Kathryn Lopez' Facebook page had a link to yet another lousy Newsweek article and she commented to her friends, "I'm beginning to wonder where the "news" part of Newsweek is." I sent over this response, an observation going back to the days of my misspent youth."Good question, Kathryn. I remember back in high school debate (and I mean way back, like 1968/9) when guys who used Newsweek as a source were thought pitiful. U.S. News and World Report got some respect among the popular weeklies and you could even get away with a reference to Time every once in awhile. But cite Newsweek and you were likely to draw raised eyebrows from the judges, titters from the knowledgeable in the crowd and sharp retorts from your competitors about what you were going to use next as a source, TV Guide, Mad Magazine, or Highlights for Children. Certainly, professional standards have never been lower at Newsweek than what they are now, but it's always been fish wrap."
