> ------------------------------------------ > FAIR-L > Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting > Media analysis, critiques and news reports > ------------------------------------------ > > > > > "MR. ANCHORMAN, HAVE YOU EVER COMMITTED ADULTERY?" > > by Jeff Cohen (Baltimore Sun, Feb. 8) > > > In recent years, mainstream news outlets have found it increasingly > acceptable to explore the private lives of public officials. The > stated or implied rationale is that the American people, in judging > the "character" of a politician, have a right to know if that official > has engaged in extramarital affairs. Often, the "character issue" has > become a media code word for marital infidelity. > > Even though polls indicate that Americans believe the mass media now > go too far in investigating the intimate behavior of politicians, > little seems to slow down sex-hunting journalists, especially those on > network TV and "all-news" cable channels. > > Maybe there's only one way to get these journalists to rethink their > actions: turn the tables on them. Perhaps it's necessary to vividly > demonstrate to top news media personalities - some of whom arguably > wield as much power as the politicians they cover - what it feels like > to be on the receiving end of persistent questions about their private > lives. > > So the next time you see a prominent TV journalist like Tom Brokaw or > Peter Jennings or Dan Rather at a public lecture or on a call-in talk > show, politely ask them if they've ever committed adultery. > > If they react by saying that such information is none of your > business, you can tell them in self-righteous tones that the American > public has a right to judge the "character" of journalists who have > vast power to influence millions of people. > > If you get a forthright denial, don't stop there -- especially if > you've seen any kind of a rumor of extramarital relations on the > Internet or a supermarket tabloid. Rephrase your query (this time you > might mention oral sex) and point out that your question "is not about > sex, it's about integrity and whether the American people can trust > you to tell them the whole truth." > > If you get a denial that's hesitant or hedged, be prepared with a > series of follow-up questions - even if you feel embarrassed. In > fact, like a TV news anchor, admit your embarrassment as you proceed > to ask "these difficult questions." More importantly, see a hedged > denial as your sign to do more investigating, dig up old news or > gossip and be ready to challenge this journalist's character the next > chance you can. > > In the real world, most Americans would feel squeamish asking such > questions, even if it's just to prove a point about media overkill. > > Unfortunately, journalists at top news outlets have been anything but > squeamish lately. It seems likely that well-known correspondents, > pundits and anchors would begin to think twice about personal queries > if they found themselves on the receiving end. Some questions are > easier to ask than to answer. > ____________________________________________________________ > Jeff Cohen is the director of FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), > a national media watch group, and co-author of "Wizards of Media > Oz.". > > > To subscribe to FAIR-L send a "subscribe FAIR-L your full name" command > to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > You may leave the list at any time by sending a "SIGNOFF FAIR-L" > command to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Please become a member of FAIR. > You will receive FAIR's magazine, EXTRA! and its newsletter, EXTRA! > Update. You can become a member by calling 1-800-847-3993 from 9 to > 5 Eastern Time (be sure to tell them you got the information > on-line) or by sending $19 to: > > FAIR/EXTRA! Subscription Service > P.O. Box 170 > Congers, NY 10920-9930 > > > FAIR > (212) 633-6700 > http://www.fair.org/ > > > > >
