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lionel-mandrake
11/12/09

In reply to Does John King Hate Mexicans Enough to Fill Lou Dobbs' Shoes?
Ummm, there's a difference between an attitude of impartiality (I said attitude, not reality) and the kind of insipid, myopic, opinion poll-obsessed, non-analytical, 24-Hour news-cycle-mongering crap that CNN pedals. Of which John King is, well, the King.

That, my friends, is why CNN is unwatchable these days. They can't take a stand or offer in-depth analysis of any kind whatsoever. If Satan himself crawled out of a flaming pit of brimstone in the middle of Times Square, they'd get a panel of pundits on to discuss how it might affect Obama's approval numbers, how this is going to affect the healthcare debate, and whether the Devil was upset because Michelle Obama showed too much of her arms. #cnn
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badasscat
11/12/09

In reply to Does John King Hate Mexicans Enough to Fill Lou Dobbs' Shoes?
John King may be a little more mild-mannered and less outspoken than Lou Dobbs, but he's no less of a raging conservative internally. He was absolutely incredulous during the campaign when it seemed like nothing McCain was doing was gaining any traction; he couldn't believe it. And he outright refused to believe CNN's own polls about who won the debates; he flat-out said not to pay any attention to those polls because they clearly did not reflect his own point of view of what had happened. (The polls turned out to be right, btw, and were supported by other polls taken by other organizations... not to mention the election itself.)

He obviously tries to temper his conservatism for what he sees as his duty as a journalist, and that's nice I guess, but on the other hand I'd rather have what I'm dealing with out in the open. There's nothing worse than bias that's not obvious enough for most people to catch, but that nevertheless can affect the public's perceptions of things. Until now, John King was not in a position to have much of an effect, but he will be now. #cnn
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Baroness
11/12/09

@badasscat: I agree with all you said. But I'm not worried about him having an "effect" - he's thick as a brick for one thing. Too much of a company man to rock any boat. As odd as it sounds, if you're going to be spreading bile like Beck or Dobbs, you need to know what dangerous game you're playing. King is not bright enough, he has no originality or ideas of his own. CNN wants to position itself as "centrist"- which of course means, heavily Republican with one dirty hippie thrown in as a punching bag. King won't be much different from the rest of the Beltway crowd. #cnn
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La Mareada
11/12/09

@Baroness: CNN the official network of David Broder and the rest of the Washington Post editorial board. #cnn
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Baroness
11/12/09

@La Mareada: All I know is, this news must be bad for Obama, right? #cnn
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yourfriendandneighbor
11/12/09

In reply to Does John King Hate Mexicans Enough to Fill Lou Dobbs' Shoes?
I think Maria Hinojosa is available. #cnn
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Airvault
11/12/09

In reply to Does John King Hate Mexicans Enough to Fill Lou Dobbs' Shoes?
Ugh, John King? He's so boring. Video of Anderson's toe nail polish drying would be more captivating. #cnn
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onebadclam
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
This is great for Rachel Marsden's chances of getting back on the airwaves.
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badasscat
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
I would say the quality of on-air experts you would get for paying nothing is approximately the same quality of blog writer you would get for paying nothing.
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RandomLunatic
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
I'm surprised anyone ever was paid. I've been paid $1200 or so for behind the scenes consulting and had my expenses comped, but never once been paid for on-air appearances. Wondering if I missed an opportunity there, at least before the crash.
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ManchuCandidate
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
Look on the bright side. Most of these hexperts are getting paid what they're really worth.
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DennyCrane
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
I will appear on Gawker as an expert on sleep, laziness and procrastination. All i ask is to be paid in Tim Horton's.
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wrongneighborhood
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
I had hoped for some Julia Allison reference in this story. I was sorely disappointed, yet somehow relieved at the same time.
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Swifter
08/10/09

@wrongneighborhood: She passed her expiration date last year.
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Private Hangnail
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
I will appear on your show for a hot shower and dibs on leftovers from the pastry table. I will also need a plastic bag, which will be used to take the extra pastries home. The pastries will be dinner and, later, the plastic bag will serve as a toilet. You see, the plumbing in the underpass isn't what it should be.
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skymotel
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
I wonder how many of these morning-show "experts" will now turn to YouTube (et al) to dispense their advice. 'Cos nary a one can touch the Reverend Alecia.
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AndYourLittleDogToo
08/10/09

In reply to Going Rate for Talking Head Blather Approaching Zero
i've gotten people on tv and radio for the past 6 years and not once was my expert (or "expert") paid by the network. They were, however, paid by the organization sponsoring the interview -- there's always a product to push.
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Paddington
08/10/09

@AndYourLittleDogToo:
Wait -- what?
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hilikusopus
08/10/09

@Paddington: Interviews have sponsors? Is the sponsor selecting the "expert"? That would make the "expert" a spokesperson for the sponsor and comes close to violating a news organization's policy of not paying for interviews.

Everybody's got something to gain in that situation, one hand washes the other etc. etc., but that's like a journalistic commandment, no?
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Edited by hilikusopus at 08/10/09 12:26 PM hilikusopus was starred hilikusopus was unstarred

AndYourLittleDogToo
08/10/09

@hilikusopus: Yes, many interviews have sponsors. For example, if you have a travel expert, they might be sponsored by Orbitz or Expedia. That might be fairly obvious if they're talking about great deals on the website. The ones that aren't as obvious are the interviews where the expert talks about non-profits. Some of those are still paid for by the industry represented.
If someone is touted as an "expert," they are either promoting a book or getting paid by the corporation behind the interview.
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hilikusopus
08/10/09

@AndYourLittleDogToo: I can conceive of any number of cases where, for example, an Orbitz or an Expedia-sponsored "expert" is no cause for alarm -- say, a newsworthy product that could change travel. Okay. Is there a requirement (or internal policy) that the sponsor, or the news organization, disclose the source, though?

Foremost in my mind is the barage of prescription drug ads that play across the networks during the evening news, and the prevalence of health-related news segments. (I assume it's the same thing on cable news networks.) I've often wondered how a news organization so reliant on a particular industry for sponsorship could remain independent in its reporting. And it is not lost on me why an industry as controversial as the drug industry would seek to influence the public dialogue through advertising and business relationships the way it does.

I try to view everything through a critical lens, but the networks need to have a policy that sets a bare mininum. It's one thing to try to sell me something, and it's another to try to scam me.
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Edited by hilikusopus at 08/10/09 1:09 PM hilikusopus was starred hilikusopus was unstarred

Solomon Grundy
07/22/09

In reply to Lydia Hearst Murdered By Wall Street Jerk
Judging from his Wikipedia entry (btw, notable person?), this Miles Fisher guy is basically the PC Peterson of oil money Texas.
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randywill
07/22/09

In reply to Lydia Hearst Murdered By Wall Street Jerk
William Randolph Hearst just keeps giving and giving, even from beyond the grave. Yellow journalism, Citizen Kane, and now lovely Lydia.
Naked truth, naked ambition, and just naked.
Mr. Hearst, you have done well.
Bravo to you, sir, for siring an exquisite addition to your legacy.
Lydia has made the Hearst name sexy.
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