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-----------> This message was posted to the ONLINE-NEWS list. <-----------

I heard Gary Webb talk about his new book-length version of "Dark
Allilance" and asked him the same question.  His take was that Internet and
talk radio gave his story legs.  Many of the key allegations had been
reported before, but had never been followed up on because, Webb claims,
major outlets didn't pursue it, ala Watergate, and the stories simply fell
off everyone's radar scope. 

Webb's take is that these two new media made it possible for people who
heard about the issue later to quickly and easily find the complete story
--not to mention the extensive documentation -- online and judge for
themselves whether or not there was any merit to the reporting.  

In his opinion, it was only when this widespread grass-rots interest began
putting pressure on Congress did the NYTimes, WaPost weigh in with their
versions.  In his final analysis, the power of the Net gave the story life,
but the power of the mainstream papers to set the national agenda prevailed
in the end.  

I thought it was an interesting theory from someone with first-hand
experience.

- - bart 


At 12:13 PM 7/30/98 -0400, Sean Peck wrote:
>-----------> This message was posted to the ONLINE-NEWS list. <-----------
>
>
>I am curious about a few things, more news in general, but do have an
>online bent.  Now that the public has more access (at least in theory) to
>the media via Email etc.... has this had any impact on what stories get
>covered?  
==========
Bart Preecs
bpreecs@accessone.com

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