Censorship or Dumb Decision?

Video: Fox News Channel

One of the most difficult things about being "On the Media" is having to present honest criticism of your own network. But the NPR show's entire reason for being (deliberately avoiding the French) is public examination of media's usually private navel gazing.

Slate’s William Saletan says Williams shouldn’t have been fired, partly because he was a victim of selective editing: which is S.O.P. on the Factor... But he's criticizing other channels this time.

The Firing of Juan Williams Audio Embed: WNYC's On The Media 10/23/10, Host: Brooke Gladstone.

NPR's own ombudsman conceded the matter was handled poorly. And their ham-handed president was forced to apologize to affiliates for dumping a contribution killing controversy into a fundraising period.

Here in Las Vegas, the pair of begathon co-hosts for 10/23's local broadcast of "Car Talk" were the British-born general manager and the former editor of an edgy alternative weekly that had been put out of business by owners of the (editorially right wing) sole remaining daily paper.

On the weekend, their fundraising theme was guilt. But earlier, the same pair had used snob appeal to garner support for a wine tasting event complete with fine French cheeses and cooked prepared meats... The script said they were putting "the cute in charcuterie."

It was Fall fundraising complete with a festival of elitist clichés.

So in one respect Fox is right, and although they sling a lot of crap in their co-ordinated counterattack, NPR's canning Williams does feel like another Shirley Sherrod / missing the larger context moment.

Organizations with high journalistic standards should know better.