The News Cycle
Jon Stewart: Why does it seem like so many things happen that the media says later on that they should have, perhaps, questioned?
Irving Lance, reporter for United News Press: I think it’s because things happen so fast that it becomes difficult to distinguish what’s run-of-the-mill and what’s investigation-worthy. We’re privy to a lot of information and those “red flags” so many people talk about don’t pop up by themselves.
Stewart: That’s true. So, what does the … how does the media change that? How does it become less distracted by non-issues?
Lance: We, in the media, have to do a better job of filtering information on the spot. Each news organization has to figure out how best to do that, but it needs to be done.
[Days later, in the White House Press Room]
Reporter: Mr. McClellan, so many of the terror alerts by Tom Ridge have no specifics for the alleged terror plot: no specific time, no specific place, and no specific instruments. Virtually none of the alerts actually give citizens guidance as to what they should do, other than buy stuff. By what standard was urgency placed on this alert?
Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary: In the post-9-11 world, all previous standards are out the window. The intelligence acquisition itself caused enough concern that, for America’s safety, we needed to give Americans a warning. Remember, terrorists are bad; they don’t give us all the information we’d like.
Reporter: Follow up -- The vagueness of the alerts along the timing of the alerts, just after John Kerry announced John Edwards as his running mate and then just after the Democratic convention, could suggest publicity stunts. How do you answer those who would suggest this administration has used this and other terror alerts as a means of distraction when other news isn’t positive for the Bush administration?
McClellan: Look, everyone! A shiny new nickel!
[That evening on CNN]
Paula Zahn: We’re here to discuss the Nickel Controversy. We have with us two of our regular contributors: Mindy Warnes, Democratic strategist, and Mike Hilbrandt, former Republican congressman from Missouri. Thank you both for joining us. Mike, just how shiny is that nickel?
Hilbrandt: Very shiny, Paula. I have to say that I’ve seen a lot of nickels in my day, but I’ve rarely seen a nickel as shiny as this one. It would be logical to assume that this shiny nickel is a result of the Bush economic policy and tax cuts. They’ve been just what the country needed to produce more shiny nickels for hard-working Americas to earn and spend!
Warnes: That’s ridiculous. Yes, the nickel is kind of shiny, but that’s only because the rich have been able to hoard them as the poor toil away with lower wages and reduced benefits. That nickel IS the tax cut for millions of Americans.
Zahn: To be continued. Mindy, Mike, thank you.
[Meanwhile, on Fox News Channel]
Bill O’Reilly: C’mon, Big Murray! Get serious! Do you mean to tell me that you don’t believe the nickel the greatest of all American currency?
Big Murray – comedian/actor/activist: It’s okay. But I’d take a dollar bill over a nickel any day.
O’Reilly: Shut up!
Big Murray: Or a fiver.
O’Reilly: Shut up!
Big Murray: Or a ten-spot.
O’Reilly: SHUT UP!
Big Murray: Twenties are nice, too.
O’Reilly: Turn off his microphone!
[Later on CNBC]
Dennis Miller: Christine Bulworth, you’re an expert on American currency. What are some unique attributes of some nickels you’ve seen?
Bulworth: Well, if you’ll look at this one, you’ll see that it has a ribbon around the flowers and a Roman numeral “V” instead of a “5” on the back.
Miller: Wow. I have to say, not since Chad Kroeger crooned “Someday” have I been this impressed by a Nickelback.
[Taped earlier; aired later on Comedy Central]
Colin Quinn: Let me tell you something. Don’t you think … Nickels are … Haven’t you even seen it when … Look … I mean … Don’t you think … The bottom line is … Yeah, these people who always say bad things about America. Can’t they even give a nickel a break? Don’t you think … Bah!
[On C-Span]
Ralph Nader: This is just the kind of thing with which the Republicans are trying to trick us. And, of course, the spineless Democrats help them along by not questioning anything. Really, it’s the [word I don’t understand] of the [word I don’t understand] wherein lies the deceptions and bamboozlement of the American people. This is what happens when you’re a victim of a two party duopoly we have with the Republicrats. It’s un-American. Even the average 3rd grader understands that our country’s founders wanted a [word I don’t understand] [word I don’t understand] for [word I don’t understand]! We must unite in November and defeat these conniving slight-of-handers. I’ve set up a web site supporters can go to. Americadoesnotreallycareaboutnickelsthatmuch dot o-r-g.
[Weeks later on Comedy Central]
Jon Stewart: Why does it seem like so many things happen that the media says later on that they should have, perhaps, questioned?
Lisa Perkins, reporter for ABC News: I think it’s because things happen so fast that it becomes difficult to distinguish what’s run-of-the-mill and what’s investigation-worthy. We’re privy to a lot of information and those “red flags” so many people talk about don’t pop up by themselves.
Stewart: That’s true. So, what does the … how does the media change that? How does it become less distracted by non-issues?
Perkins: We, in the media, have to do a better job of filtering information on the spot. Each news organization has to figure out how best to do that, but it needs to be done.
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not neccessarily reflect those of the rest of the family.
© 2004, Mark Wentz