NEWS MEDIA BIDS TO IMPROVE RANKING AS “FOURTH ESTATE”
I am so yesterday that is embarrasses me. The generation of journalists that followed me into the news business makes me ashamed to reveal that I was a card carrying newsman for forty years, including thirty years under the title of investigative reporter. And if journalism prizes are any measure, I was extraordinarily successful. Although I won all of the top awards, many them multiple times, I tried to keep in perspective the fact that I was simply a messenger.
Throughout most of the nation’s history, the news media has been referred to as the “Fourth Estate” of government—the watchdogs who try to keep the politicians honest. Not only does this role apply to uncovering corruption, but it is also supposed to expose the inconsistencies and contradictions of what the three branches of government say and do. In meeting the latter obligation, today’s reporters and editors seemingly prefer conflict over truth. More often than not, politicians and government officials are given free rein to distort. Rarely is there accountability in face-to-face interviews.
An example is all of the Republican rhetoric about health care, bank bail outs, the President’s stimulus package and potential tax increases went unchallenged in day to day reporting prior to the election. And post election coverage of the mid-term congressional races has turned out to be an exercise in pack journalism that is superficial and irresponsible.
Layers of explanations are being piled on top of the primary issue that sent large numbers of Democrats packing. The losses are, in fact, the result of a single issue—jobs, or the lack thereof. When the ballots were tallied, voters blamed the party in power for the nation’s economic woes.
Maybe today’s reporters are too ignorant to ask substantive follow-up questions when dealing with major issues. Or too afraid, perhaps. Confrontational journalists are frequently labeled as biased and accused of playing “gotcha.” After Katie Couric exposed former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin as a public affairs moron, the CBS anchor was criticized for exploiting the Alaskan Governor’s stupidity.
With the notable exception of the Republican Propaganda Nework, aka Fox “News,” most news gathering organizations go extreme lengths to protect carefully honed images of fairness and objectivity—sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. The most recent instance of dumb overreaction was MSNBC’s two-day suspension of Keith Olberman for making political contributions to three Democrats, which is a violation of network policy.
Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee.
Granted, Olberman should have sought prior permission, a violation of network protocol that may have deserved a reprimand at most. But to suggest that his contributions effect his standing as “an impartial journalist” is loony. Anyone watching his show for more than five minutes can discern his political views—most of which I agree with, although I’m not a Olberman fan, mainly because he is an arrogant blowhard. But for crying out loud, disciplining an employee for a minor offense is not grounds for a public flogging. What makes the suspension look even worse is the network’s decision to quickly rescind the “indefinite” suspension in the face of criticism fby both liberals and conservatives.
If MSNBC and other networks are going to suspend and/or fire employees for minor gaffes and ill-conceived comments that may be interpreted as anti-Semitic or Islamaphobic, how about suspending a some of the reporters who need time off to return to school and learn basics of good journalism.
One of the highlights of watching the faux news shows of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on the Comedy Channel is seeing the montages of different “reporters” on different networks repeating each other with the same words and phrases that happen to be in vogue on any given day. It is a reminder that contemporary journalism has degenerated into an echo chamber of reporters posture as public affairs gurus.
An inherent danger of being a journalist is self-importance. I had to keep this in mind throughout my career. Admittedly, I sometimes thought I was part of the governmental process rather than a watchdog. My lapses were brief.
Unfortunately, too many reporters today are falling into this same trap. And for much longer periods of time.
My memoir, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger, is available at amazon.com and independent bookstores. It offers much more than $19.99 worth of laughs. The book is an account of my illustrious (I choose the adjectives) career.