Attack Poodles and Other Media Mutants : The Looting of the News in a Time of Terror

Attack Poodles and Other Media Mutants : The Looting of the News in a Time of Terror James Wolcott Date: 25 August, 2004   —   $15.61   —   Book product page Rating:

I really enjoyed this book. Wolcott delivers some really good laughs at the really depressing state of our media, and dissects the pundit mind with a razor-sharp wit. I especially liked his 'Punditry for Dummies' chapter. Apparently, I am a failure as a political pundit because I haven't acknowledged that my ideals are holding me back, and I don't have my nose up Don Imus' butt. I suppose I should just give up now.

While there is quite a bit of satire and demasking of conservative pundits as frauds and carnival barkers, Wolcott also covers the failure of the "serious" news media, like reporters more interested in access than the truth, and the media's wacked-out relationship with the Bush administration. He also does a really good analysis of the cable news networks, with his assessment of MSNBC's continuing failure being particularly insightful.

Wolcott's portraits of conservative "attack poodles" are particularly devastating. One part that had Diet Coke spewing from my nose was Wolcott quoting from Peggy Noonan's book about President Reagan,

"I first saw him as a foot, a highly polished brown cordovan wagging merrily on a hassock. I spied it through the door. It was a beautiful foot, sleek. Such casual elegance and clean lines. But not a big foot, not formidable, maybe a little... frail. I imagined cradling it in my arms, protecting it from unsmooth roads..." His other foot would have to fend for itself.

The book's not all sarcastically funny outrage. The last chapter has a short guide detailing what the media needs to do in order to regain credibility. Unfortunately, except for one really good idea, it's directed at the media itself - something I have no control over. But Wolcott does encourage us to do is adopt a reporter. Pick one reporter, and follow his or her every word, and blog every instance where that reporter falls down on the job of objectively presenting the truth - and Wolcott points out several supposedly serious journalists who need to be watched.

(Slightly off topic - since he's not a serious journalist - my favorite example of adopting a media personality is Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly.)

Wolcott's book is a smart and biting look at journalism - and what passes for journalism - in America. Highly recommended.