Posted on 10/27/2004 8:42:34 AM PDT by Cableguy
ABC News President David Westin warned against the proliferation of opinion commentary in the news media at the Institute of Politics’ John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum yesterday night. “The more time we express our opinions, the less time we have to talk about the facts,” Westin said. “Unfortunately, opinion is driving out facts too often in most of what we see on television today.”
In a speech entitled “Is Network News Obsolete?” Westin argued that network news is far from dead but that the networks must adapt to changes in media.
Westin pointed to the rise of alternative news sources, such as the internet and 24-hour news channels, which have challenged networks to meet constant deadlines and provide continuing coverage.
Westin said the emergent alternative media is partly to blame for the dearth of objective news.
“Expressing opinion on TV is vivid, entertaining, and in all honesty, less expensive than the alternative,” Westin said. “Therefore, the explosion of news outlets has in its own way encouraged the explosion of opinion.”
Westin acknowledged that there is a place in television for commentary, but said too much commentary can hinder the distribution of useful information.
“It can be very entertaining to have two very spirited people discussing heath care in this country, but I for one would be better benefited by someone coming on and telling me exactly what the state of health care is before we talk about what ought to be done and telling mewhat my real options are,” Westin said.
In addition to the danger of having too much opinion, news media face the danger of the blurring between fact and opinion, he said.
“If viewers see news people on different channels that look pretty much the same, on sets that look pretty much the same, and graphics that look pretty much the same, with some expressing opinion some of the time and some expressing facts, is it surprising that the audience believe that they’re all expressing facts?” Westin asked.
During the question-and-answer session that followed his speech, Westin said he believes that his warning “parallels” that of Jon Stewart to Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala on an October 15 episode of CNN’s Crossfire—that there’s just too much spin and not enough reporting.
As president of ABC News, Westin is responsible for all aspects of ABC News broadcasts, which include World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Nightline and Good Morning America. From September 1994 until 1997, when he assumed his current position, Westin served as president of the ABC Television Network. Before joining ABC, Westin had been a partner at the law firm Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering since 1985.
Amy R. Spitalnick, a Tufts freshman who attended the forum with some of her classmates, agreed with Westin’s warning against excessive opinion commentary.
“There is a serious lack of unbiased news coverage,” she said. “I think that if the media had focused more on the facts during the 2000 election, it would have been a lot less controversial.”
That's just his opinion.
Westin values the Communist goal of "Diversity" over facts, and he'll threaten your job for it.
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020218/3867160s.htm
Beautiful! May I forward it on to my email list? Thank you.
Mr. Westin must understand that Cronkite/Rather and all of the other "set the agenda" in the newsroom types did not practice objective, fact laden journalism is what brings MSM to this cataclysmic confrontation with alternative media.
Striking at the heart of the influence of MSM is the exposure of the CBS culpability in an attempt to influence an election and demoralize the men and women fighting for our country.
The MSM got away with it in Vietnam partly because there was no alternative media to check the (Cronkite) newsroom agenda of the time. The MSM aided and abetted the rise of John Forbes Kerry and his demoralizing lies and slander against the American military.
Perhaps this time in our history is a date with destiny for both Kerry and the MSM which aided and abetted his hatred of his fellow soldiers.
Weegee - more of our conversation from yesterday.
maybe Westin should check out Drudge RIGHT F*NG NOW!!!!!!
Thanks for the flowers.
May I forward it on to my email list?
Absolutely; send it anywhere you think it might do some good. Or for that matter, anywhere it might do some harm ;^)
FGS
ABC INTERNAL MEMO:
Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004
It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave
I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.
The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.
Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.
We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.
I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.
It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.
Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING list
Please. We have all seen this multiple times from you.
Claptrap, ABC is as intent as ever in inserting liberal bias into their news.
FGS
I have the same hope!
David forgot a couple words, I am glad to give him a hand.
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