AP asks Did TV news miss point in covering stimulus plan? Only 6% of guests actually economists

[sabra]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8sozbn2pMccoMRiDMLfryfoeADgD96H2QR00

Did TV news miss point in covering stimulus plan?


NEW YORK (AP) — There were plenty of familiar faces on-screen during TV coverage of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan, people like James Carville, Laura Ingraham, Karl Rove, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Joe Trippi and Dick Morris.

What it lacked, some critics suggest, were people with real expertise in what the $787 billion plan will mean for the economy and for communities and individuals. In short, it was treated like just another political battle.

Of the 681 people who appeared as guests on a dozen cable news and four network Sunday morning talk shows in the three weeks that ended last Sunday, only 41, or 6 percent, were economists, said the liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America.

That count alone indicates a lack of effort in tracking down what was most important about the story, said Erikka Knuti, the organization's spokeswoman.

"Hearing whether or not this package is going to work is more important than who has the snappiest quip," she said.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Wow! The AP did something right?!

[LynnTheDem]

2. So what's your answer, AP? Is 6% of real economists "missing the point" or not?

Oh wait, you'd rather take dictation -tossing in "some critics" and "liberal media" mantras- than actually doing any journalism.

So much easier to just take dictation, isn't it.





It'll get even easier when "media" in the US dies out altogether, MFers.

[brianna69]

3. The TV coverage of the stimulus package

has been a total disgrace. Lots of pundits and repugs on TV 24/7 ranting and spreading falsehoods that were never corrected. Gone are the days when news people felt the need to present the truth and what is factual. All we see on cable TV is what makes for TV ratings, the truth be damned. No wonder Obama disdainfully refers to it as "cable chatter". Our so called press and so called journalists are a freaking joke. Compare BBC to the trash we see on CNN, MSNBC and Fox news on a daily basis.

[harun]

8. Agree, coverage I see is all "Obama's" stimulous and how it won't work.

[high density]

4. AP is drowning and now clawing for the surface in an attempt to stay relevant

Their "ANALYSIS" reports that often clog up their news wire are just as useless as these talking heads on TV.

I don't know why the AP would suddenly note Media Matters' coverage on this specific matter now. This sort of lame excuse for journalism where you just brainlessly air the "left side" followed by a comment by the "right side" has been going on for decades.

[Lorien]

5. Off to the greatest with you!

The media needs to be held to a higher standard.

[Hello_Kitty]

6. Be careful what you wish for

Economists tend to go into far too much detail and over people's heads. Explaining complex topics in a way that laypeople understand is a skill unto itself.

[jwirr]

7. When this baby goes down the media better be warned we will hold

them accountable. They have been cheer leading this mess since RR was elected in the 80s. They are supposed to investigate the stories for the truth but instead they have for far too long just fed us the line a day talking points. They are as much to blame for this mess as is *ss & co.