The old newsroom lives on?

Well, unfortunately not as much the part about unbiased reporting, attention to detail, and the like, but David Brooks of the New York Times admitted that one factor of the old time newsroom lived on when he complained about a $78 bill (he apparently left no tip) for a meal he had at the airport. Apparently that bill included only $12 in food and had $66 in drinks, meaning that the old stereotype about the hard-drinking newsroom is still in force.  Same lesson as we learned when it was Jayson Blair, from the same newspaper.

In short, many journalists today seem to be retaining the worst characteristics of old time journalism, while ignoring the best, in such a way that I dare suggest that Mr. Brooks might be in a position to repeat the mistakes of my great uncle, whose career was derailed by alcoholism.  

Let's learn the right lessons, journalists.  Even if we weren't talking about something that's physically addictive in excess, four shots of whiskey is about 20-25% of daily caloric requirements without appreciable nutritional value.  It's not something that'll keep one pounding the streets for tips.