Newsweek Editor Lets Cronkite's Son Argue Liberal Bias Is Just 'Open-Mindedness'
Newsweek editor Tina Brown published a huge chunk of a letter to the editor objecting to Howard Kurtz’s harsh take on Walter Cronkite. The letter writer? Cronkite’s son Chip. He merely repeated his father’s lame argument that “liberal” means “open-minded,” and isn’t that what a reporter should be?
“Admitting to a liberal philosophy (which he defined as something akin to open-mindedness), while adhering to a career, almost a calling, of the straightest, old-fashioned journalism? This is ‘linguistic hedging’?” Why yes, it is. “His liberal radio editorials were evidence of openness, no?” Why no, they’re not. Why publish hundreds of words of this?
Chip really doesn’t bring much more to the table than “I don’t know.”
Does reporting a proposed German trip indicate contempt for Goldwater? I don’t know.
Did he add another (not very influential, I wouldn’t think) voice for RFK to run? I don’t know.
Is a subsequent interview evidence of a quid pro quo? Maybe, but probably RFK would have been happy to give him an interview anyway.
Chip doesn't know why it might be biased to suggest great affinity between Goldwater and the Nazis of Bavaria (Daniel Schorr knew while he was unloading his slime bucket.) Chip doesn't know why it might seem unseemly to urge a liberal to run for president with the candy and cupcakes of your favorable publicity. In short, Chip doesn't know enough to deserve a letter in Newsweek magazine.
What was his father doing accepting free air travel from Pan Am? Oh, that wasn't Daddy's fault, either:
The free PanAm trips, as I recall, amounted to three. Perhaps that is three more than proper, perhaps not. His party consisted of just him, his wife, and his youngest child, still living at home (me). Other journalists along on the trips were Bob Considine, Art Buchwald, and Neal and Judith Morgan. I blame James Michener for instigating it all, anyway.
Kurtz's point was that Douglas Brinkley's new Cronkite biography shows that too many journalists want to just paint a legend and leave the reality behind. Chip wants to be in that number, and thinks Newsweek should be, too.
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Comments
A reporter should be skeptical, not "open-minded".
Submitted by frank14 on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 2:50pm.
He or she should just report "who, what, where, when and why", not inject their personal opinion and they shouldn't seek the favor of the rich and powerful. We have Walter and the Watergate boys to thanks for today's corrupt lib media.
Who, what, when, where
Submitted by Model850 on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 5:55pm.
I know tradition calls for "the five Ws" in stories but I could argue for dropping the "why" except in cases of reports on criminal activities where the motive is known.
"Why" just leaves itself too open for editorializing, ascribing motive where none is evident. In other words, inserting ones opinion into the story. You addressed that by stating a reporter should "not inject their personal opinion." I'm just saying that if the "why" is omitted from the report it makes it more difficult for the reporter's opinion to find its way into the story.
Open that is unless it is
Submitted by pilgrim4jc on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 2:51pm.
Open that is unless it is talking about
Christianity
Tradition marriage
Taxes
Parent's rights
Etc...
To be open minded means to
Submitted by MrSnuggles on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 4:23pm.
To be open minded means to have no principles or core beliefs, but also means detesting those of us that do.
Open minded
Submitted by peteydee on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 2:55pm.
In other words, nothing to contain the crap that flows out from the cranium.
Open-Mindedness or Open-Mindless
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 3:11pm.
Yes, liberals, we already know that you don't mind continuing your openly biased reporting.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
open-mindedness?!
Submitted by Dr. Ron on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 3:15pm.
Oh, Chip must have confused open-mindedness with empty-headedness.Understandable mistake when the air in your head needs changing.
What an unsufferable lightweight! The next original...or, any other...thought thathe has will be his first.
Most media do leave reality
Submitted by merly1 on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 3:20pm.
Most media do leave reality behind. End of story.
"Open-mindedness" = brains
Submitted by rbosque on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 3:54pm.
"Open-mindedness" = brains fell out of their thick skulls.
They're so open minded every
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 4:13pm.
They're so open minded every position they don't agree with goes in one ear and out the other.
typical liberal
Submitted by ohio granny on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 5:32pm.
Typical liberal. Open minded as long as everyone agrees with you. Not so much when challenged.
Liberal Openmindedness
Submitted by Netstatter on Sat, 06/02/2012 - 10:04pm.
What a lot of years of living on this planet has taught me about Liberals (and alas, I used to be one) is that Liberals like to be open-minded, but not too open, and not too often.
Cronkite was indeed open minded...
Submitted by Jim54 on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 7:57am.
He could open his mind to any unfavorable view of America as founded and accept it.
Open Minded? I've heard it all now.
Submitted by Dan In SC on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 8:54am.
"Open minded?"
You mean the way they are "open minded" about how Obama might not be a natural born citizen?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about how Obama might have ties to anti-American terrorists and communists?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about how Obama might not have been super-intelligent given the fact he refuses to release his college records?
You mean the way the are "open minded" about teaching both intelligent design and evolution in our schools?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about giving parents more choices in where to send their kids via a school voucher program?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about allowing the public display of Christianity?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about allowing for more domestic drilling of fossil fuels?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about the fact that our federal government is too big and is spending our kids futures away?
You mean the way they are "open minded" about how it might better to have a patriotic American-loving conservative in the White House instead of an America-hating far left-wing Marxist?
These people are full nothing but hate & derisiveness. Try to discuss anything that goes against their liberal orthodoxy and you'll see just how "open minded" they are. They are the antithesis of "open minded."
And,
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 2:03pm.
My parrot wears Prada.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
They're soooo open-minded;
Submitted by mattm on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 4:14pm.
They're soooo open-minded; they provide a forum for all points of view (except those they disagree with).