Category Archives: Media

Navel-Gazing Nation?

America, Journalism, Media, The Zeitgeist

The coverage of Tim Russert’s untimely death is obscene. Can you imagine the BBC lamenting for days on end the passing of one of their broadcasters, or even the head of the BBC network? Never. It would not happen. You’d hear a curt, solemn announcement to the effect that, “Our colleague has passed away tragically. We mourn his death and extend our condolences to his family. Now to the news of the day.”

This pathological coverage, once again, is of a piece with the childish, self-centered, deeply silly American media, which knows not what its proper mandate is. Has such impropriety afflicted the national psyche? You tell me. I suspect most Americans are preoccupied with other matters. I hope so.

Mature, normal people know when to grieve, how publically, how loudly, and how long. When the president of the US pauses, on an official visit abroad, to declare to the world how sad he is about the death of a man his audience doesn’t know—you know what a naval-gazing nation we’ve become.

This kind of coverage applies with spades to the elections: Since 2007, cable networks have focused exclusively on the elections to the exclusion of most other new and certainly world news.

As I asked in “Elections Fatigue”: “America’s pathological, election-time self-absorption makes a mockery of the idea that the US is suited to lead the world. Shouldn’t a world leader take an interest in the world?”

I suspect that Mr. Russert would have been appalled by the choice of broadcasting his colleagues have made.

Update II: Tim Russert Dead At 58

Journalism, Media

When a relatively young–presumably healthy–person like Mr. Russert dies suddenly, it is a reminder of one’s own mortality.

Tim Russert seemed a genial, if unremarkable, gentleman, which is more than one can say about most other media personalities.

Update I: I must say I was never able to detect the telltales of an interesting mind in Mr. Russert, but as his friends eulogize him, I will say this: He was objective and I never made out his political preferences or biases.

In the arid journalistic landscape of today perhaps that is in itself remarkable.

I find the instant eulogizing media has launched into a little distasteful. It’s too soon, too loud, and too self-referential—each personality making sure his relationship vis-à-vis Russert is front-and-center.

The man is not yet in the ground. Some quiet grief seems in order–a time to ration speech for a change.

Update II: Russert did prepare extremely well for all his interviews. Again, that’s rare in journalism nowadays. He was also a devout Catholic and devoted father and son. What’s not to admire about that?

Here’s what I find ironic: Keith Olbermann has been leading the tribute to Tim on MSNBC. Although there are aspects of Olbermann’s show that are appreciated—his coverage of the war and the demise of civil liberties under Bush—”Countdown” is pure advocacy, not journalism. I read recently, moreover, that Russert was deeply disturbed about this development—the turn against journalistic objectivity MSNBC had taken with “Countdown.” If this is the case, how does letting the Obamacentric Olbermann lead the network’s extolment honor Russert and his mission?

‘Colorectal Crusader’ Couric Cries Foul

Ethics, General, Hillary Clinton, Journalism, Media

What never fails to amaze me about the anointed Idiocracy of America (Peggy Noonan comes to mind here) is that, no matter how evil and erroneous their way, they always get curtain calls; they retain their status as philosopher-kings. Or queens.

Colonic Crusader” Katie Couric said this at an award ceremony for her cherished self:

“However you feel about her politics, I feel that Sen. Clinton received some of the most unfair, hostile coverage I’ve ever seen.”

[Note the grating “I feel” locution]

Rewind to February this year:

Sly Katie recently interviewed Clinton while intoxicated—drunk with love for Obama. Couric’s below-the-belt barbs and blithe probes about Obama—but not the issues—made Hillary appear elevated by comparison. The Senator was courteous where Katie was cruel.

‘Someone told me your nickname in school was Miss Frigidaire. Is that true?’ Couric asked. ‘Only with some boys,’ Clinton said, laughing

The answer was quick, and, I must confess, classy. The question was base and bitchy. (It’s of a piece with another iconic ‘journalist’s’ cruelty—that of Barbara Walters. She prefaced an interview with Celine Dion by pronouncing: ‘you are not beautiful.’ Tears welled in Dion’s beautiful eyes.)

Excerpted from my “Militant Mama Obama.”

A Bright Woman on Cable?!! Oh My G-d!

Economy, Energy, Gender, John McCain, Media

What is a bright woman doing on one of the Cretins Inc. channels?

That was my reaction when I heard Carly Fiorina explain economics 101 to a dumbstruck Wolf Blitzer of CNN.

At first I did not recognize the controversial former CEO of Hewlett-Packard. All I heard were the intelligent, measure words of a woman who thoroughly understood the effects of taxation on oil supply. Fiorina was telling Blitzer that by taxing the oil companies’ profits, the brilliant Obama will bring about less oil production and higher prices. (I recommend Obama begin his education with Henry Hazlitt’s Economics in One Lesson.)

Fiorina is advising John McCain. Good choice.

The reason for my surprised reaction is that cable is a disgrace. The unprepossessing front men and women, seldom the brightest, surround themselves with beaus and bimbos a little less bright than they. All are happy; none is threatened. And Booboos Americanus remains blissfully unaware that the bobbing heads on TV are not the country’s crème de la crème.