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Responsible, Probative & Relevant Journalism
How can Newsroom Magazine claim to be politically independent when you clearly favor anything and everything the Democrats are doing to make America socialist?
Across America
Why Are You So Down On America?
Q It seems to me you’re all about being down on our country when it is in serious trouble. You don’t seem to like the banks, college or professional sports, big business, politics, television or journalism. Have you nothing good to say about anyone?
A Our country is in trouble today so what you read about our collective problems on Newsroom Magazine is reflective of reality. Being responsible adults requires that we speak to issues, events, institutions and people who matter to our safety, comfort and freedoms.
We speak very positively about people who are doing the right thing — especially young Americans and those least empowered amongst us who are overseas fighting for your safety and mine.
We speak positively about the American worker, but not the union leadership that has aided and abetted corporate management in making our industries less competitive.
We speak negatively about American politicians and politics while we honor those who take a stand to do the right thing when its most difficult to do.
And yes, we do write extensively about our immense problems, broadcast journalism, failed governance, polarizing politics, and deteriorating social realities.
That’s not being down on America, it’s about identifying critical issues and suggesting changes in policy, law, information flow, and governance consistent with making us a better people, stronger advocates of freedom, a more responsible business climate, a less greedy nation, and a more satisfied people.
It’s still morning in America — our work is not yet done.
David Gregory Not Equal To Tim Russert
Q You attack broadcast journalism for lacking relevancy, credibility and professionalism. Then you act like the up-front people at the commercial networks are somehow not guilty, or worse that they’re competent. Which is it? How can you condemn NBC news for serving only what you call the greedy needs of General Electric and then claim that someone as weak as David Gregory is the equal of Tim Russert?
A The flaw in your argument is known as a false analogy. Whether or not General Electric is greedy or an irresponsible owner of NBC News has nothing at all to do with either Mssrs Gregory or Russert’s abilities to host Meet The Press.
But there’s another flaw in your argument in that you provide no basis or standards upon which to comment about the relative competency between these two men.
From what we’ve seen ( Meet The Press: The Gregory Era ) David Gregory ought to be successful in his new assignment as Meet The Press host. To do so requires that he prepare for his interviews with the same diligence and focus as had Mr. Russert. That shouldn’t be difficult to do for a man with Mr. Gregory’s prior experience. We accept your implied notion that Mr. Gregory is less broadly experienced politically than was his predecessor, but given his service as NBC News; chief White House Correspondent, we believe he understands both politicians and politics very well indeed.
We might have agreed with the premise of your question had you compared either Gregory or Russert to up-front NBC newsmen who preceded them in the era prior to NBC being acquired by General Electric. When measured against responsible adult NBC News journalists such as David Brinkely, John Chancellor, Robert MacNeil and Chet Huntley — neither Gregory or Russert would make the cut. Not because they lacked journalistic chops, but because they willingly accepted the constraints and the lavish compensation that derive from entertainment value journalism.
While we don’t fault either Russert, Gregory or their colleagues at other big-media news divisions who have chosen to work in an imperfect news operation when the alternative was to take up another line of work, we realize that no one in big media broadcast news is free to explore and report on those issues that matter most to our nation, communities and freedoms.
So we disagree with your assessment of David Gregory as being less suitable for Meet The Press host that Tim Russert. Both are good people caught up in a seriously flawed broadcast news environment.
We only wish both Russert and Gregory were free to cover all the issues that matter to our nation today. We don’t see big media addressing the problems of media concentration, failed corporate governance, inappropriate banking management, or the rampant escalation of compensation for a long list of affluent citizens ranging from sports figures to up-front television personalities.
Big money demands big compliance with corporate goals and aspirations. The implications on journalism are chilling, for no one in television news today dare to report on the failing state of broadcast news. Who is willing to risk their job today to report on the immense damage done to journalism in the name of earnings and profitability at the expense of credible, probative and costly news gathering and reporting?
If you think neither Messrs. Russert or Gregory would take the risk , you’re probably right — but like today’s unemployment lines the list of journalists who have chosen to go along with entertainment as news is very long indeed.
Newsroom Magazine’s Liberal Bias
Q How can Newsroom Magazine claim to be politically independent when you clearly favor anything and everything the Democrats are doing to make America socialist?
A Newsroom Magazine is apolitical — in the sense that we offer information and commentary that is not filtered along any political ideology. Our purpose is to examine important issues based on the merits of ideas, intellectual value and public policy implications.
Being politically independent means that one does not espouse or favor any single political ideology or organization. Being politically independent, on the other hand, implies that one embraces a political ideology — although it may differ from that advocated by one or more major parties.
Being apolitical, as is our intent, is very different for it seeks to evaluate issues, institutions and persons outside of political framing or ideological constructs. At Newsroom Magazine we apply traditional American values and concepts. Apolitical analysis arises from reasoning, intellectual honesty, freedom of expression, and rational judgment. Examining issues absent cultural or experiential bias is not easy so we make no claim of being perfect, or always right.
But we do take our responsibilities seriously, the preservation of our integrity essential to our mission, and being accountable to those with different views part of our mandate.
Go Get The Bastards!
Q I found your articles about how congress deregulated so many industries very eye opening. Your article on how big media have f_____ up television news and how that may have led to things getting so bad down here really pissed me off. As far as I’m concerned, go get the bastards!
A Thanks for the encouragement.
Conversations With America Rules
Reader Comments on this and other subjects are welcome.
Comments relating to this article should include the title or publication date.
Email Comments on other subjects are welcome at any time. Only comments with valid return email addresses will be considered for publication.
All submissions and letters to the editor are subject to being edited for clarity, readability and length prior to publication.
Published comments become the property of Newsroom Magazine.
Newsroom Magazine’s
Conversations With America
Q It seems to me you’re all about being down on our country when it is in serious trouble. You don’t seem to like the banks, college or professional sports, big business, politics, television or journalism. Have you nothing good to say about anyone?
A Our country is in trouble today so what you read about our collective problems on Newsroom Magazine is reflective of reality. Being responsible adults requires that we speak to issues, events, institutions and people who matter to our safety, comfort and freedoms.
We speak very positively about people who are doing the right thing — especially young Americans and those least empowered amongst us who are overseas fighting for your safety and mine.
We speak positively about the American worker, but not the union leadership that has aided and abetted corporate management in making our industries less competitive.
We speak negatively about American politicians and politics while we honor those who take a stand to do the right thing when its most difficult to do.
And yes, we do write extensively about our immense problems, broadcast journalism, failed governance, polarizing politics, and deteriorating social realities.
That’s not being down on America, it’s about identifying critical issues and suggesting changes in policy, law, information flow, and governance consistent with making us a better people, stronger advocates of freedom, a more responsible business climate, a less greedy nation, and a more satisfied people.
It’s still morning in America — our work is not yet done.
Q You attack broadcast journalism for lacking relevancy, credibility and professionalism. Then you act like the up-front people at the commercial networks are somehow not guilty, or worse that they’re competent. Which is it? How can you condemn NBC news for serving only what you call the greedy needs of General Electric and then claim that someone as weak as David Gregory is the equal of Tim Russert?
A The flaw in your argument is known as a false analogy. Whether or not General Electric is greedy or an irresponsible owner of NBC News has nothing at all to do with either Mssrs Gregory or Russert’s abilities to host Meet The Press.
But there’s another flaw in your argument in that you provide no basis or standards upon which to comment about the relative competency between these two men.
From what we’ve seen ( Meet The Press: The Gregory Era ) David Gregory ought to be successful in his new assignment as Meet The Press host. To do so requires that he prepare for his interviews with the same diligence and focus as had Mr. Russert. That shouldn’t be difficult to do for a man with Mr. Gregory’s prior experience. We accept your implied notion that Mr. Gregory is less broadly experienced politically than was his predecessor, but given his service as NBC News; chief White House Correspondent, we believe he understands both politicians and politics very well indeed.
We might have agreed with the premise of your question had you compared either Gregory or Russert to up-front NBC newsmen who preceded them in the era prior to NBC being acquired by General Electric. When measured against responsible adult NBC News journalists such as David Brinkely, John Chancellor, Robert MacNeil and Chet Huntley — neither Gregory or Russert would make the cut. Not because they lacked journalistic chops, but because they willingly accepted the constraints and the lavish compensation that derive from entertainment value journalism.
While we don’t fault either Russert, Gregory or their colleagues at other big-media news divisions who have chosen to work in an imperfect news operation when the alternative was to take up another line of work, we realize that no one in big media broadcast news is free to explore and report on those issues that matter most to our nation, communities and freedoms.
So we disagree with your assessment of David Gregory as being less suitable for Meet The Press host that Tim Russert. Both are good people caught up in a seriously flawed broadcast news environment.
We only wish both Russert and Gregory were free to cover all the issues that matter to our nation today. We don’t see big media addressing the problems of media concentration, failed corporate governance, inappropriate banking management, or the rampant escalation of compensation for a long list of affluent citizens ranging from sports figures to up-front television personalities.
Big money demands big compliance with corporate goals and aspirations. The implications on journalism are chilling, for no one in television news today dare to report on the failing state of broadcast news. Who is willing to risk their job today to report on the immense damage done to journalism in the name of earnings and profitability at the expense of credible, probative and costly news gathering and reporting?
If you think neither Messrs. Russert or Gregory would take the risk , you’re probably right — but like today’s unemployment lines the list of journalists who have chosen to go along with entertainment as news is very long indeed.
Q How can Newsroom Magazine claim to be politically independent when you clearly favor anything and everything the Democrats are doing to make America socialist?
A Newsroom Magazine is apolitical — in the sense that we offer information and commentary that is not filtered along any political ideology. Our purpose is to examine important issues based on the merits of ideas, intellectual value and public policy implications.
Being politically independent means that one does not espouse or favor any single political ideology or organization. Being politically independent, on the other hand, implies that one embraces a political ideology — although it may differ from that advocated by one or more major parties.
Being apolitical, as is our intent, is very different for it seeks to evaluate issues, institutions and persons outside of political framing or ideological constructs. At Newsroom Magazine we apply traditional American values and concepts. Apolitical analysis arises from reasoning, intellectual honesty, freedom of expression, and rational judgment. Examining issues absent cultural or experiential bias is not easy so we make no claim of being perfect, or always right.
But we do take our responsibilities seriously, the preservation of our integrity essential to our mission, and being accountable to those with different views part of our mandate.
Q I found your articles about how congress deregulated so many industries very eye opening. Your article on how big media have f_____ up television news and how that may have led to things getting so bad down here really pissed me off. As far as I’m concerned, go get the bastards!
A Thanks for the encouragement.
Conversations With America Rules
Reader Comments on this and other subjects are welcome.
Comments relating to this article should include the title or publication date.
Email Comments on other subjects are welcome at any time. Only comments with valid return email addresses will be considered for publication.
All submissions and letters to the editor are subject to being edited for clarity, readability and length prior to publication.
Published comments become the property of Newsroom Magazine.
Newsroom Magazine’s
Conversations With America