I lost my respect for the popular media in 1991 during the Gulf War. A brother was serving in the Army at the time, and I was quite interested in what was happening.

Everyone may remember the nightly broadcasts from Saudi Arabia, breathless retelling of the day's Scud attack or Saddam's latest proclamation. The newscasters (I'll apply the term loosely) were always shown standing with some blue structures in the background, month after month. Later I found out those blue things were the covers for the pool at the hotel they were all staying at. They would collect the press releases from the military and government sources, walk out of the hotel, turn on the camera and produce a report. That, in my view, is not journalism but instead is re-reading of the press releases while on salary and and an expense account. Losers....