Question and Commentary on the State of Journalism in America

[Crazed Rabbit]

Specifically, the Seattle Times.

They recently wrote an editorial - which is written by the Seattle Times editors - about something that leads me to question the state of journalism in America.

This:

Editorial
Leave it to Eddie

An actor from the days of black-and-white TV sued the Screen Actors Guild over undistributed foreign royalties. Guess who?

Hint: He was a cast member of "Leave It to Beaver." Of course, it has to be Eddie Haskell. Eddie of the "No thank you, Mrs. Cleaver. I really must be getting home. We're having squab this evening."

Ken Osmond's role connected with fans of the Beav when the original 234 episodes were broadcast, and with gazillions more when the show ran endlessly in syndication. The character was authentic and recognizable: that dorky friend of your older brother who was oily polite around your mom and then gave you a fat lip when she left the room.

Ward Cleaver knew the type and was never fooled for a moment.

Osmond's gripe is the guild has sat on millions of dollars that should have been distributed to him and the 30,000 others he sued on behalf of in a class-action suit. Duking it out in the courtroom is nothing knew to Eddie's real-life avatar.

Years ago, an industry star made a few X-rated movies under the nom de porn of Eddie Haskell. Osmond, who eventually retired from a career with the Los Angeles Police Department, was not amused. He sued for millions and the case wound up in the California Supreme Court.

The Beaver got sweet revenge for all those poundings. The high court declared the porn star's invocation a satirical act. All fakey, like that smarmy Eddie.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

So, my question is can anyone understand this without looking up all the relevant information from some other source?

And what does this gibberish mean for journalism in America? Keep in mind, this is the better of the two main Seattle papers.

CR

[Navaros]

I understood it fine, but that is because I'm a huge fan of the show and as such had already heard about the previous porn star lawsuit, and this new upcoming lawsuit prior to reading this thread.

It definitely would be very wonky reading for someone who is not familiar with the Leave it to Beaver show and Osmond's lawsuits, though.

It also does seem very amateurish and poorly-written. With many punctuation, sentence structure, and word errors. Sounds to me like that article was written by an 8th grader for a homework assignment.

In any case, Ken Osmond in my view is hands-down the very best child actor ever in the history of television. He deserves every penny that they jipped him out of. Hope he wins this lawsuit.

[Tribesman]

2 cases ,
breach of contract for repeat fees which the guild would collect upon sale and should then pass on .
Then Artistic copywrite though it should be the writers and producers in that case not the actors .

[Zaknafien]

Its an editorial, not a report.

[macsen rufus]

So, my question is can anyone understand this without looking up all the relevant information from some other source?

And what does this gibberish mean for journalism in America?

Q1) Erm, no...
Q2) Not sure if this gibberish means anything to anyone, frankly

It also does seem very amateurish and poorly-written. With many punctuation, sentence structure, and word errors. Sounds to me like that article was written by an 8th grader for a homework assignment.

It's one thing if it had been written by a cub reporter - but the editor?

But, don't worry - it's not just US journalism going down the pan - I don't think I've read a newspaper for a couple of years now, and feel a lot saner for it