Media Critic to Maddow: My Dog 'Has Better Journalism Credentials and Chops Than You Do'
Some on the left have been crying foul at CNN's decision to air live Rep. Michele Bachmann's response to the president's State of the Union address Tuesday night. None have been more vocal than MSNBC libtalker Rachel Maddow.
One media critic had enough. On Thursday, the Baltimore Sun's David Zurawik laid into Maddow's criticism, saying it derives from "the mentality of a lockstep party member, not a journalist." Zurawik's gripe was Maddow's insistence that because Bachmann was not officially representing a political party, her speech should not have been given comparable treatment to the president's or to Rep. Paul Ryan's Republican response.
Journalists "don't let political parties tell us who we should and shouldn't cover," Zurawik added. "I have a West Highland terrier named Bugsy who has better journalism credentials and chops than you do," he quipped.
Here is the Maddow segment at issue:
Apparently someone at MSNBC emailed Zurawik a link to that segment in response to a post praising CNN's (and Fox's) decision to cover Bachmann's speech.
The essence of my critique: The Tea Party has played a major role in shaping the new Congress, and it has already had a significant effect on American life. Given that, if you aren't sure about whether or not to cover, you err on the side of inclusion -- not exclusion. Provide citizens with as much information as you can so that they can make the best decisions about their lives.
But check out the video MSNBC thinks I should see and note that Maddow's argument boils down to this: Bachmann should not have been covered because she was not "ordained" by the Republican Party as its official responder.
This is the mentality of a lockstep party member, not a journalist. Unless the party "ordains" someone to speak, they shouldn't be covered by the press, in Maddow's thinking.
Memo to Maddow: That's not the way journalists think. We bring citizens as much information as we can whether THE PARTY ordains it or not. Just like we don't let the executive branch tell us which news operation is a "legitimate" journalistic enterprise, and which isn't, we don't let political parties tell us who we should and shouldn't cover. Journalism 101 at Goucher College where I teach.
CNN was right in covering Bachmann. And by the way, there are interns at CNN's Washington bureau who have better journalism credentials than you do, Ms. Party Operative Think. In fact, I have a West Highland terrier named Bugsy that has better journalism credentials and chops than you do…
NBC News has some outstanding journalists both in the field and in management. You don't see them saying this crazy political stuff. Someone might suggest to Ms. Party Think that she concentrate on trying to get competitive with Fox News on a nightly basis -- or come up with a way of addressing the civic life of the nation on election and SOTU nights so that it doesn't consistently leave MSNBC in last place on the big nights of American politics.
- Lachlan Markay's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Oooch
Submitted by Lakewood Ed on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:12pm.
ouch! Zing!
Zurawik
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:17pm.
The Sun's editor is not going to tolerate this out-of-step reporting for much longer. And since it's B'more's only real newspaper, don't be surprised to see him in the Washington Examiner or the Washington Times. I didn't know he taught at Goucher though; good for him. Must be tough sledding for him there too.
As for his comments about Maddow; I suspect they rather confused her. My guess is being called "Ms. Party Think" was baffling on multiple levels.
While I never ever considered Maddow a "journalist"
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:32pm.
(or any else at MSNBC for that matter) I'd forgotten what an actual "journalist" is supposed to sound like. I only wish he'd said it to her smug snarky face..
I Guess
Submitted by Denio on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:37pm.
I guess you could call this a Bi*ch Slap....
No, no,no
Submitted by American.Patriot on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:26pm.
It's a butch slapBravo, David Zurawik
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:41pm.
Hope you teach them well. We need more of you.
West Highland Terrier
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:49pm.
I am more of a Beagle aficianado myself. Although mine is not very bright (Beagle's aren't known for their intellect), he could probably take Rachel in a poly-sci trivia smack-down. He can run rabbits too, which makes him useful to me.
Is Bugsy available?
Submitted by JeffC... on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 4:50pm.
MSNBC has an open time slot.Maddow is merely the mouthpiece for the WH
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:00pm.
That's why they've had her to the WH for special meetings.
So Rachael
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:08pm.
ya scared of the competition?
Or ya just mad cause ya Unofficial Democrat spokesperson check from the DNC bounced?
roflmao
Did that leave a mark or what?
Submitted by Tomorama on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:11pm.
Dare I say Zurawik sounded "Reaganesque" in hammering her...... just like he did Gorby?
This was beautiful, wonderful and outstanding all rolled into one DESERVED BEATDOWN.
What, what, what's that, oh goody, I just got my first leg tingle.
Herman Cain for President
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:49pm.
Herman Cain for President in 2012...
I nominate this guy to be his running mate.
http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2010/11/allen-west-on-how-to-defeat-radical.html
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
But, but, but
Submitted by Tomorama on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 9:12pm.
That would totally screw the media and the liberals up.
Two qualified conservative thinking men who happen to be black...
Just watching them shoot themselves in the foot (my bad a gun metaphor......) would be priceless.
Even though I am a racist Republican according to Leg Tingles........ for some reason I would still vote for those two gentlemen in a nanosecond.
Good ideals maybe?
Put Condi anywhere on the card and I would do the same, damn, I am a sexist too according to Tingles, but, but, but...............
Cain - West Ticket
Submitted by Thunder Lizard on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 2:16am.
I know a lot of white people (myself included) that would campaign for this ticket in a heartbeat! Then I'd like to see Walter Williams appointed as the Secretary of Treasury and Thomas Sowell Secretary of State. Ellis Washington for Attorney General. Star Parker in Health and Human Services. Larry Elder in Homeland Security. Haven't quite figured out who we need for Secretary of Defense - Armstrong Williams maybe? Eddie Schultz, Rachel Madcow and Chrissy Matthews would totally short circuit , and the country would be on the road to running like it is supposed to.
I think
Submitted by panzerakc on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 2:22am.
if you really want to see folks on the Left implode/explode run either Mr. Cain or Allen West with Susana Martinez in the VP slot . . . .
I am sorry...
Submitted by beauxdog on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 3:20am.
I don't know this Cain fellow and West is an up and comer.
However... you have the big dogs in the back seat. My only problem in looking at Sowell and Williams... which one for prez... which one for VP. Both of these men would be excellent leaders of the world that I could support 100%. I love Larry Elder too, but he is the junior in this league.
Well, he fills in for Hannity
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 5:47am.
Well, he fills in for Hannity quite often, has his own VERY popular radio show in Atlanta, extremely successful as a businessman...
Here is his website.
http://www.hermancain.com/
And here is the search that shows you how popular he is.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=crmas&p=herman+cain+for+president+2012
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
From an obvious Maddow fan
Submitted by OxyCon on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:38pm.
tsk tsk and tut tut, just look at the comment a caring, loving Liberal left to Zurawick's article:
"I hope that a snow plow runs you over while you're trying to dig your car out."
Posted by: Anonymous | January 27, 2011 1:42 PM
Don't laugh. It happened in
Submitted by Deskpilot on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 1:18am.
Don't laugh. It happened in Delaware. Local conjecture is that she was walking in the street to the local market to get a pack of cigarettes and coffee. I have no additional info.
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110127/NEWS/110127042/Woman-struck-killed-by-DelDOT-plow-is-identified (video embedded in story) Street reference N39° 46.187' W75° 30.213'W
A lawsuit will put Biden's homestate in some SERIOUS do-do.
I'll bet....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:50pm.
...that hurt the little fellow's feelings...... :-)
Awww.... I'm sure he's
Submitted by 98ZJUSMC on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 7:25pm.
Awww....
I'm sure he's wee-wee'd up, poor guy.
The guy made a profound
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 5:56pm.
The guy made a profound point. Whatever the hacks at MSNBC are about -- it ain't jornalism as was understood.
Agit-prop is what what it is. And no MSNBC is NOT the polar opposite of Fox. Is is from start to finish an agit-prop cabal.
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
Meghan McCain -- she's the
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:00pm.
Meghan McCain -- she's the new generation's Ron Reagan Jr.
Her father always had more interst in going after conservatives than socialists.
Guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree to land smack on her head.
It's all sort of sad and sordid at the same time.
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
Her father doesn't truly
Submitted by 98ZJUSMC on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 7:34pm.
Her father doesn't truly understand Socialists and/or Marxism.
Why should this mildly retarded, effete bubblehead?
When a rim-shot doesn't quite make it
Submitted by mrt721 on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:10pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC75aU47GRk
We need more of the cold hard truth
Submitted by Lipton on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:33pm.
Be blunt, be harsh, be trufthful, but for god sakes don't be PC.
Sign of hope?
Submitted by octavioj on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:54pm.
Is this critic not an avowed liberal? Do we have a sign of hope that the media is finally catching up to the fact they really do not do a good work of presenting facts and allowing the people to decide for themselves?
Rachel Maddow = Pee Wee
Submitted by celator on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 6:55pm.
Rachel Maddow = Pee Wee Herman without the savoir faire
Ouch! The truth hurts.
Submitted by cestes on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:02pm.
What no one in any media is addressing is disputations of the truth in Michelle Bachmann's remarks. They were dead on (if I can say that), the #s don't lie and that is what hurts! The "establishment" media will do anything to destroy those bearing the truth. Panic at loss of control over the message.
Ouch! The truth hurts.
Submitted by cestes on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:02pm.
What no one in any media is addressing is disputations of the truth in Michelle Bachmann's remarks. They were dead on (if I can say that), the #s don't lie and that is what hurts! The "establishment" media will do anything to destroy those bearing the truth. Panic at loss of control over the message.
Amazing
Submitted by RightRealDeal on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:43pm.
Wow, that was simply marvelous. Yes, a Bitch Slap if I ever heard one.
For Richard Maddow, I hear "the suits" (Comcast) are getting off the elevator to come down the hall for you......................then, after Mr. ED has been calling people pricks and right wing scum, they will XFINITY "ED" out through the window (too much expense to hall his fat a.. down with a crane!
My dog...
Submitted by KyWriter on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 10:54pm.
...is better looking.
I Wouldn't Compare my Dog to Mr. Maddow, but...
Submitted by gruyere cheese on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 12:42am.
in this case she deserves it! Journalists are expected to be objective not biased.