NPR commentator Brian Unger deconstructs Katie Couric’s interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards, showing how Couric relies on vague constructions such as “some people” and “others” as the source for her questions. It’s a classic pathology of “objective” journalism — journalists have to pretend not to have their own voice, and thus have to provide flimsy attributions for their views and ideas. (For another example, see Greg Sargent’s post on an Associated Press story that describes support for Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Syria as “clearly in the minority” based on exactly two quotes, both of which came from Republican politicians.)