The Night TV Journalism Died
Television journalism died last night in the wake of Barack Obama’s transcendent address to the Democratic National Committee. Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews, anchors of MSNBC’s coverage of the convention, had trouble throughout the week containing their obsequious support for Obama, but Thursday night, they just stopped trying to and let it all go.
The following exchange is most telling. Olbermann: “I’d love to find something to criticize about it. You got anything?” Matthews: “No.” Hey guys, it’s your job, if not your journalistic obligation, to criticize it. Yes, it was a great piece of oratory, delivered well in a spectacular setting on a historic night, but was it beyond any debate or discussion? Apparently on MSNBC it was. Tim Russert must be spinning in his grave.
I have a feeling that their decision to place their “anchor desk” in front of a vocal mob of about 500 hardcore Democrats outside the stadium exacerbated the situation. The level to which they played to the crowd was appalling, building up their “analysis” into very intentional applause lines and cheer-seeking crescendos. And worse, they often paused and basked in the adoring din. I mean, even the guys on ESPN’s “College GameDay” don’t pander to a live crowd in this way. They really should have just gone all the way and broken out pompoms.
It will be interesting to see whether MSNBC pulls the reigns in on Olbermann and Matthews for their coverage of next week’s Republican National Convention. That’s assuming they’ve caught their breath by then.
Update: Apparently, the muckety-mucks at MSNBC not only pulled in the reigns for the RNC coverage, leaving Olbermann in New York for the week, they now have effectively pulled the plug on the “anchor team” of Olbermann and Matthews entirely.
See also:
Archives
