Certify Yourself

Jay Rosen worries about Bush "de-certifying the press." Glenn Reynolds asks, "who 'certified' them to begin with?" If, by "certify," you mean vouching for the accuracy and trustworthiness of someone, I'd say the press has pretty well de-certified itself, as the recent elections suggest. Rosen seems to fret alot over the institution of "professional" journalism. I don't see it threatened except by journalists who don't act like professionals.

The press is still freer here than anywhere else on earth, but if it loses the trust of its audience, it can't blame it on politicians or anyone else. Most people are fair-minded enough to not be led astray by P.R. ploys.