I found this a well-reported story. The author's informal assessment of how the mainstream media covered the financial crisis is fair and accurate, with appropriate sources brought in for comment. Helpful analysis.

A well-executed overview of how the media covered — and failed to cover — the early stages of the financial crisis. Folkenflik and his sources argue that though there was much good, spot-on coverage, such stories were drowned out by cheerleading on Wall Street's behalf.

Informative analysis about the failure of news organizations to cover the subprime mortgage crisis while it was developing. This short radio report cites extensive factual evidence and multiple sources to make its point, fairly and accurately, with helpful context.

This is one of the highest ratings that I have given on NewsTrust because the author's analysis mirrors my own, not only as a journalism director but also as a researcher specializing in the failure of news media to cover top stories. My conclusion after several years of research is that reporters, downsized and pre-occupied by new media, neglect increasingly to follow up on stories. So yes, some reporters did document the failure of the U.S. economy. But no, they did not follow up persistently as watchdogs are supposed to do.

A vague article which flits hither and yon around the issue about where the media were when America was kicked over the cliff. Focusing on reporters, it misses the point that one of the many great legacies of the Bush dictatorship was centralized media ownership, and with it, centralized media control

While the media has it's share of blame in the economic meltdown. The SEC is the biggest culprit in this mess. That had a person, who for six years actually walked in their offices an told of the Madoff ponsi scheme yet did nothing. Where were the other whistleblowers who come forward in most shams. They don't come forward because the government doesn't protect them once they're though with them. They get left out in the cold while people like Madoff and his wife will make a sweetheart deal that she keeps 60 million and the house and he pull 5 years at a county club.

While the author fairly appraises the successes and failures of recent journalism, mainly in financial coverage, he fails to examine why. Without asking that question, the value of this piece is diminished. The Daily Show putdown of financial reporting wasn't as evenhanded, and was no more in-depth, but it was funnier and first.

Very well-balanced and researched article.

A lukewarm explanation at best of why the press missed the market collapse and reported in reality so little. The writer provides a smattering of quotes and comments going back years, not a lot of work went into answering the article's headline question. In the end the writer admits more or less the press failed.