The Changing Face of Reporting
Writing by treason on Sunday, 29 of January , 2006 at 8:48 am
Q: What do you call the 60+ reporters who have been killed since the beginning of the Iraq War?
A: A good start.
It’s an old joke, usually told about lawyers, but journalists are dangerously close to replacing attorneys as the most hated professionals. It used to be that we disliked them for being so out of touch with the rest of society, or for intentionally trying to manipulate, not inform, us. Their liberal bias, their attitude that they’re smarter, better than the rest of us…well, it’s the same reason we can’t stand John Kerry.
But the reasons are multiplying and there are some things that even the other side is starting to hate. Their hair, their clothes, their accessories, their layers of lip gloss. Their need to be the center of attention - their need to be the story.
It was especially obvious during Katrina. Why have a cameraman with you when all he does is point the camera at you to get your impressions, your feelings, your interpretation of events? Just show us the freaking events!
There was a time we just saw talking heads - now these heads are full blown celebs and we know everything about them: where they went to school, who they married, what their kids did at camp, their hobbies, their opinions, their innermost thoughts. Instead of getting right to the story, there’s always that banter:
“Hey, Bob, how’s it hangin’?”
“Just great, Greg. How’s it hangin’ back at the studio?”
“It’s hangin’. Definitely hangin’. Got anything to tell us?”
“Thought I’d mention my new CD.”
“Very cool, Bob. I hear it’s your new Christmas CD.”
“Sure is.”
“Can you give us a little preview?”
“Sure can. But first let me get this bit of info out of the way. The Prime Minister of Oogli Boogli has just been assassinated by a band of hooded assailants. Did I mention it’s a double CD?”
Yeah, yeah, I know I complained bitterly about the reporters during all the hurricane coverage, but it seems they’re getting worse. They ask dumb questions at press conferences, don’t listen to anybody else’s questions, then ask the same questions again. And they’re making up words. One at the last Bush press conference said “conversated.” And they say Bush has problems with English?
Okay, maybe I’m being harsh. After all, Bob Woodruff was just wounded and is in serious condition. I don’t mean to diminish the efforts of reporters and cameramen who are out there getting shot at. But I think it would be a good idea, since they’re so willing to divulge personal information whenever we see them, to start identifying their party affiliation - or at least who they voted for in the last election. If we ask them for that, maybe they’ll shut up and just give us the news.
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