Thanks Eric. I can disagree with anything you wrote. Instead I will add Michelle Wolfe's 2018 remarks:
“I think what no one in this room wants to admit is that Trump has helped all of you,” she continued to scold. “He couldn’t sell steaks, or vodka, or water, or college, or ties, or Eric. But he has helped you sell your papers, and books, and TV. You helped create this monster and now you’re profiting off of him."
New administrations set the tone with their initial press briefings. In 2001, Ari Fleischer came out and fabricated a story about damage to the West Wing left behind by the Clinton administration, and in 2017 it was Sean Spicer's whopper about the size of the inaugural crowd. Both Fleischer and Spicer feigned outrage and dug in over these false and ridiculous stories, and let the media know there would be more chaff than wheat coming from the podium. Perhaps news directors would have followed a different coverage approach if the reporters had strongly reacted to being gaslighted on DAY ONE instead of sitting there like scolded school kids.
The "if it bleeds it leads" mentality isn't new. It's just a shame that we came to a point in America where the reporters are the story and politics is pure entertainment. Let's just put an end to the laugh that any of them are even credible journalists anymore. We're in a bad movie. The theme being ratings over the country and the MSM are rooting for the antagonist. Maybe James Earl Jones should be the only one covering it and reading the news to give it the movie voice it deserves. It's certainly not news.
You are right that most of the media prefers entertainment over substance. I will never forget how the august “Dean of Washington Journalists” David Broder complained that Gore had talked so much about what he wanted to do if elected that it almost put Broder to sleep!
The media is far too impressed by politicians who are dramatic and forceful. It drove me insane last spring when the media put so much focus on Cuomo often showing his full press conferences live. They seemed to think that the entire country lives in New York.
Back then both Gavin Newsome and Mike DeWine were dealing much more effectively with early outbreaks in their states. Unlike the much more dramatic Cuomo who delayed responding, those governors listened to their states’ medical experts and responded quickly and effectively to prevent massive spread. I could not believe that our New York centric national media rarely interviewed either of them to find out what they were doing that was so effective. (I am not a fan of DeWine to put it mildly.)
All I could think was all that media attention was clearly giving Cuomo a leg up over other Dems for a future run for president just as it did for Trump. The fact that Cuomo found time to write a book shows that he was setting the stage for higher office.
The media still haven’t learned that macho displays of bombast and forcefulness are not the hallmark of good leadership. They fell for it when they crowned Rudy G “America’s Mayor” despite knowing of his terrible record. They did the same with the odious Chris Christie and now Cuomo. It’s not like these narcissistic bullies true natures weren’t well known to the media yet they sold these men to the public anyway.
"Ratings over the country." Ironically, turns out in some ways the press is our enemy. Or at least working against our interests far too often. But I sleep better now that the circus has left town, the adults are back in charge, and things may just get fixed.
I think this points to the fact that human beings would in general, rather engage in gossip and spectacle than anything rational or 'business-as-usual'. This notion is articulated quite well by Yuval Noah Harari in his book SAPIENS. He does so again, in a podcast called Your Undivided Attention and in a NY Times article about conspiracies. He is brilliant at cutting to the chase of who and how we are as Homo Sapiens, how we use language and who gets our attention. This is a perfect example of what he's talking about. We are fascinated by outrageous things, even if they make us cringe and reciprocate with rants of our own. I certainly find myself taking a break from the latest thing President Mayhem is saying or doing...knowing that there are adults driving the bus. I'm also holding myself accountable for my own morbid curiosity.
The messaging gap is back. Biden needs to go big if only to get the media to pay attention. The news media is for entertainment and ratings than actually informing people.
Here’s an instructive quote from a NYMag story early in the Trump years (I screen capped it so I don’t have a date but I think it was 2017 or 2018):
“As Zucker sees it, his pro-Trump panelists are not just spokespeople for a worldview; they ar “characters in a drama,” members of CNN’s extended ensemble cast. “Everybody says, 'Oh, I can’t believe you have Jeffery Lord or Kayleigh McEnany,' but you know what?” Zucker told me with some satisfaction. “They know who Jeffrey Lord and Kayleigh McEnany are.”
And that’s why CNN is out: it is not as entertaining.
A perfect example of how news must also be entertainment. Just important information on the goings on in government isn’t enough to warrant air time. Shame on CNN.
“Waiting on a War” by the Foo Fighters is fantastic. Great song choice.
The media treating the Trump administration and those press briefings like entertainment will never be forgiven. That they now ignore the Biden administration, when real news and information is being distributed is just further proof they don’t take their jobs of informing the public, when real policy is at stake, seriously.
CNN and the rest of the media jumped at every twitch from Donnie because he attracted an audience. Jen Psaki doesn't.
I was going to say the short term benefit audience-wise would do long term harm by reducing the establishment's credibility yet more. Then I realized that they're (probably already) past that point and been heading to being pretty worthless for quite awhile and have been headed that way since the fawning coverage of the Reagan administration (which started our current problems). Trump accelerated things.
It took nearly four years for the press to finally start backing away, just a little bit, from complete coverage of everything Trump. Before that we endured the wildly inappropriate sham press conferences until they were replaced by the driveway question shouts that Trump preferred (I think because the driveway format and camera placement featured the Star instead of the now invisible questioners and press secretaries). There is no doubt the airing of these reality-show episodes was not because they were news. Those newsless airings left a deep stain on journalism. Now, we have an administration determined to have a press that is as informed as possible. The press conferences now are frequent, and honest, and welcomed. They need to be covered and reported, but not necessarily aired. A sign of a healthy relationship between an administration and the press is that not all press conferences need full air time. All that is needed is a full and honest relationship with the press.
the four year cycle: air briefings where reporters lied to non-stop. then marvel for reset of afternoon at how WH lied to reporters. wash, rinse, repeat
Remember the 1988 Debate when CNN's Bernie Shaw stabbed Dukakis in the back with the Kitty Question. And it came out later that Atwater asked Shaw to do that. CNN has always shown its' GOP bias.
Thanks Eric. I can disagree with anything you wrote. Instead I will add Michelle Wolfe's 2018 remarks:
“I think what no one in this room wants to admit is that Trump has helped all of you,” she continued to scold. “He couldn’t sell steaks, or vodka, or water, or college, or ties, or Eric. But he has helped you sell your papers, and books, and TV. You helped create this monster and now you’re profiting off of him."
She nailed it back in 2018
I agree with you the networks and cable news have always been about the money. So I guess what they are saying Biden won't be as profitable and trump.
Ed, how funny. I wrote a piece with that quote from Michelle!
Can't
New administrations set the tone with their initial press briefings. In 2001, Ari Fleischer came out and fabricated a story about damage to the West Wing left behind by the Clinton administration, and in 2017 it was Sean Spicer's whopper about the size of the inaugural crowd. Both Fleischer and Spicer feigned outrage and dug in over these false and ridiculous stories, and let the media know there would be more chaff than wheat coming from the podium. Perhaps news directors would have followed a different coverage approach if the reporters had strongly reacted to being gaslighted on DAY ONE instead of sitting there like scolded school kids.
or yeah, good pt re: Fleischer and the "trashed" WH lie
And the Corporate Controlled Conservative Press ENDLESSLY repeated Fleischer's lie.
The "if it bleeds it leads" mentality isn't new. It's just a shame that we came to a point in America where the reporters are the story and politics is pure entertainment. Let's just put an end to the laugh that any of them are even credible journalists anymore. We're in a bad movie. The theme being ratings over the country and the MSM are rooting for the antagonist. Maybe James Earl Jones should be the only one covering it and reading the news to give it the movie voice it deserves. It's certainly not news.
this move really does give lots of ammunition to people who say Beltway views news as entertainment.
It definitely gives it oxygen.
You are right that most of the media prefers entertainment over substance. I will never forget how the august “Dean of Washington Journalists” David Broder complained that Gore had talked so much about what he wanted to do if elected that it almost put Broder to sleep!
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/10/gore200710
The media is far too impressed by politicians who are dramatic and forceful. It drove me insane last spring when the media put so much focus on Cuomo often showing his full press conferences live. They seemed to think that the entire country lives in New York.
Back then both Gavin Newsome and Mike DeWine were dealing much more effectively with early outbreaks in their states. Unlike the much more dramatic Cuomo who delayed responding, those governors listened to their states’ medical experts and responded quickly and effectively to prevent massive spread. I could not believe that our New York centric national media rarely interviewed either of them to find out what they were doing that was so effective. (I am not a fan of DeWine to put it mildly.)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/20/andrew-cuomo-new-york-coronavirus-catastrophe
All I could think was all that media attention was clearly giving Cuomo a leg up over other Dems for a future run for president just as it did for Trump. The fact that Cuomo found time to write a book shows that he was setting the stage for higher office.
The media still haven’t learned that macho displays of bombast and forcefulness are not the hallmark of good leadership. They fell for it when they crowned Rudy G “America’s Mayor” despite knowing of his terrible record. They did the same with the odious Chris Christie and now Cuomo. It’s not like these narcissistic bullies true natures weren’t well known to the media yet they sold these men to the public anyway.
Biden "normalcy" def not playing well at CNN
I refer to it as "Propatainment" - propaganda and entertainment. Because the media also champion a narrative.
"Ratings over the country." Ironically, turns out in some ways the press is our enemy. Or at least working against our interests far too often. But I sleep better now that the circus has left town, the adults are back in charge, and things may just get fixed.
I think this points to the fact that human beings would in general, rather engage in gossip and spectacle than anything rational or 'business-as-usual'. This notion is articulated quite well by Yuval Noah Harari in his book SAPIENS. He does so again, in a podcast called Your Undivided Attention and in a NY Times article about conspiracies. He is brilliant at cutting to the chase of who and how we are as Homo Sapiens, how we use language and who gets our attention. This is a perfect example of what he's talking about. We are fascinated by outrageous things, even if they make us cringe and reciprocate with rants of our own. I certainly find myself taking a break from the latest thing President Mayhem is saying or doing...knowing that there are adults driving the bus. I'm also holding myself accountable for my own morbid curiosity.
This.
Dunno about "we" - count me out.
The messaging gap is back. Biden needs to go big if only to get the media to pay attention. The news media is for entertainment and ratings than actually informing people.
Here’s an instructive quote from a NYMag story early in the Trump years (I screen capped it so I don’t have a date but I think it was 2017 or 2018):
“As Zucker sees it, his pro-Trump panelists are not just spokespeople for a worldview; they ar “characters in a drama,” members of CNN’s extended ensemble cast. “Everybody says, 'Oh, I can’t believe you have Jeffery Lord or Kayleigh McEnany,' but you know what?” Zucker told me with some satisfaction. “They know who Jeffrey Lord and Kayleigh McEnany are.”
And that’s why CNN is out: it is not as entertaining.
A perfect example of how news must also be entertainment. Just important information on the goings on in government isn’t enough to warrant air time. Shame on CNN.
“Waiting on a War” by the Foo Fighters is fantastic. Great song choice.
The media treating the Trump administration and those press briefings like entertainment will never be forgiven. That they now ignore the Biden administration, when real news and information is being distributed is just further proof they don’t take their jobs of informing the public, when real policy is at stake, seriously.
CNN and the rest of the media jumped at every twitch from Donnie because he attracted an audience. Jen Psaki doesn't.
I was going to say the short term benefit audience-wise would do long term harm by reducing the establishment's credibility yet more. Then I realized that they're (probably already) past that point and been heading to being pretty worthless for quite awhile and have been headed that way since the fawning coverage of the Reagan administration (which started our current problems). Trump accelerated things.
You cut cords, not chords.
It took nearly four years for the press to finally start backing away, just a little bit, from complete coverage of everything Trump. Before that we endured the wildly inappropriate sham press conferences until they were replaced by the driveway question shouts that Trump preferred (I think because the driveway format and camera placement featured the Star instead of the now invisible questioners and press secretaries). There is no doubt the airing of these reality-show episodes was not because they were news. Those newsless airings left a deep stain on journalism. Now, we have an administration determined to have a press that is as informed as possible. The press conferences now are frequent, and honest, and welcomed. They need to be covered and reported, but not necessarily aired. A sign of a healthy relationship between an administration and the press is that not all press conferences need full air time. All that is needed is a full and honest relationship with the press.
the four year cycle: air briefings where reporters lied to non-stop. then marvel for reset of afternoon at how WH lied to reporters. wash, rinse, repeat
I look forward to the implosion of cable news. Wait till they start eating their own - there's nothing like it.
CNN, the network of Jake Tapper, and Anderson Cooper, and Don Lemon, and (I suppose) Chris Cuomo ? - THAT CNN ?
Isn't it bruited abroad as the other leg, with MSNBC, of the bipedal Trustworthy News Giant ?
I must've got that wrong from down here, silly me.
Actions speak louder than words, CNN.
Remember the 1988 Debate when CNN's Bernie Shaw stabbed Dukakis in the back with the Kitty Question. And it came out later that Atwater asked Shaw to do that. CNN has always shown its' GOP bias.
And you know this how?
It was pointed out by Media Whores Online back in the early 2000s.
Oh, how I miss that web site.
Eric.. you are an idiot... Try driving for Uber
The media is corrupt and bought by right wingers