In the good-old days

During his keynote at South by Southwest Interactive, longtime CBS broadcaster Dan Rather said American journalists "have become lapdogs to power, rather than watchdogs," reports CNET.

"You can get so close to a source that you become part of the problem," he said. "Some people say that these powerful people use journalists, and they do. And they will use them to the fullest extent possible, right up until the point where the journalist says, 'Whoa, that's too far.'"

One reason for American journalists' spinelessness, Rather said, is that a sense has developed that questioning power, especially at a time of war, is unpatriotic or unsupportive of America's troops.

Rather also said the consolidation of media power in the hands of a few companies has hurt newsrooms; as media conglomerates grow, the goal becomes satisfying shareholders, not citizens, he said, calling for increased competition.

Rather commented on online journalism, as well. He applauded the blogosphere but also said the anonymity that the web provides makes it easy to attack someone when you don't have to put your name to the complaints.