journalistic courage should include the refusal to publish in a newspaper or carry on a TV or radio news show any statements made by the President or any other government official that are designed solely as a public relations tool, offering no new or valuable information to the public.

Pincus is limited by space constraints, but his closing graf is really only step 1. Step 2 involves, I dunno, having the balls to run the headline "President Reserves Right to Break 750 Laws," when the president, in fact, reserves the right to break 750 laws.