When Media and Journalism Diverge

"My blunt language suggesting that the president doesn't love America notwithstanding," he wrote, "I didn't intend to question President Obama's motives or the content of his heart."

What did we learn from all this? Not much. Print, broadcast and online media turned a nothing story into a feast that lasted two weeks.

In the age of 24-hour news channels, networks have to fill air time. And if you have to feed the beast by making mountains out of molehills, or rehashing stories without additional facts, then so be it.Â

I'm not sure what you call this, but you shouldn't call it journalism. Maybe that is what's happened here: The world of media and the world of journalism have finally parted ways.

Folks are supposed to become journalists so they can -- as the saying goes -- comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.Â

I chose this line of work because I wanted to stand up for the little guy. Had I wanted to protect the big guy, I might have become a high-priced lobbyist, corporate lawyer or investment banker.

And, in this spirit, the journalism profession has an unspoken code that dictates that if we stumble upon an angry mob on top of someone, we're not supposed to align with the mob, jump in the fray and inflict more pain.

Yet, these days, journalists are quick to pile on. And it seems that the goal isn't to merely discredit the person being attacked but to destroy him.

How did we get here? More importantly, how do we get back?

Sometimes, it's journalists who are at the bottom of the pile. Then things get interesting.Â

The day before NBC News anchor Brian Williams was suspended for exaggerating, even lying, about his experience reporting from Iraq, the hosts of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" defended their friend and colleague.Â

"We all make bad mistakes," host Joe Scarborough said. "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone."

Meanwhile, co-host Mika Brzezinski acknowledged that the scandal hit close to home.

"This is in our house and it's very painful," she said. "I'm kind of horrified by the pile-on that I'm seeing out there. I guess it's part of the game and Brian would know that, too. But it's hard."

It's time for a new game.

========

Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.