Couric: ‘Not My Job’ To Critically Report On Iraq

[Canuckistanian]

Couric: ‘Not My Job’ To Critically Report On Iraq, ‘Unless Something Is Really Egregious’

Recently, CBS anchor Katie Couric traveled to the Middle East for a “heavily promoted week in the war zone,” reporting the situation on the ground from Iraq. Her reporting was superficial and uncritical, airing several “puff pieces” mouthing Bush administration talking points.

This week, Couric spoke at the National Press Club with host Marvin Kalb to discuss “Democracy and the Press.” Couric explained that her goal in Iraq was to appear neutral and avoid “a Walter Cronkite moment,” as she put it:

Is it my job to go over and say this war is terrible and withdrawal is necessary? I don’t necessarily think that is the case. … I don’t necessarily feel that (I should pass judgment) unless there is a clear cut factual element to it. … I have never really saw it as my role, unless something is really egregious and without question wrong.

Kalb rebutted Couric’s assertions, charging that she offered only neutered judgments about the status on the ground and missed an opportunity to critically assess the situation in Iraq:

You offered only one judgment about the war. And you cushioned that by the way. You said, “There are definitely areas where the situation is improving.” Fine. But you then asked nine questions, nine important questions about Iraq. But you didn’t even make an effort to answer them. … You have been there. You’re an anchor every night. You’ve seen the material that flows into you. Surely on some of those nine issues, you must have had a strong feeling.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/28/couric-on-iraq/

[wtmusic]

1. Of course not. It's her job to uncritically cheerlead for her parent company

GE. But we knew that.

[OzarkDem]

2. Yeah that Walter Cronkite was such a *poor* journalist

So is Katie saying she justifies avoiding the truth about Iraq so she can be less like Walter Cronkite?

[Solly Mack]

3. lol she's such a loser

[RT Atlanta]

4. what?

Deep down (perhaps not that deep) she must really miss the co-host seat beside Matt in the mornings.

[JitterbugPerfume]

5. how nice

that she compares her incompetent self to Cronkite

[TlalocW]

6. Another thing she's avoiding

Is going down in history as a good journalist like Walter Cronkite. After both she and Walter have shuffled off this mortal coil, she'll be a footnote - if that. No classes of journalism will talk about any of her accomplishments/achievements since she won't have any.

TlalocW

[Cha]

7. gawd damn straight...

couric's job is to do the bidding of les moonves and sumner redstone and she better not forget it or she'll get Rathered.

[lordsummerisle]

8. Yeah, her main job is to be perky n/t

[charlie]

9. And that, folks

is precisely why she gets paid the big bucks.

After she's gone, they'll probably stop dicking around and reanimate Max Headroom. He'll say what they want to hear and do it for free.

[calimary]

10. And that's why your ratings are so sucky, Gidget dear.

Because even though you've been gone from the Today Show for awhile now, people still know you mainly deal in fluff. Perky fluff.

It's really discouraging. I had high hopes for her once.

With people like her, I find myself thinking "SURELY by now you have enough money squirreled away, with the kind of contracts and paychecks you've scored through the years. SURELY you no longer have to continue to play somebody's high-priced whore. SURELY you've got enough millions in the bank that you can afford to stick your neck out. And if they fire you because you told the truth, you'll STILL have all those millions in the bank - enough to live like a queen for the rest of your days and still leave a fortune behind for your daughters. And you can STILL write op/ed pieces and keep yourself in the limelight. SURELY by now you've socked enough away that you don't need the paycheck anymore and you can afford to take a risk - for THE TRUTH. Surely, katie?"

Just ONCE, people, SOMEBODY in the mainstream - TELL THE TRUTH!!!

[Yukari Yakumo]

18. Katie: Expensive Failure

Because even though you've been gone from the Today Show for awhile now, people still know you mainly deal in fluff. Perky fluff.

It's really discouraging. I had high hopes for her once.

With people like her, I find myself thinking "SURELY by now you have enough money squirreled away, with the kind of contracts and paychecks you've scored through the years. SURELY you no longer have to continue to play somebody's high-priced whore. SURELY you've got enough millions in the bank that you can afford to stick your neck out. And if they fire you because you told the truth, you'll STILL have all those millions in the bank - enough to live like a queen for the rest of your days and still leave a fortune behind for your daughters. And you can STILL write op/ed pieces and keep yourself in the limelight. SURELY by now you've socked enough away that you don't need the paycheck anymore and you can afford to take a risk - for THE TRUTH. Surely, katie?"

Just ONCE, people, SOMEBODY in the mainstream - TELL THE TRUTH!!!

QFT

If she's still employed by the time '08 rolls around, it only proves CBS does not know how to run its news division.

Hopefully, Dan will embarrass the fuck out of CBS news.

[BootinUp]

11. at least she admits her poor journalism

I'll give 1 point out of 10 for that.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. At least she is honest about her role as stenographer.

Others would lie and claim that they had at least gone through the motions of critical analysis of the bullshit they were regurgitating. Kouric actually did engage in real journalism before her Today Show career, it seems she forgot anything she knew about that.

[kickysnana]

14. Window Dressing /Propaganda reader n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

13. So, it's bad when FOX adds opinion to 'news', & bad when Couric doesn't?

Some people need to make up their minds...
I want news reported objectively, without O'spinions.
I'll form my opinions from the facts, thank you.

[BlooInBloo]

15. Yup. That's why they should fire her and hire someone for whom it IS their job.

[Reciprocity]

16. "avoid “a Walter Cronkite moment,” As a non-journalist......

she wouldn't know how to have a Cronkite moment.

[Rosemary2205]

17. She's right.

I don't watch her but IMHO good journalism (and I don't know if Couric could ever be accused of good journalism) is to supply as much of the full spectrum of actual facts (in context) as possible and then let the reader/viewer make up their own mind.


Edit to add "in context" to more accurately reflect my view because "facts" out of context is generally propaganda not journalism.

[tanyev]

19. Hells bells. How egregious does it have to be, cupcake?

"I have never really saw it" :eyes:

[Disturbed]

20. Katie & Dana are interchangeable.

They could switch jobs.

[nashville_brook]

21. she wanted to avoid a Dan Rather moment -- CBS doesn't tolerate critical thinking or reporting