Brokaw: White House Correspondents' Event Damaging Perception of the Press
One day after the lavish White House Correspondents' Dinner was held in Washington, D.C., former "NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw stated that the annual event is diminishing the reputation of the journalists who attend it.
The longtime newsman made the remark to host David Gregory while appearing as a guest on "Meet the Press" the following morning, according to a column written by David Eldridge at the Washington Times on Sunday.
Brokaw also stated that the annual event, which features Washington reporters and editors drinking, joking and partying with Hollywood stars and other top officials, including the president, is contributing to the conception that journalists consider themselves part of the elite in the U.S.
Look, I think George Clooney is a great guy. I’d like to meet Charlize Theron. But I don’t think the big press event in Washington should be that kind of glittering event where the whole talk is about Cristal champagne, taking over the Italian Embassy, who had the best party, who got to meet the most people.
"If there's ever an event that separates the press from the people they're supposed to be serving, symbolically, it is that one." he added.
“I think that the Washington press corps has to look at that, and by the way, I'm a charter member of the White House Correspondents Association, I was there early on and often enjoyed it, but it's gone beyond what it needs to be,” Brokaw stated.
Fellow members of the press weighed in on Brokaw’s comments the following day.
Fox News White House Correspondent Ed Henry noted on the radio show 'Kilmeade and Friends' on Monday that the event also raises money for journalism scholarships.
I do think that there are challenges that sometimes it looks like too much like a celebrity, you know, fest, and we’ve got to make sure that that doesn’t overshadow it. But he also should acknowledge that we give a lot of money. We’re a non-profit. We give a lot of money to needy students who are the next generation of journalists. So there’s a balance there.
Film critic Richard Roeper, meanwhile, responded to Brokaw with a resounding “Amen” in a column in the Chicago Sun-Times. The dinner, he wrote, has turned into “one of the most embarrassing events of the year for journalism.”
“When the Kardashians are on the guest list, the whole thing becomes a joke,” Roeper noted.
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Comments
Diminish the reputation of the attending journalists?
Submitted by The_Barrel_Guy on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 5:47pm.
Is it possible for a reputation to drop below zero?
Another lapdog headfake
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 5:53pm.
Trying to divert attention from what the real problem is, by making one up that can be minimized.
At the same time, he might think it's undignified; but he had his part in all the celebrity garbage/hype his clown show buddies have been slinging.
Wht Tommy is REALLY afraid of
Submitted by Cappmann1962 on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 1:56pm.
is that at these "events", the INCREDIBLY leftist media lets their hair down and REALLY show their bias (true feelings, in other words). When they behave as they usually do at this event, it gets harder and harder to find people gullible enough to buy into their "We're really middle-of-the-road, fair, balanced, and not biased towards conservatives at all" tripe.
Brokaw is many things, but stupid isn't one of them. He KNOWS what these carnival shows of his media brethren show the public they're constantly trying to bamboozle, and he sees the biased news outlets withering away as the public sees the blatant bias so clearly demonstrated on a daily basis. And he KNOWS they can't perpetuate the lies when they publicly and despicably trash everyone they don't like or who doesn't share their narrow view.
The decline of journalism
Submitted by Lakewood Ed on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 5:53pm.
The decline of journalism began many years ago with the beatification of television news readers. Now they consider themselves more important than their craft or the truth.
Oscars
Submitted by Joe W. on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:04pm.
It's become as asinine as the Academy Awards. They all gather to pat each other on the back and fawn all over one another and the politicos they are supposed to cover with an unbiased, critical point of view. But, then again, one can expect little else from such a disgraceful bunch as these ":so-called" professionals.
No, Tom
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:05pm.
A perception of the Press is what we had before the internet. What we have now is a window into the reality of what you have become. And that is a group of Leftist cheerleaders who will do and say anything to destroy any hint of the America that was the leader in the world, in all areas.
Astute assessment, Phil
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 7:44pm.
Brokaw is oblivious to this, of course. To him, the MSM was objective before the internet, and it's objective today. I've heard him argue that the MSM is more important than ever to check the proliferation of untrained, amateur information that passes for news.
He can't accept that the internet has exposed the bias of the MSM.
Even with this realistic Brokaw observation of the dinners, he's concerned about the image it holds for the public, and not the fact that it is representative of the industry as a whole. He works in a media which controls imagery, so he is disturbed that this dinner's image of glitter and chuminess is a loss of control of the image.
Hilarious
Submitted by sergeant stogie on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:06pm.
Does this dinosaur think anyone believes them anymore anyway? What damaged (normal) people's perception of the press is their actions throughout the year, not just this one night of idiocy.
He couldn't be more wrong
Submitted by BMorgan53 on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:27pm.
They, the MSM, damaged their own image when they began kissing Obama's black/white A$$.
Liberal media is part of the problem - betraying the solutions
Submitted by Slyrr on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:42pm.
(sarcasm) Gee - why in the world would a liberal media elitist think that images of other liberal elitists attending an orgy disguised as a State Dinner would 'give the wrong impression'? Why would the American people, who are in agony under this failed President and his toxic adminstration, possibly be mad at the sight of a bunch of Jurassic Park media dinosaurs hobnobbing with Hollywood celebrities and having a grand old time? Why would the American people, who are living in daily terror of losing their jobs under Obama's anti-business platform, possibly be disgusted at the sight of liberal millionaires swilling champagne and stuffing their faces with caviar bon-bons? /sarcasm
Brokow has a point (I
Submitted by celator on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:47pm.
Brokow has a point (I suppose), but the root cause of the public's low esteem of the MSM is that they lie, cover up, spin and contort the news to favor Obama, or any other lefty democrat in his/her re-election campaign. We figured that out a long time ago. We don't like political activists who pose as "journalists".
Brokaw and his fellow
Submitted by rbosque on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 6:54pm.
Brokaw and his fellow leftists are doing a fine job damaging their own craft all by themselves.
They stopped being reporters/journalists a long time ago.
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 8:31pm.
When they get the White House job, it's like getting the choice embassy assignments to Paris, London, Rome or other foreign cities in the Diplomatic Corps. They hop a notch on the celebrity list from C to A, and suddenly they become the elite they pretend not to be.
As for the WHCD damaging the press, Tom, it did that to itself long before you made that observation. It started with the fawning and willful non-reporting of all of the JFK scandals back in the day, if not before that. Reporters/journalists are self-destructive to the point where their delusions become reality and they won't budge from it. Or do the names Dan Rather and Jayson Blair mean nothing to Tom?
➚ Here's the deal
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 8:55pm.
Brokaw knows his messiah made an absolute fool of himself at that dinner. Somehow Americans ARE capable of evaluating the disgusting spectacle of the Commander-In-Chief poking fun of an operation that facilitated the deaths of more than 150 Mexicans and an American Border Agent. Some things should be treated with a high level of solemnity.
And though Americans have had a field day with Obama the Dog Eater, it's really bad when it comes from the guy who actually ate the dog.
Anybody believe the Secret Service is especially appreciative of this President's slam at them?
Brokaw really hates that Americans heard those jokes.
Wait! This just in!
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 05/07/2012 - 9:52pm.
Dinosaur farts caused not only the extinction of the dinosaurs, but global warming today.
Tom, don't worry about it
Submitted by chiefpayne on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 11:40am.
The reputation of the MSM has ALREADY been diminished to the point where people are LAUGHING at them now.
So go on...go eat and enjoy yourself...and reminisce about the days when news reporters actually INVESTIGATED and REPORTED the news instead of making it up to support the Democrat party.
Dear Tom Brokeback, The State Run Media Doesn't Employ..
Submitted by Motormouth KOS on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 12:46pm.
Actual "journalists" so who cares?
Your statement is as telling as anything I can say...
"If there's ever an event that separates the press from the people they're supposed to be serving, symbolically, it is that one." he added.
Hey Mumbles, the separation isn't SYMBOLIC, it's real! The SRM wants to be all hip and relevant. They believe this goal is achieved by taking the liberal viewpoint in the face of all data. The LOVE to rub elbows with the other, larger class of limousine libutards, the imbeciles from Hollywood.
These clowns in the SRM actually think they matter just like the libutards who infest Hollywood. This event must go on, Tommy. Because this is where all the nodding and winking happens between the SRM and Barry Obysmal's team. The SRM pretends to take him to task, while the fondle his nub under the table.
So, I implore you to keep it up. The utter arrogance is very entertaining.
The Obamination... A crisis leading to a catastrophe..(please donate to MRC)