Oregon Media Insiders

To all who jumped in the fray and posted comments about KATU's Thom Jensen:

Thank goodness you're all out there! You, the few the fearless, the FLAWLESS, really. I didn't think your types existed in this glorious industry we so proudly lable "the media"...or in the world for that matter. I'm talking about you, the piss, vinegar and venom-filled sideline quarterbacks who, from the tone of your self-righteous blog responses, one could gather have NEVER, EVER made mistakes or "slip-ups" of any variety. Be they in a live shot tag, in one of the thousands of VOs you've written for a newscast you've AP'd, on the obituary page, on your audio board, from behind the lense of your P2 camera, or wherever you currently remain miserably holed-up. Never mind everyone from Charles Gibson to "Susie Reporter" at her first job in Bangor, Maine has a story to tell about when he or she "let something fly" on the air that was totally inappropriate--on accident! We all now know YOU never would, and, boy are we relieved!

The fact you point out is ture, Jensen made one of those unfortunate mistakes that hit the airwaves. It can't be taken back because it's out there. It was a verbal mis-step for which he's probably been reprimanded harshly by his superiors, fiercely criticized in viewer e-mails and likely endlessly kicked himself.

But while you, oh-so-mighty ones are blogging your brains out on this and other industry thread slam-fests, Jensen is out there spanking you and the rest of the competition on a weekly basis...something he did in particular with his Dani Countryman murder investigation stories. But you and the rest of the media-types who reported ONLY what Strovink dished out on the case probably already know that, and you were ready to pounce on ANYTHING just to do something but stand there with your fingers up your noses.

And, as you're out there trying to dream up ways to out-wit one another with "frat boy" repartee, he's probably coming up with yet another exclusive investigation or asking the questions you're too chicken sh*& to ask. While you and your media outfit are kissing the backsides of some PIO just to get a soundbite to package regarding the news release that's "hot off the fax," Jensen is probably digging up the exclusive angle you'll be scrambling to jam in your follow-up piece three days from now whe you realize you got your booties kicked.

In closing this rant, I'd like to offer up some words of advice: until you can pony up proof of your perfection, until your list of accomplishments reads like Edward R. Murrow's, or at the very least, until you bring one tenth of what Jensen has to this DMA since he's been here...get off this guy and all the other HUMANS out there you and the other blog-junkie vultures trash on DAILY because you're avoiding the heavy lifting guys like Jensen are doing for you!

And P.S., Had y'all done one speck of research--asked his friends and colleagues at KATU (like any GOOD reporter would) before posting you would have known he's not a Coors Lite guy...we're in Portland afterall, and you know what they say...when in Portland do as the Portlanders do...gotta reach for the microbrew. Cheers!