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September 14, 2006
Meeting the Press
I'm watching Tony Snow's press conference right now on C-SPAN (yes, I'm a geek). All of the reporters asking questions seem less interested in the answers than in their ability to sound good on television.
So far, they've all managed to look only slightly less irrational than David Gregory after being told he's run out of hairspray. It's always been my contention that there is an inverse relationship between the length of a reporter's question and his or her intelligence. One reporter just accused Tony Snow of "wanting to make his own law." Amazing. Their adversarial attitude is getting in the way of their ability to hear what Snow is saying. One reporter who asked some particularly stupid questions ("how often does the president pick up the phone?") wasn't even taking notes.
Gee, how interested is she in what's being said? Even when there's recording equipment around, a reporter should note what's important so they can look over their notes when trying to find the right soundbite.
There are quite a few weasel words being used. "Some say...there are those...critics say..." How about actually naming those anonymous critics once in awhile? Because it sounds to me as though you're simply making stuff up.
Then there's Helen Thomas, the nasty columnist who has long since worn out her welcome at the White House. The first press secretary, Democrat or Republican, who throws her out of the press room will earn the never-ending respect of all who care about real journalism.
And the press wonders why they are not the most popular profession in America.
Posted by slublog at September 14, 2006 07:50 PM
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