Reporting and punditry that escaped infamy

[Commentary] The American media did not distinguish itself in the immediate aftermath of December 7, 1941. But time has let it off the hook. All the commentators mentioned above went on to increased visibility and impressive careers during the war. Americans then—and now—tend to be very forgiving of terrible punditry, inaccurate reporting, and ridiculous commentary. Perhaps we shouldn’t be.

[Michael J. Socolow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of Maine.]