Kos has written a great article about the participation of Chris Matthews in a fundraiser for one of Jack Abramoff's faux charities-the Capital Athletic Foundation. Also involved in the same fundraiser were Tony Snow and Brit Hume. For some reason, maybe the fact that they are openly conservative and work for Faux News, Kos gives them a pass. After all we don't expect much from those guys. We hope and pray Chris Matthews does better, and are disappointed when he doesn't.
When I read the piece I thought, duh, he is Chris Matthews, talk show host, not Chris Matthews, journalist--you are expecting something better from him? Then I ask why I thought that. That led to the following questions about modern centralized broadcast (and big time print) journalism.
- How does one become a "respected television journalist?" Obviously, television journalists are engaged in a performance art. They move up based on their bone structure and how well they look to some producer, not on how well they cover a story. Covering the story is for other people. Folks who actually appear on television, like Matthews, don't need to cover anything. Hell in Matthews case, it is obvious he doesn't even read the newspaper. Just what are the criteria for becoming a "respected television journalist."
- How come there are so few of them? Have you ever noticed that there are really very few "respected television journalists." They seem to recycle from network to network. Most professional actors (the closest analogy I can come up for a "respected television journalist") have a shot and fall off the face of the Earth when their sitcom is cancelled. Oh, there are a few who find other jobs, but most just go on unemployment or take up regional theater. How come "respected television journalists" always have a job? "Crossfire" is cancelled and the two consevative monkeys on that show just move on. Why? Novak I can understand, but the guy with the bowtie, why the hell is he working at all? (Note to self--whatever happened to Bill Press anyway? Is recycling only for conservatives?)
- Once someone becomes a "respected television journalist" he or she pretty much has a job for life. Think I am wrong? 60 Minutes anyone. When you hear of a "respected television journalist" retiring the next thing you read is an obit. Why the hell do they have so much job security?
- How do "respected television journalists" survive scandals that would take down just about anybody else? Bill O'Reilly was at the heart of a sexual harrassment scandal a few years ago. That scandal would have destroyed the career of a lot of local politicians and even more midlevel executives, but he rode it out like a rock star at the height of his career. Why? How? Are they judged by rock star standards?
- Who lines up fundraisers for "respected television journalists." I doubt the CAF gig was booked by Matthews, Snow and Hume personally. My guess is it came down from corporate headquarters. I base this not on any knowledge of how "respected television journalists" work but on a knowledge of how professional athletes hook up to charities. Some years ago I was involved with a fundraiser for our local Boys and Girls Club. We needed an athlete and called the local NFL franchise, as a result I had dinner with an NFL star. He didn't have any connection with the Boys and Girls Club, but we used his name promoting our event. I have a hunch Chris Matthews wasn't Abramoff's contact point. Who at NBC made that decision and why? A similar question could be asked of Roger Ailes.
- I am sort of tired of surface investigation of big time journalism. I don't think the bobbling heads are anything more than bobbling heads. I would like to see the blogsphere go deep and investigate the people who put the bobbling heads on television and give them their lines. What will it take to make those people accountable?
- How come the Washington Press Corp so rarely uncovers corruption right in front of their noses. Duke Cunningham was obviously living larger than his congressional salary and military retirement could support. Why didn't anybody notice? Why was he taken down by a couple of working journalists in his hometown?
I for one am sick and tired of "star" journalism. Maybe the herd journalism we endure is the result of too much money going to "respected television journalists" and not enough to folks who actually work a story. But,what the hey, we live in a star driven world.