Alternative media needed

I believe Leonard Pitts Jr. (June 25) was comparing old media to new media. Accurately, Pitts suggests there will always be a need for “boots on the ground” professional, hardworking, honest reporters.

Sarah Palin, to RightOnLine.org new media activists, said “every citizen can be a reporter, can take on the powers that be.” What makes new media necessary? Palin suggests (citing many examples) mainstream media is not dependable to provide immediate and unbiased news.

Some under-reported or not reported news I’ve noticed: facts on the Fast & Furious investigation; Occupy protesters’ outrageous behavior, including drug tents, rape, defecating on police cars and millions of dollars in property destruction (occupyunmasked.com); 2008 election coverage of illegal intimidation by Black Panthers swinging batons as voters go into polls; and, more recently, mainstream media cut and pasted tapes of the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin encounter.

Exposed, they apologized, but not without damage to the case and their own integrity.

Too many old media outlets and reporters are no longer reporting, but editing or omitting the news to suit their leanings. The people are onto them. Whether by alternative news sources, blogs or citizen journalism, the public desires truth.

Babette R. Banducci

Coeur d’Alene