One Reporter's Opinion: I Can't Say It Enough (George Putnam- Integrity Counts)

Newmax ^ | 12-24-03 | George Putnam

[Joy Angela]

One Reporter's Opinion -- "I Can't Say it Enough"

By George Putnam

It is this reporter's opinion that in rounding out 70
years of broadcast journalism, one finds it
increasingly difficult to compete with current shock
schlock and titillating trends in talk radio.

As we concentrate on issues that should concern our
citizens of today and tomorrow, while you and I discuss
world issues - ethics, religion, medicine, the law, our
future; a better, stronger America - too many others
titillate the new breed of listeners with tabloid
journalism and pornography,dominated by violence and
sex, touching the edge in violation of what you and I
have known as decency.

Even Lenny Bruce has posthumously received a pardon for
his outpourings of filth. Are those four letter words
any more acceptable now than they were then?

There is a new breed of talk show hosts who over-speak
and out-shout their guests to the point of
embarrassment - hosts who have never learned the values
you and I have found to be constant, obvious,
uplifting - ethics that are kicked in the belly.

As host, must you and I join the shock, schlock,
titillating upstarts of the quick buck in order to
arrest the attention of an audience numbed by those
shouting each other down, indulging in verbal combat,
those who have adopted their own set of values and
morality? If this be true, what a helluva way for this
reporter to conclude 70 years of journalistic endeavor!
Take it from there.

A while back, it was my privilege to speak to a group of
budding young journalists and after the usual
questioning concerning news, investigative reporting
and commentary, our talk turned to values. One future
electronic journalist asked, "What are the important
elements in a newsperson's makeup?" I
answered, "Insatiable curiosity, objectivity,
perseverance - but most of all, INTEGRITY."

We have the privilege, the responsibility, to take an
active stand on the issues that face us and to nudge the
public conscience, kick over a few stinking garbage
cans...

I told these youngsters, "It is my contention
that if a newsperson refuses to sit on the sidelines or
indulge in wishy-washy attitudes where our people's
best interests are involved, that if he or she pulls no
punches in fighting for the rights of the people, and
never allows personal gain to stand in his way, that
newsperson WILL NOT FAIL and is bound to be true to the
best tenets of our profession and will be personally
successful."

But aside from talent or perseverance or any other
consideration, I reiterated to these youngsters the
most important element is INTEGRITY, for if we enjoy
the plaudits of the multitude, fantastic acclaim and
personal gain, but are lacking in personal integrity,
it spells FAILURE.

Integrity is the rallying point to build courage when
courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems
little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes
forlorn. If a person has integrity, he/she can stand in
the face of adversity. Damn the insults! Scorn the
detractors!

Perhaps Shakespeare said it best: "To thine own self be
true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou
canst not then be false to any man."

That's one reporter's opinion. I welcome yours.

[Joy Angela]

Special Note from the Editor!

Editor's Note:

Just after posting the above to our homepage with a
photograph of George smiling out at his audience, George
called with the good news:

"After two years in the wilderness, the prodigal son has
returned. He's come out of the wasteland!!!"

George is going back home - back to KRLA!

Congratulations, George and Chuck! We love ya!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[Joy Angela]

George Putnam on KRLA Christmas bump!

[Joy Angela]

If a person has integrity, he/she can stand in the face of adversity. Damn the insults! Scorn the detractors!

Words to live by. When I get down, I remember the
saying "Have the courage of your convictions."

Having courage means things don't always go your way,
but that's okay. You're willing to take the hits, willing
to take a loss for something bigger than yourself.

If you can't stand up for what you believe in...
What can you stand up for?

Thanks to George Putnam for saying it best!

[AmericanVictory]

This is indeed very good news.

[gcruse]

it was my privilege to speak to a group of
budding young journalists and after the usual
questioning concerning news, investigative reporting
and commentary...

Which should have, but I'm sure didn't, go like this.

"Mr Putnam, we recently came out from under the cloud
of eight years of rape, treason, lies and a trail of death going
back to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Christopher Ruddy, Ambrose
Evans-Pritchard.  These were journalists out there on the front
line.   Why is it we never heard your name or the results of
 your investigative reporting during that time?"

"Harrumph.  Well, investigative reporting, that's the, uh,
that's the job of the tabloid press.  Classy guys like me don't
get down into the seamy details."

"Mr Putnam, I'm Cynthia Pitcairn, journalism graduate major.
Why is it the press didn't excoriate the Senate for not taking
President Clinton to trial after the House members exposed
themselves with a politically unpopular impeachment?"

"Well, uh, we, uhm, that's commentary, and reporters don't
do commentary.  That's the job of the editors."

"Mr Putnam, do the editors write the slanted stuff that comes
out of the San Fransico Chronicle and New York Times news
columns?  Shouldn't there be a wall between the editorial side
and straight news?"

"Well, I see my time is up.  Thank you all for coming."

"You're a phony sell-out.  Mr Putnam."

"Where's my limo?  I'm oughtta here."

[gcruse]

And now, before I am engulfed in flames, George Putnam was among those up front about Whitewater. My post was to illustrate the failure of journalism over Whitewater, not to pillory GP.

[Joy Angela]

George Putnam put Chris Ruddy of Newsmax and Matt Druge on the Map!

He interviewed and interviews these Media-Greats and Putnam was responsible for allowing Larry Nichols hours and hours of airtime to expose the Conspiring Clintons long before Free Republic or the Drudge Report even existed!

Putnam is 89 years old and a maverick against Communism and not only was he a reporter on Television, he worked for KIEV radio in California for 40 years, hosting his fabulous and investigative Talk Back show.

My political interests are due largely to listening to George Putnam's show and being inspired by his grand circle of guests!

Putnam is no phony.

Putnam is the REAL McCoy!!!

[Joy Angela]

Glad to hear it!

Have a Merry Christmas!

[al baby]

He interviewed and interviews these Media-Greats and Putnam was responsible for allowing Larry Nichols hours and hours of airtime to expose the Conspiring Clintons long before Free Republic or the Drudge Report even existed!

I dont think so

[Zechariah11]

I'm not so sure it is good news if he is bumping someone at KRLA. Do you know what his new timeslot will be?

PS. Hopefully, Hugh Hewitt will stop his giggling escapades and silly diversions (can't wait to hear about the trivia in his life) before he gets bumped again.

[VOA]

George is going back home - back to KRLA!

Details please...
I can't seem to find anything about that on the KRLA website (maybe I just missed it).
Thanks!

[Zechariah11]

Who do you want to bump out of that KRLA lineup to make room for Putnam? And every time I happen to tune into George he is talking about the SAME thing, illegal immigration. It gets old after awhile.

[VOA]

Who do you want to bump out of that KRLA lineup to make room for Putnam?

Actually, I was thinking that a replacement for some of the infomercials that take
up a lot of the weekend schedule would be fine.

And every time I happen to tune into George he is talking about the SAME thing,
illegal immigration. It gets old after awhile.
Old George's Achilles heel of repetition is equaled or exceeded by the infomercials.
I suspect some of them, like the beta-sitosterol preventative for prostate
cancer, are the same 25 minutes of tape for the past five years.

George is like anybody of "grandpa" vintage...some repetition is to be expected.
I have work associates in their 30s who are just about as bad, only I can't just
change the dial on them.

[Zechariah11]

>>Actually, I was thinking that a replacement for some of the infomercials that take up a lot of the weekend schedule would be fine.<<

Agreed.

With regard to KRLA -- I was once a huge fan of the Hugh Hewitt program but have found it to have gotten weaker and weaker. He sometimes seems like an adolescent.

[goldilucky]

Thankk you, Joy. I'm still tuning in to today's show which will be the last. Then back to KRLA again. I hope they don't treat Putnam like they did last time. They didn't even give him notice of his last day.