Ann Coulter Journalism
In the real world:
The United States has dropped nine places to 53rd out of 168 countries in terms of how much freedom the press enjoys, according to Reporters without borders.
"The United States (53rd) has fallen nine places since last year, after being in 17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his “war on terrorism.” The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognise the media’s right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism."
In the circus that is the media:
NBC this week refused to run an ad for a Dixie Chicks film because they were critical of Dubya.
Meanwhile Ann Coulter style troll journalism, made famous in the tech sector by John Dvorak, rules. All you need to do if your circulation has dropped or your cult of personality is tarnished is say something either completely insane, or just plain old inflammatory.
People don't understand that Coulter and Limbaugh rely on them being outraged for free exposure. Technology fanboys don't yet understand that Dvorak is simply pushing their buttons to generate hits for his editors. This isn't Oligodendroglia or neuro-chemistry here.
We're not yet smart enough as a populace to look at shit, clearly identifiy it as shit in that split second it should take to recognize the malformed earthy hue of dog excrement, and move on.