I have no sympathy for ABC News correspondent David Wright after he was suspended by his network for comments he made to a Project Veritas investigator. Bold, underlined text is my emphasis.
ABC News has suspended veteran Washington correspondent David Wright for remarks he made that were captured on video by Project Veritas.
Wright was disciplined after higher-ups at ABC News reviewed footage in which Wright describes himself as a "socialist" and appears to criticize the network for the way in which it chooses to present the news.
“I feel terrible about it. I feel that the truth suffers, the voters are poorly informed, and people also have the opportunity to tune into whatever they want to hear,” Wright said in the video, which also features an ABC News producer.
“And so, it’s like there’s no upside, or our bosses don’t see an upside in doing the job we’re supposed to do, which is to speak truth to power and hold people accountable.”
There's more at the link.
The arrogance of those statements is astonishing. Think about it. "The job we're supposed to do ... is to speak truth to power and hold people accountable." No, it isn't. You're a bloody journalist! Your job is to report the news, not comment on it or give us your opinion of it! If the latter was your job, you'd be a commenter or an opinion/editorial writer - neither of which are reporters' positions or functions. As for "people [having] the opportunity to tune into whatever they want to hear," that's precisely what we should have. You don't get to tell us what you want us to tune into and/or hear, much less insist that we do so!
Sadly, it appears that a great many other so-called "journalists" hold similar views. Project Veritas has uncovered some of them in its previous videos. Kudos to the organization for making it clear, over and over again, that the mainstream news media is staffed and served by people pushing their own agendas, rather than impartial reporters of news as it happens. Nowadays, if anyone were to introduce themselves to me as a journalist, I'd instantly classify them as unworthy of trust unless and until proven otherwise. It's gotten that bad.
As for ABC News, along with CNN and most other mainstream TV news stations and networks . . . well, the less said about them, the better. I'll go elsewhere if I want to know what's really happening in the world.
Peter
It gets bad when Pravda is a BETTER source than US media... sigh
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has dealt with the media in reference to reenactment groups and renfaires and in cop-ish affairs, my take on journalists is they have the story already written before any interview, and look to fill in talking points.
ReplyDeleteAlways assume that you'll be misquoted, misrepresented and always presented in the worst possible light. Because that's what even the 'best' reporter does. What the 'worst' due to the truth, well, most journalists liked the Soviet Union, Communist China, Communist Cuba, Communist insurgents everywhere.
So seeing a 'journalist' at a major network come out as socialist? He's being removed because he openly stated it. Most other journalists? Socialists and fellow travelers all. Crime here? Letting the mundanes know.
Reporters report. Journalists journal. There is a difference.
ReplyDeletePeter,
ReplyDeleteI will respectfully disagree with you on their "job".
Every media company exists to do one thing, and that is to make and increase their market-share and profit by selling a product. All of them, without exception, are selling a product, and one that is no different than any other product. They know their customer base, and they promote brand loyalty.
It is only a clever sleight-of-hand (and by the willing naivete of their customers) that they have wrapped their product in constitutional protections that very few other products enjoy.
Expecting truth or objectivity from any "journalist" or media company is akin to strolling onto the Brand X automobile company sales lot and then asking the salesman what brand is best.
Trust a journalist? I would Rather not.
Leftist journalist fired for complaining that his left-wing network wasn't far enough to the Left.
ReplyDeleteThink about that, and contemplate how far to the left Progressive politics has gotten.
The falling standards complaint about reporters and journalism has been ongoing all my adult life.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to know what's going on you have to do more than just listen or read commercial news, and even then you'll have to face the fact that the truth may be out there, but is sure ain't easy to find.
Bah. A pox on all their houses....
ReplyDelete