For reporting that is an embarrassment to the profession
of journalism, and for being beholden to corporate paymasters rather than
the citizens of America.
Many people tend to give the anchors of the corporate
media a free pass because they seem so credible, smooth, and non-partisan.
But appearances can be enormously deceiving. After all, broadcast newscasts
are really composed of factoids -- true or untrue -- packaged in the wrapping
paper of entertainment. Anchors are chosen for their high ratings in focus
groups, not for their excellence in journalism. You might say that when television
executives pick an "anchor," the highest consideration is "show
me the money" (as in potential ad revenue through high ratings).
Brian Williams comes across as handsome, urbane, and eminently charming.
He's a favorite of Jon Stewart (right up there with John McCain. Yes, as
much as we consider Stewart a hero for our times, he gives plenty of objectionable
people a free pass if they make good television. He chooses his targets sparingly.)
Yet, Williams is the ultimate corporate spokesman. Remember Ronald Reagan
got his start shilling for General Electric, and let's not forget that GE
owns NBC, for which Williams is the lead news "personality" --
and reportedly paid $8 million a year.
BuzzFlash reader Larry Thompson nominated Williams for the following reason:
Both he and Russert trying their hardest to get Americans to
read John McCain's book so we may "really understand and get to know the
real McCain." The corporate media is soooo afraid of Obama running away
to a landslide win that they are already starting early in their subtle bias
to McCain. They don't want the people to rally behind Obama and join a "movement" they
are going to start pushing McCain. But in my opinion the train has left
the station and I think they see this and it really, really bothers them.
But that is in some ways the least of Williams journalistic sins. Most
recently, he brushed
off accusations that the corporate networks knowingly
used Pentagon
shills as alleged "neutral" experts on the Iraq War. And Williams
has joined the chorus of millionaire "news readers" who thinks
that the mainstream television stations did a decent job covering the lead-up
and follow-up to the Iraq War.
Like Reagan, Williams is just selling us a perspective through which to
see the news. He is, with his good looks and pre-packaged "commentary," framing
the way in which we see current events to correspond to the D.C. insider-status
quo perspective.
After all isn't the GE/NBC corporate relationship with the D.C. government
contractors, K Street lobbyists, and regulators the very military-industrial
complex that Eisenhower warned us against, with a fully incorporated propaganda
component?
So, give Williams a pass if you want. He's perfectly pleasant to watch and
he kind of has that Pierce Brosnan suaveness.
Just remember, it's all a sales job.
But it's one thing to be peddling electrical products -- as Reagan did --
and another to be disseminating White House and Republican talking points
as fact. The latter is a betrayal of basic civic responsibility.
And for that reason alone, Brian Williams is the BuzzFlash Media Putz of
the Week.
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