Another awkward disclosure by Slate media something-or-other Jack Shafer: “[Mark] Feldstein is a friend — not as good a friend as David Corn, but a lot better than Michael Isikoff.” MORE »

Jack Shafer, on newsbooks: MORE »

New Republic owner/editor Martin Peretz is a man of many descriptions. We like this one from Jack Shafer: “Self-promoter, braggart, Arab-hater, name-dropper, and bad writer.”

So what’s Marty up to these days, beyond writing unreadable love letters to himself (and Israel!) in his magazine?

He’s writing unreadable love letters to himself (and Scooter Libby!) on a crappy new blog!

Painfully collected samples, after the jump ….

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The charming magazine mockup above was produced (we are not making this up) by your DEA, which has apparently contracted Patrick Hearst’s non-union Mexican equivalent for propaganda purposes. MORE »

In the annals of shit Judy Miller has made up, this is small potatoes, but it’s still pretty cute: MORE »

In her article on the issues raised by Howie Kurtz’s CNN gig allowing him to comment on his other gig at the Washington Post, where he also comments on CNN, Kit Seelye interviews Kurtz critics Mickey Kaus and Jack Shafer. Shafer reaches for a metaphor: “This is the duck-billed platypus of journalism, an egg-laying mammal with fur - it’s just something very bizarre.” An egg-laying mammal with fur and perhaps a meth problem, as these critics of Kurtz writing about his employer both work at Slate, which is owned by the Washington Post. As a Corner reader has pointed out, this is something Seelye doesn’t mention. MORE »

Have you been following The Great “Doomed by Diversity” Debate? A tentpole topic over at Romenesko, it centers on a Harry Jaffe column quoting New Yorker writer Jeffery Goldberg on his experience at the Washington Post: “Jeff Goldberg’s career at the Post was doomed by diversity…Goldberg was up for a full-time job, he says, when an editor took him aside and said, ‘We would like to hire you, but we have to hire a Hispanic for that slot.’” There is little to no news involved: Ooh, the Post makes diversity hires!?! Jack Shafer has an opinion on it!?? But it has given the Romenesko letter-writers a new lens through which to view their navels, though, ironically, it’s also prompted Jayson Blair to look up from the mirror. The truth-challenged ex-Timesian writes sympathetically:

For all those whose careers are doomed by diversity, I wish that God graces you with a consolation prize like a job at The New Yorker. I know, working at The Post and The Times, is such an honor, but you know, I’ve heard rumors that those gigs at The New Yorker are pretty good.

Rumors, eh? Guess Blair doesn’t want to go out on a limb without checking it out for himself. MORE »

Jack Shafer, now using meth instead of writing about it, files on how TV correspondents went from wet, whipped thrill seekers to Murrow-style advocates over the course of week. We noticed, too; such evolution happens when you’re reporting on a situation that you’re living. The government counted on that response when it embedded reporters in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not so sure anyone saw it coming this time. Sean Hannity sure didn’t. Last night, interviewing Geraldo Rivera and Shepard Smith in New Orleans from the comfort and safety of his studio, he responded to their descriptions of the still very desperate situation with a call for “perspective.” Replied Smith: “This is perspective!” MORE »