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New Media A Threat To Old Alaska Guard
Remember the good old days when politicians faced scrutiny in discrete media -- print, radio and television? No longer. New media convergence is here and it's killing folks like Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), according to the NBC affiliate in Alaska, KTUU.
KTUU said there's a new rule for politicians: "if it's out there, it's going everywhere."
Stevens learned that lesson last week when the Anchorage Daily News posted audio from an editorial board interview on its site, where Stevens complained that the paper is out to "assassinate" him. It was a big first for the paper and popular with several other outlets that picked it up (cough), including a local radio show that aired parts of the interview.
From KTUU:
Michael Carey, former editorial page editor of the Anchorage Daily News, now host of public television's "Anchorage Edition," says Alaska's congressional delegation is struggling with the interconnecting worlds of print, internet and broadcast journalism."Anybody who's in this business realizes the universe is changing and changing dramatically," Carey said. "I think this is something that's happened to Sen. Stevens and our whole congressional delegation in the so-called scandal story, of them finding themselves not just on television or in conventional print, but all over the universe in forms that they couldn't imagine with different people they've never heard of."
We're reminded of another Alaska pol, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), whose spokesman told the Anchorage Daily News that they didn't answer TPMmuckraker questions about Murkowski's questionable land deal because we were "an unfamiliar media outlet." It's a new day!
Comments (14)
drational wrote on August 20, 2007 12:44 PM:It's morning in America.
From "Good Night, and good luck," to
Good Morning.
And it is a rather good morning.
security code "silver" as in the shot of Patron Silver I raise in honor of new journalism.
bejammin075 wrote on August 20, 2007 12:45 PM:I used to live in Anchorage, Alaska. The other day, I was looking at my old neighborhood with the Google maps. As I zoomed out, I saw that the main Anchorage airport (which is actually a major airport with lots of traffic and stuff) was now named "Ted Stevens International Airport".
WTF?
If the charges against Stevens stick, I want that airport re-named after an honorable person who is not a criminal.
ethan wrote on August 20, 2007 12:55 PM:Damn tubes.
leftoveramerica wrote on August 20, 2007 1:04 PM:"so-called", Michael?
Sam's Uncle wrote on August 20, 2007 1:18 PM:You got that right Ethan, those damned tubes are EVERYWHERE! And who knew that vital little fact, just the plumbers? Bah!!! Stevens has a staff that obviously isn't very good at keeping him informed of these new-fangled technologies.
Ducky wrote on August 20, 2007 1:20 PM:I actually feel a bit sorry for Uncle Ted. He has been in Washington and been on the take so long he doesn't have a clue how to function legally. Poor man his Girdwood Chalet is falling in on him.
Perhaps he will enjoy teaching money laundering, extortion and bribery 101, 201, 301 in federal prison.
Grumpy wrote on August 20, 2007 1:56 PM:"Ted Stevens International Airport". WTF?
That was the Alaska Legislature's idea. They wanted to thank the former aviator for all the largesse he's provided the state. Stevens himself didn't really like the idea: whenever he thinks of that airport, he thinks of the plane crash there that killed his first wife and nearly killed him.
On the other hand, it was Ted Stevens' idea to name the bridge across Knik Arm "Don Young's Way."
Anonymous wrote on August 20, 2007 2:24 PM:As in Don Young's Way to the nearest federal prison
Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 20, 2007 2:30 PM:Once again, Laura - please call Willy Hensley at the DC offices of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and ask him and/or his bosses about the incredibly violent threats Rep. Young has been making to him and his employer over the phone recently. The guy is about to lose it. I'm predicting a resignation announcement the second week of September. Which, unfortunately, gives Sarah the pick...
Ray Maloy wrote on August 20, 2007 2:46 PM:Many of us have been suspecting fraud and corruption in Alaska for years, but it's finally achieved a level for the national audience. The closest analogy that the national viewer might compare this to are a couple of movie releases. Many of us have watched a John Grisham movie over the "tube" or seen Russell Crowe portray a borderline genius mathmetician in the movie- A Beautiful Mind. However, now with our personal experiences, collective knowledge and deep rooted suspicians of both these Alaskan "business leaders" and politician types we are finally able to focus our collective energy and will towards exposing this labyrinth of corruption and fraud.
The large ANSCA corporations board of directors should not rest easy as these federal investigations take place, because in time, there will be lots of room for perjury, should there be litigation requiring both discovery and depositions. These majority boards have stifled important shareholder concerns for years though their control of the election process, the tremendous financial resources they will bring to bear on a "dissident" board member or alliance of shareholders, and finally though a culture of secrecy that permeates these corporations. And, it's been proven that the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities and the Alaska Public Offices Commission have offered no meaningful protections or solutions for shareholder recourse.
They decry damage to their national reputation in their court pleadings whenever they respond to litigation which they color as unfounded allegations. It's a shame that many, including myself, should have to resort to alternative methods of communication to bring these concerns to light, but it's a new paradigm and the winds of change are here.
Donald from Hawaii wrote on August 20, 2007 3:01 PM:Grumpy, wasn't Ben Stevens, the senator's youngest son, President of the Alaska State Senate? There most certainly has been a collective symbiotic relationship amongst Alaska Republicans, the present governor excepted.
Ted Stevens couldn't have objected all that strongly when informed of the proposal to formally rename ANC in his honor, else the legislature would not have followed through. Such actions are hardly spontaneous gestures; it required a legislative bill, which at a minimum took months to approve and implement.
I have little sympathy for that old man, any of his family and cronies, or any other elected officials who are so bold as to treat the public domain like it's their own private reserve.
Jock Strap wrote on August 20, 2007 3:53 PM:Yep, looks like poor old Ted is down the toobz.
Rusty Austin wrote on August 20, 2007 5:55 PM:SC is regret of which I have none for Ted or Don.
We should rename LAX Bill Clinton International...
Anonymous wrote on August 20, 2007 7:37 PM:Seriously....KTUU just picked this up? Christ this is 2002 sensational story in 2007?
its tells you how much Alaska elites covered for each other over the years. stone age media
and they are all guilty!