Proportion

1:55 am EST June 14th, 2008 | Media | 10 Comments

As John Cole notes, the press is now taking their – understandable – shock and horror at Tim Russert’s death and going into overdrive. I think Russert was better than the average journalist, but he was a journalist.

There was a major prison break in Afghanistan, huge floods in Iowa, and all other manner of chaos in the world. No industry loves to gaze at its own navel more than media, and while nobody is saying that Russert doesn’t warrant coverage, and even some special coverage due to his unique place in the press and politics… some restraint, please.

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10 Responses to “Proportion”

  1. chris says:
    June 14, 2008 at 2:31 am

    Ice cold!

    I think in a couple of weeks the MSNBC crew will be a little embarrassed by their coverage.

    I’m reminded of what one great journalist said, “I’ve got to get out of here. I’m part of the story. I can’t be a part of the story. I can’t be a part of the story.”

  2. The Angry Independent says:
    June 14, 2008 at 3:47 am

    I’d rather hear more about what Congress plans to do about gas prices, stagflation, dependence on foreign energy, healthcare…and the overall cost of living. Or about the flooding here in the Midwest or any number of more important issues. The wall to wall coverage on this is annoying.

    This was no Cronkite, Rather, Koppel, or Jennings for that matter. And I have no love for Meet the Press or any of the other Sunday morning talk shows. Too many times, they have played the role of mouthpiece and facilitator for the Bush Administration, with their Republican talking points. They also played a role in swiftboating John Kerry in 2003 and 2004 and have not been exactly fair to Barack Obama.

    I don’t recall Meet The Press or any of these programs digging into the past of Hillary Clinton or John McCain with a fine-toothed comb.

    I don’t care much for any of these Corporate news government mouthpieces. I have no respect for them. “Journalist”? By whos definition? Ed Bradley was a journalist. Amy Goodman is a journalist.

    So, Journalist- No. Pundit, Talking Head, Commentator, Host, Government mouthpiece- Yes. And he was good at all 5.

    I’m sure he was a good father/husband/friend as well. But I don’t want to know every detail of this mans life.

    I’d rather hear about the lives of the U.S. soldiers who are being killed and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and the struggles that the wounded go through when they come home.

  3. anotherbozo says:
    June 14, 2008 at 7:44 am

    Angry Independent makes a nice point: bios on Obama and McCain that went into the depth of the many Russert bios would be of great instruction to the public–and importance for the election. They were out there, but on the Biography channel at 3 a.m. or something.

    And nicely said, Oliver. He was a good journalist, but a journalist. He didn’t invent the wheel or fashion lasting peace.

  4. Jay says:
    June 14, 2008 at 8:26 am

    They should be forced to watch ‘The Paper’ and specifically the scene where Bernie (Robert Duvall) is trying to enlighten Alicia (Glenn Close) about who they are:

    “The people we cover….we move in their world, but it is their world.”

    And shows like ‘Meet The Press’ and any news show like it, goes with the narrative of the day. Which means they’re often just as much of suck-ups for Democrats as they are Republicans. The notion that they’re just a stage for GOP propaganda is nonsense.

  5. Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle says:
    June 14, 2008 at 10:10 am

    The notion that they’re just a stage for GOP propaganda is nonsense.

    It seems you didn’t pay attention to the “Scooter” Libby trial. It was where Timmeh!!’s phoniness was laid bare.

  6. Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle says:
    June 14, 2008 at 10:11 am

    The Angry Independent:
    You knocked it out of the park!!

  7. David says:
    June 14, 2008 at 11:21 am

    The Angry Independent,

    Spot on… thanks!

  8. Tyro says:
    June 15, 2008 at 12:25 am

    I think Russert was better than the average journalist, but he was a journalist.

    And thus, of great interest to journalists, who report the news. Russert’s death is a shock to many, including myself. Honestly, I wish I had seen more MTP episodes. However, the round-the-clock hagiographies of the man are occurring only because this is a story that journalists really, really care about and something that really, really matters to them, not because it has any kind of objective importance that justifies this wall-to-wall coverage.

    But, as anyone can tell you, the thing people like talking about is things relating to themselves. So journalists are going to talk the opportunity to talk about something that matters to them and run with it.

  9. Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle says:
    June 15, 2008 at 12:28 am

    Tyro:
    But do the the viewers want to see it? I could see yesterday. But the whole weekend?

  10. Zaius Nation says:
    June 15, 2008 at 9:03 am

    Considering the amount of coverage for Tim Russert’s death, you would think that either the Pope had been abducted by space aliens or Britney Spears got a parking ticket.