It gets better! Scott Johnson called up Nick Coleman's editor at the Star—Tribune and learned some disconcerting things about editorial standards there, not to mention Coleman's astounding willingness to go into print with his "assumptions" that contradict facts published in the blog he is in the process of attacking. And don't miss the Day—By—Day cartoon! We are in heavy derision territory, people.

Follow the link to Evangelical Outpost for a thoughtful consideration of the brand equity at stake here.

I have long argued that the legacy media are in the process of destroying their brand franchises. Nobody more so than the New York Times, whose scion inherited an invaluable brand name, one whose value could only rise as we become more and more an information age. Sooner or later New York Times company shareholders are going to realize that their most valuable asset is being squandered. In August, I wrote:

The establishment press is facing its Gottedamerung — the twilight of the gods. For decades, god—like figures handed down their version of the truth from corporate Valhallas like the New York Times and CBS News. The public credulously accepted their writ on what is important and what is not important.

But god—like pretensions are dangerous, indeed, often fatal. Especially when combined with mono—maniacal convictions on the need for their point of view to prevail.  Post—modernity, a concept beloved of the bien pensants, cuts two ways. The public is skeptical of anyone who pretends to be an authoritative gatekeeper of knowledge.

Little did I realize that Valhalla was so appropriate. That smoke you see on the horizon in Scandinavian—populated Minneapolis is the burning long boat containing the not—quite corpse yet of Nick Coleman.

Thomas Lifson  12 30 04