Romenesko

Seattle, Wash.: Jonathan Weisman wrote last week: "Cheney's statements present a quandary for us reporters. Sometimes we write them up and are accused of being White House stenographers and stooges for repeating them. Then if we don't write them up, we are accused of being complicit for covering them up. So, all you folks on the left, what'll it be? Complicity or stenography?" He further added, "Sometimes, you folks really drive us nuts." Is this really how Washington Post reporters really think, that there are only two choices in journalism when it comes to covering spin?
Howard Kurtz: That's not how I see it. We have to cover what the president and vice president say, and we have to play the truth-squadding role and fact-check what they say and explain the strategy behind the spin. Perhaps Weisman was just frustrated at getting hammered from both sides.