Not another press critic

On this blog, I will attempt to monitor criticism of the mainstream press and provide links to interesting posts in the world of press criticism. Sometimes I will criticize the critics. I intend to offer my opinions on the value of what's being discussed by those critics and what's being left out.

Journalists as a breed are obsessed - rightly, perhaps - with the check of accountability they provide - on government, other organizations and people backed by taxpayers' money or votes. The auditors also feel an obligation to wag a finger at members of their own profession to gauge effectiveness, or flag bias. Excluding critics like the Daily Show's Jon Stewart - who focuses his ire on the cable news networks - mainstream press criticism is a duty handled almost exclusively by members of the press. David Carr at The New York Times. Howard Kurtz at The Washington Post. Jack Shafer at Slate. Jim Romenesko at Poynter. Ryan Chittum at CJR. Public editors everywhere. All reporters, and so-called press critics.

What are these embedded critics missing? What are their own biases? Arguably, reporters' professional Independence from government helps them be effective critics (check wielders) of government. The same holds true for arts criticism, I believe.

But can journalists be effective critics of other journalists? Is separation possible, or does the profession need more mainstreamed outsiders looking in?