There will be many comments today on PressRun because we all dislike Chuck Todd for many reasons. Eric's primary gripe is that Chuck fell for the liberal-bias charge. My take is that Chuck is a frightened wanna-be journalist who somehow found his way into important journalistic roles that he desired but also feared. Somewhere in him he knows that he is just fluff, and that is especially true these days as his importance at the network is eroding. He is hanging on, pretending to be someone he is not. He is a sad figure.
The moment that will always define Chuck Todd to me is when he had the privilege of asking the very first question of newly inaugurated Barack Obama at Obama's first White House press conference, and the question he chose to ask was "If Democrats pass a healthcare bill with no Republican votes, will you veto it in the interests of bipartisanship?"
There is a second telling moment when Chuck Todd said it was “not my job” to fact-check politicians on his show.
And lastly when he had Lewis Black on his show and Chuck told him that if he “barked” at his guests, it would be the last time they would be on his show.
That Todd would make these pronouncements is the height of hypocrisy. His programs have become unwatchable because of his kowtowing to the both sides are guilty narrative. One could say physician heal thyself.
Was a Chuck fan in the ‘way back’ machine for the reasons Eric cited. He appears regularly as a guest on a local radio station here and that’s when he is interesting, relaxed, not full of himself. Eric, you’re piece is a great explanation of what’s going on with Meet the Press, DC press. Self awareness is the way to growth but it seems Todd keeps losing his way. I stopped watching his shows when he became more and more intellectually smug, concerned with his agenda rather than ours. It’s when he leans back, purses his lips, crosses his arms and waits for an answer from his guests that I find him insufferable. But Eric’s larger point is the crucial one. Change w/in the press isn’t happening anytime soon given fear of the ‘liberal bias’ meme, a chronic condition w/o end.
Eric, I really appreciate that you make it clear that Republicans have been successfully intimidating the mainstream media for decades. If people are allowed to think that this is just a temporary aberration that happened because of Trump I don’t see how we will ever solve the problems with our media.
As for Chuck Todd the fact that he is NBC’s political director is particularly disturbing.
The other elephant in the room, besides fear of the liberal bias charge, is fear of damage to the bottom line. Corporate media bows to the bottom line. (Remember “Trump was good for ratings”?)
When the bean counters see telling the truth about the right wing makes them more money, then we’ll see change. The shareholder value theory overrides real journalism.
And then there’s the fear that ‘being mean’ to Republicans will mean being cut off from that inside information and exclusives - not to mention all the boiler plate stories and right wing talking points that must be passed on “because people are talking about it.” (Cokie’s Law.)
Chuck Todd started out in the Steve Kornacki, "guy breaking down the voting" role, and then (reportedly) back-stabbed his way into replacing David Gregory on MTP. The useless Gregory had replaced the equally useless, yet inexplicably worshiped, Tim Russert. Dick Cheney used Russert (and Judy Miller) to sell the Iraq war...why?...because he knew he could. He knew he wouldn't get any push back from the docile Russert, who was exposed as clueless in the Scooter Libby trial. But I digress. Just a couple of days ago, Todd bemoaned that not having clowns and saboteurs on the 1/6 Committee meant viewers wouldn't get to hear "another point of view" on the Trump incited mob attack. As Eric Alterman noted long ago, the conservative chirping about liberal bias that he called "working the refs" has been a rousing success in getting the mainstream media to pull its punches on Republican atrocities.
Also, I think people forget that there are a lot of high-profile - and highly paid - senior editors who have for decades actively avoided poking the irrational Republican beast. They have a good life. They have Rotary Clubs and Little League games and other social obligations. They can't abide by people who might "ask questions" at a cocktail party about their objectivity, which is journalism's most blindingly dumb tenet.
And hey, I get it. Why make waves?
Only, I don't know many of us who didn't go into the business because they wanted to roll over for corrupt, bad faith assholes. But corporate journalism induces even the best to go soft.
It's a tried and true method, straight from the PR professionals handbook, and now a standard tool in the conservative propaganda tool box: "Working the refs..." Chuck can't fight it, and the GOP knows it... Chuck (and by extension, the rest of the media) can't be seen to be too "objective," lest the cast of characters on the right that draws the viewers dries up... Fairness? Rational discourse? Common sense?.. These things are no match for the almighty dollar and the real threat that Chuck will lose out in the ratings game. It's spectacle, not journalism.
Not to spew too much cynicism, but… the establishment — the ruling class and media owners — skew let’s say sympathetic to Republicans. The mainstream media are little less establishment propaganda outfits than the controlled press in any authoritarian, non-democratic state. The facts don’t support the positions the ruling class wants. One of these facts or, to coin a phrase, inconvenient truths, is that our leaders have been supporting, even enabling, the hollowing out since Reagan. Result is that mainstream economic reporting is nearly complete bullshit.
The result of this that the mainstream news is less news reporting and more like a news-like affair. The audience thinks they’re getting informed when they’re actually being made misinformed if not disinformed.
And why do Todd and company do what they do, supporting a corrupted, now failed state? Because they’re paid to do so.
There are solutions to this — seek out and get honest sources, vote the bastards out, if possible, get involved, active — how effective, time will tell.
Seems to me that Democratic bullying would work, too. Why are Dems so stiff? Is no one on our side good looking and articulate? Why aren't we wagging the dog, so to speak? That being said, you are of course correct as usual and thank you for referencing Eric Alterman's "What Liberal Media?" Excellent book.
Editorials are labeled as such for good reason. But when the media does a "man on the street" in response to reporting of the facts, they get opinions, and in turn publish them regardless of the facts reported on. A reasonable assessment of the result can be found reviewing Jay Leno or Jimmy Kimmel's famous sidewalk interviews, which can be both hilarious and frightening. I'm with you, Eric. Today's piece is right on the money.
There will be many comments today on PressRun because we all dislike Chuck Todd for many reasons. Eric's primary gripe is that Chuck fell for the liberal-bias charge. My take is that Chuck is a frightened wanna-be journalist who somehow found his way into important journalistic roles that he desired but also feared. Somewhere in him he knows that he is just fluff, and that is especially true these days as his importance at the network is eroding. He is hanging on, pretending to be someone he is not. He is a sad figure.
The moment that will always define Chuck Todd to me is when he had the privilege of asking the very first question of newly inaugurated Barack Obama at Obama's first White House press conference, and the question he chose to ask was "If Democrats pass a healthcare bill with no Republican votes, will you veto it in the interests of bipartisanship?"
There is a second telling moment when Chuck Todd said it was “not my job” to fact-check politicians on his show.
And lastly when he had Lewis Black on his show and Chuck told him that if he “barked” at his guests, it would be the last time they would be on his show.
Chuck Todd is #1 on my list of people I would love to see get fired (or quit).
That Todd would make these pronouncements is the height of hypocrisy. His programs have become unwatchable because of his kowtowing to the both sides are guilty narrative. One could say physician heal thyself.
Was a Chuck fan in the ‘way back’ machine for the reasons Eric cited. He appears regularly as a guest on a local radio station here and that’s when he is interesting, relaxed, not full of himself. Eric, you’re piece is a great explanation of what’s going on with Meet the Press, DC press. Self awareness is the way to growth but it seems Todd keeps losing his way. I stopped watching his shows when he became more and more intellectually smug, concerned with his agenda rather than ours. It’s when he leans back, purses his lips, crosses his arms and waits for an answer from his guests that I find him insufferable. But Eric’s larger point is the crucial one. Change w/in the press isn’t happening anytime soon given fear of the ‘liberal bias’ meme, a chronic condition w/o end.
I can’t stand him. Chuck Todd wouldn’t recognize a follow-up question if it bit him in the ass.
Eric, I really appreciate that you make it clear that Republicans have been successfully intimidating the mainstream media for decades. If people are allowed to think that this is just a temporary aberration that happened because of Trump I don’t see how we will ever solve the problems with our media.
As for Chuck Todd the fact that he is NBC’s political director is particularly disturbing.
The other elephant in the room, besides fear of the liberal bias charge, is fear of damage to the bottom line. Corporate media bows to the bottom line. (Remember “Trump was good for ratings”?)
When the bean counters see telling the truth about the right wing makes them more money, then we’ll see change. The shareholder value theory overrides real journalism.
And then there’s the fear that ‘being mean’ to Republicans will mean being cut off from that inside information and exclusives - not to mention all the boiler plate stories and right wing talking points that must be passed on “because people are talking about it.” (Cokie’s Law.)
Chuck Todd started out in the Steve Kornacki, "guy breaking down the voting" role, and then (reportedly) back-stabbed his way into replacing David Gregory on MTP. The useless Gregory had replaced the equally useless, yet inexplicably worshiped, Tim Russert. Dick Cheney used Russert (and Judy Miller) to sell the Iraq war...why?...because he knew he could. He knew he wouldn't get any push back from the docile Russert, who was exposed as clueless in the Scooter Libby trial. But I digress. Just a couple of days ago, Todd bemoaned that not having clowns and saboteurs on the 1/6 Committee meant viewers wouldn't get to hear "another point of view" on the Trump incited mob attack. As Eric Alterman noted long ago, the conservative chirping about liberal bias that he called "working the refs" has been a rousing success in getting the mainstream media to pull its punches on Republican atrocities.
Chuck Todd was on his show today discussing his favorite subject, Democrat on Democrat fighting. He infuriates me!
Also, I think people forget that there are a lot of high-profile - and highly paid - senior editors who have for decades actively avoided poking the irrational Republican beast. They have a good life. They have Rotary Clubs and Little League games and other social obligations. They can't abide by people who might "ask questions" at a cocktail party about their objectivity, which is journalism's most blindingly dumb tenet.
And hey, I get it. Why make waves?
Only, I don't know many of us who didn't go into the business because they wanted to roll over for corrupt, bad faith assholes. But corporate journalism induces even the best to go soft.
It's a tried and true method, straight from the PR professionals handbook, and now a standard tool in the conservative propaganda tool box: "Working the refs..." Chuck can't fight it, and the GOP knows it... Chuck (and by extension, the rest of the media) can't be seen to be too "objective," lest the cast of characters on the right that draws the viewers dries up... Fairness? Rational discourse? Common sense?.. These things are no match for the almighty dollar and the real threat that Chuck will lose out in the ratings game. It's spectacle, not journalism.
Not to spew too much cynicism, but… the establishment — the ruling class and media owners — skew let’s say sympathetic to Republicans. The mainstream media are little less establishment propaganda outfits than the controlled press in any authoritarian, non-democratic state. The facts don’t support the positions the ruling class wants. One of these facts or, to coin a phrase, inconvenient truths, is that our leaders have been supporting, even enabling, the hollowing out since Reagan. Result is that mainstream economic reporting is nearly complete bullshit.
The result of this that the mainstream news is less news reporting and more like a news-like affair. The audience thinks they’re getting informed when they’re actually being made misinformed if not disinformed.
And why do Todd and company do what they do, supporting a corrupted, now failed state? Because they’re paid to do so.
There are solutions to this — seek out and get honest sources, vote the bastards out, if possible, get involved, active — how effective, time will tell.
He always lets the disinformer he's interviewing get the last word, which reinforces the disinformation.
Seems to me that Democratic bullying would work, too. Why are Dems so stiff? Is no one on our side good looking and articulate? Why aren't we wagging the dog, so to speak? That being said, you are of course correct as usual and thank you for referencing Eric Alterman's "What Liberal Media?" Excellent book.
Editorials are labeled as such for good reason. But when the media does a "man on the street" in response to reporting of the facts, they get opinions, and in turn publish them regardless of the facts reported on. A reasonable assessment of the result can be found reviewing Jay Leno or Jimmy Kimmel's famous sidewalk interviews, which can be both hilarious and frightening. I'm with you, Eric. Today's piece is right on the money.