New TV Idea

[searchingforlight]

Instead of "Meet the Press" we need a program called "Meet the People" where we can invite the top press in all fields to be in the hot seat and take our questions.

Has anyone examined, in depth, Bush's national guard stint and if not, why not?

What is the story behind the misuse of a 1997 law that landed a 20 year-old boy, who simply had a link on his website, in prison for one year and requires him to not be involved in ANY group that wants to change the government?

Why can't the Red Cross get Iraqi civilian casualty reports from the occupational forces and why aren't the killing of innocent Iraqis being reported to command?

I believe this would be the answer to the right-wing media control because it would be putting the press on the line (America's favorite whipping boy) and giving us the opportunity to ask the questions we want answered.

We could even give them assignments to investigate before they come on the show so that they (and we) could have our facts lined up. We could follow their reports up with question and answer sessions.

[w13rd0]

1. I like your idea...

...but who would select "the people"? Would the 70% that think Saddam and 911 are linked be proportionately represented? Would 29% of the questions be along the lines of "How has your faith helped you to steel yourself for the necessary task of completing this Crusade?"

[searchingforlight]

2. The press people would change from week to week .

To be fair we would invite press from all sides including one each week from world news media. (BBC, the Guardian, Al-Jazeera) All subjects would have to be hard news although not necessarily new news. News that had skated through the fast moving pace of the last several years would still be relevant. Subjective subjects such as personal opinion, etc. would not be part of the accepted forum.

[T Bone]

4. Just the facts

that have been left out and glossed over. Good idea brigadoon.

Here is a known fact. How was it covered or glossed? Is anyone following up on it. There could even be follow ups on the follow up.

BTW, brig, can you give us a link about the kid and his website/political suppression?

Maybe there should be a random, drawn from the hat selection of people to ask the press questions.

I see this as an ombudsman approach, is that what you are getting at as well ? Maybe first get every media center to appoint and ombudsman, and then have the various ombudsmen on the panels?

[searchingforlight]

5. I am trying to find the link.

It would have been in a California newspaper and I can't remember whether it was in the general news or on DU. I will try to post it when I find it.

This is just a budding idea that I had and I am really open to any thoughts that others have about it.

I think this would be reality/people involved T.V. at it's best and I believe that eventually the press would be asking to come on the show for the exposure and for the opportunity to prove their fairness and investigative abilities.


www.democracynow.org/print.pl?sid=03/09/03/1442239

[Nevernose]

3. With the right person running the show

that would work well. Imagine, say, Hannity asking questions of the press during Clinton's term:

"And why haven't the mainstream press been covering Clinton's standing orders to the Arkansas Highway Patrol to assassinate anyone with information regarding his misconduct?"

And most journalists of the mainstream press:
"Uhhh, because it didn't happen? What the hell are you talking about, Sean?"

One thing I've learned from Al Franken is how wingnut journalism works. They rarely tell the truth, and they never play on an even field. A "Meet the People" could help alleviate that if it were done in the right way.