In the London Symphony Orchestra, the members of the orchestra vote to decide who gets to be first chair violin. In Britain the person with this honor is known as the “leader.” (In the U.S. she or he is the “concert master.”) The role is practical as well as symbolic. It matters.

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  • The leader of the LSO earned his position by being a genuine musician.
  • Helen Thomas earned her position by being a genuine journalist.
  • There are no genuine journalists at Fox. Some could be—not including “couldn’t manage to pass even a single semester of college” Beck, of course. But all the potential journalists there have either sold out or been intimidated by Roger Aisles.

The White House Press Corps might be associated more with fatuous cacophony than with soul-stirring expression, but they too elect their own “leader” or “concert master.” They’re about to do that again, and there’s a theoretical possibility the honor and power might go to Faux News—never fair, never balanced, never honest, never showing the least respect for true journalism. This cannot be allowed to happen.

Various leading journalism and freedom of the press organizations have been organizing petitions. Below, I’ve included a badge that will take you to such a petition. Don’t take my word for it, though. That’s the Fox way. Instead, check the facts—all of them. Then, if you think signing will promote legitimate journalism rather than propaganda, sign. If not, don’t.

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