What I'm reading: Media criticism

And a few words about my editorial policy

In my “past life” covering Russian politics from 1995 to 2005, the media landscape was one of my main research interests. I wrote extensively about media bias and government or corporate influence over news reporting. My doctoral dissertation was about the reassertion of state power over the Russian media during Boris Yeltsin’s presidency and the early Vladimir Putin years.

For the past 15 years or so, I’ve been able to set Bleeding Heartland’s editorial policy. I’ve done a lot of thinking about journalism standards.

When it comes to research and fact-checking, I believe my website is as rigorous as any other Iowa news organization.

I am more stringent than some mainstream publications about using anonymous sources. (Dan Froomkin wrote helpful guidelines on when sources deserve anonymity.) I almost always reject requests to be quoted “on background” (citing “an aide” or “someone close to the situation”). If you want your viewpoint reflected in my story, give me a comment on the record. Alternatively, I will speak to you off the record and keep your perspective out of my story.

Unlike most publications, I allow guest authors to use pseudonyms in certain circumstances, such as when writing about sensitive topics, or if they have a day job that wouldn’t permit expressing political views. I don’t allow pseudonyms to be used as “sock puppets,” or to conceal a potential conflict of interest (such as a paid staffer or consultant using a screen name to promote the candidate they are working for).

The biggest difference between my editorial policy and conventional political reporting is that Bleeding Heartland doesn’t strive to occupy a neutral space. The site features a range of views with a Democratic or progressive orientation, and I include some commentary in many of my news stories.

I’ve found that even some conservative readers (who disagree with me much of the time) value the transparency. Instead of looking for some other source to voice what I’m thinking, or presenting “both sides” without revealing where I stand, I am open about supporting voting rights, abortion access, or various other policies.

The work of media critic Jay Rosen has greatly influenced my approach. He’s an excellent follow on Twitter and has published many must-read posts at his PressThink blog. Two that have been particularly important for me are this 2010 piece on what Rosen calls “The View From Nowhere” and a 2011 critique of “he said, she said” journalism at NPR.

I enjoy Dan Froomkin’s Twitter feed and his Press Watch website.

Bleeding Heartland doesn’t cover the Iowa media often, but I do occasionally call out coverage that’s unprofessional, or doesn’t adequately inform readers, or lets elected officials set the agenda.

I also welcome guest commentaries about the media, most recently Herb Strentz’s reflections on the “not-so-hidden costs of paid obituaries.”

Here are some good recent articles about journalism (not Iowa-related):

• By Margaret Sullivan for The Washington Post: “It’s time for local journalists to reckon with the racism we overlooked”

• By Natalie Korach for Mediaite: “ABC Publishes Completely Wrong Pre-Write on Jobs Report”

• By Don Moynihan for Substack: “Anatomy of a fake: What a viral fake news story about ‘race-based grading’ tells us about our media ecosystem”

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about my editorial policy, or an idea for a Bleeding Heartland post.

P.S.—This Substack is not going to summarize most Bleeding Heartland coverage. For free emails that link to all recent articles and commentaries I’ve published on the site, sign up for the Evening Heartland newsletter here. I don’t ever share or sell my email list.

P.P.S—This Substack has 80-some subscribers now. When the list hits 100, I will put up my first “Ask me anything about Iowa politics” thread.