How better for cable news-talk channels to end the year than by re-overdoing what they outlandishly — in truth, maliciously — way overdid before. We’re referring, of course, to recapping the year’s big stories, big gaffes, etc., by generously replaying Howard Dean’s so-called scream.
To its discredit, CNN seemed to exceed Fox News Channel in this travesty, lowering our regard for CNN and Wolf Blitzer to near-irreparable status.
Blogforamerica.com has an excellent retrospective on this outrage, “Media flashback: The Scream,” by Liz Herbert, editorial director of Rapid Response Network. The whole thing’s well worth your reading time, but at least consider this:
“There’s still a back story here that’s been missed. Dean supporters across the country, armed with videotape, writing letters til their fingers went numb, not willing to let a misinterpretation of the Governor’s speech stand, get credit for a rare media mea culpa. Diane Sawyer aired the tape from the crowd’s perspective, providing the missing context of the speech:
“Reena Singh, ABC News Dean campaign reporter: ‘What the cameras didn’t capture was the crowd.’
“Garance Franke-Ruta, Senior Editor, American Prospect: ‘As he spoke, the audience got louder and louder and I found it somewhat difficult to hear him.’
“Dean’s boisterous countdown of the upcoming primaries as we all heard it on TV was isolated, when in fact he was shouting over the roaring crowd.
“And what about the scream as we all heard it? In the room, the so-called scream couldn’t really be heard at all. Again, he was yelling along with the crowd.
“Neal Gabler, Senior Fellow, Lear Center USA: ‘When you’re talking about visuals, context is everything. So, you’ve got a situation in which you have what I’d call the televised version of reality, which is not the same as the actual reality in room. You know in a situation like this, no one takes responsibility.’
“. . . and asked the major networks to assess their coverage:
“CBS News: ‘Individually we may feel okay about our network, but the cumulative effect for viewers with 24-hour cable coverage is  it may have been overplayed and, in fact, a disservice to Dean and the viewers.’  Andrew Heyward, president, CBS News.
“ABC News: ‘It’s always a danger that we’ll use good video too much.’  David Westin, president, ABC News .
“CNN: ‘We’ve all been wrestling with this. If we had it to do over again, we’d probably pull ourselves back.’  Princell Hair, general manager, CNN.
“Fox News: ‘It got overplayed a bit, and the public clearly thought that, too, and kept him alive for another round.’  Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO, Fox News.
After doing terrible, grossly misleading and unfair damage to the personal and political reputation of a man who had fought his way from obscurity to being a credible contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, that’s all those high-level, well-paid broadcast and cable “news” executives could say. Given the end-of-year replays, Hair’s statement comes off as especially disingenuous.
Add the obvious, insufferable lameness of their statements to what they ought to be ashamed of. Not that they exhibit evidence of the kind of intellect and integrity necessary to muster genuine feelings of shame.
Make no mistake: these are not simply third-raters proving once again the validity of The Peter Principle. These are political players masquerading as impartial journalists. What they air should be viewed, very skeptically, with that in mind.
Yeah they are lame. But more than a political agenda it’s about ratings cos that’s where the money is.