Frost Joins The Opposition

Here's why I don't cry of objectivity in the media, courtesy of David Frost, upon his hiring as the first big name in al Jazeera's English-language network:

"For all the people who think it's anti-American, there are various countries in the Middle East who think it's too pro-Western. I would say the jury's out on al-Jazeera. Obviously, we all suffer from the handicap of not being able to sit there and watch in Arabic." (WaPo)

It's a perfecly objective statement. Both sides are aired; it's balanced.

And it's perfect hogwash, of course, which is why I believe the standard to which the media should be held is fairness, a much higher standard.

If Frost held to a fairness standard, he would have acknowledged that al Jazeera has served as a mouthpiece for the radical Islamists and has been viciously unfair in its portrayal of coalition forces and President Bush.

To downplay the implications of his decision, that he has given his name to al Jazeera to help it pose as respectable, might fool Frost and has friends, but not anyone who tracks the news.