If I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it!

April 23rd, 2008 by Ray Martino

Is anyone else sick and tired of the trend in TV journalism to substitute “analysts” and “news consultants” for real reporters? Turn on CNN almost anytime and you’ll see a gaggle of “experts” talking over each other and offering opinions on just about everything trivial. Was Hillary’s reference to the Saturday Night Live sketch on her “misstatement” about sniper fire in Bosnia harmful to her chances in Pennsylvania? I listened the other night to a gaggle of talking heads debate this heady topic until I couldn’t take it any more.

Print journalism, while still my preferred source for news and information, is following the trend as well. Opinions traditionally were confined to the editorial and op ed pages. Nowadays news analyses pepper every section.

Last night’s Democratic primary coverage was almost unbearable. Here’s some of the drivel:

“If Clinton wins by more than 10 points,” decreed CNN‘s Bill Schneider, “her campaign will have new momentum and she will soldier on.”

“At least 10 percentage points,” the Los Angeles Times concurred, citing unnamed superdelegates.

Even foreigners wanted in on the game. Britain’s Guardian newspaper said Clinton “needs to win by a margin of 10 percent or more.”

Dan Balz, The Post’s magnanimous chief political writer, suggested alternatives. “Some say Clinton needs to win by 10 points,” he wrote. “Others say eight points. “Some say … anything over five points would be a respectable victory.”

When I watch a baseball game on TV, I don’t mind David Cone analyzing Mariano Rivera’s cutter. But that’s sports, which is entertainment. News is a different matter.

I prefer to read, hear, and see the facts presented in a relatively objective manner. Then, I’d like to form my own opinions.

This entry was posted by Ray Martino on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 and is filed under News, Political Marketing, Rants and Raves, TV. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.