Who forgot the 'Forgotten Internees'"?

A seminar was held in San Mateo last Saturday on the 'Forgotten Internees,'" the Italians and Germans relocated or placed in camps in America during WWII, which has to be one of the saddest chapters in reporting. My book has a few pages on this. I even saved clips that said Germans and Italians weren't bothered. All a reporter had to do was go to Pittsburg, Ca., and see the museum that has exhibits concerning the hundreds of Italians moved from the East Bay town. Hey, there was a war on. Stuff happens. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be reported. This saga followed what "Philip's Code" postulates: that interest groups dictate what story will be covered, and, increasingly, reporters let those interest groups gather the facts. "The truth is the sum of the facts," said Davis. This issue is far from over. Two members of Congress have introduced a bill concerning the Japanese brought up from South America. Ignored is the fact that President Clinton gave them $5,000 and an apology. More ignored is that Germans and Italians were also rounded up in South America.

philip's code

The Imus' coverage could have been from "Philip's Code." In the past, this guy insulted every group on earth and got away with it. I understand that on Good Friday he rhymed "resurrection" and "erection." No outrage in the public prints. Why now over a crack about a hairdo? News stories cited a group called the Black Journalists' Association. The pattern was typical: news is what the newspapers say it is. I'm outraged that reporters would belong to an advocacy group. Is there an organization of "Christian Journalists"? If so, why hasn't the AP sought reaction to the other slur? As Phil Davis would say: "It's 'lemming reporting,' not liberal bias, that makes people hate us."