Interesting piece in the Nation about how to fix The CBS Evening News in the wake of Katie Couric’s spectacular failure. The article suggests returning to the ‘less objectivity, more analysis’ format pioneered by the greatest TV journalist ever- Edward R. Murrow.
I agree with this prescription. In today’s media wasteland, ‘objectivity’ is used to demand the presentation of weak or incorrect arguments- like, say, the entire Bush presidency- in the name of ‘balance’. Murrow understood that there were two sides to every story, and one was usually wrong. That’s what made his broadcasts so powerful. This isn’t ‘bias’- it is evaluating on argument on its merit.
And who would the Nation have step into Murrow’s shoes? Why, Keith Olbermann of course. And I heartily second that nomination.
