Using Rather as a touchstone, Mike Walker rips into the arrogance and presumption of the news media-the elitist, agenda-driven mentality that allows its journalists and editors to ignore basic rules of journalism. Walker uses this short, blisteringly humorous book to personally kick Rather in the shins and also, more importantly, explain how real news is properly gathered and vetted, how it's properly written and reported, and why some journalists and editors think they're above such things. For years the mainstream media has stared down its collective nose at publications like the National Enquirer, but as Walker shows in scorching detail and irreverent humor, it is the gatekeepers and news elitists who need a trip to the woodshed, starting with Dan Rather.
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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
you gotta read this one,
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This review is from: Rather Dumb: A Top Tabloid Reporter Tells CBS How to Do News (Hardcover)
Mike Walker is an editor for the National Enquirer but don't turn your nose up and pass this book by because in a very funny and razor sharp way he explains what the heck went wrong with Dan Rather and tells how the last few huge media misconduct stories happend.
Things go wrong, Walker points out when reporters or editors give in to hubris. Arrogance can make you make stupid mistakes. Falling in love with a story can be a disaster. Ruling a newsroom or the reporting staff with fear can lead to trouble andrelying on too many anonymous sources and accepting copies of documents are also iditotic. Walker talks about Janet Cook, who won a Pulitzer for a fake story, Jack Kelly who told spectacular tall tales and finally Jayson Blair who could've been stopped long before his last act of plagarism. Finally, he gets back to Dan Rather and serves him up like a Christmas ham. Mike Walker comes from the tabloids but the Media elite would be well advised to swallow some pride and take his advice.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rather Funny,
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This review is from: Rather Dumb: A Top Tabloid Reporter Tells CBS How to Do News (Hardcover)
When you hear Mike Walker on the radio and see him on TV he always seems to be such a nice guy. I even met him once and he was genuinely nice. So when I saw the title to this book I thought it was "Rather Mean." But after reading the book, you realize Mike Walker is not trying to be mean at all. He seriously scrutinizes this whole Rathergate affair as if Dan Rather were on trial and Mike Walker was the judge. I also didn't expect this book to be so damn funny --- but it is! This book made me shed more than a few tears laughing.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laugh out Loud Funny,
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This review is from: Rather Dumb: A Top Tabloid Reporter Tells CBS How to Do News (Hardcover)
I remember reading Walker's O.J. Simpson book that caused Judge Ito to stop the trial and that was quite a page-turner, but I really think he has hit his stride with this hilarious polemic. I actually found myself laughing out loud throughout the book and reading passages to my wife. I enjoy listening to his Mike Walker Game on Howard Stern and he is always entertaining when he pops up on TV, but reading him rake Rather over the coals for using faked documents that a journalism student would have taken the time to verify is thoroughly enjoyable. Walker reveals a lot of bizarre things that I never knew about Dan Rather. I am no fan of President Bush and wondered if Walker might have some sort of right wing agenda, but that notion was shattered in a final chapter that hits you like a sledge hammer. Overall, this book is eminently readable and worth your time.
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