By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 09/02 at 11:06 AM
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If you watched Barack Obama deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday night, you might have noticed some folks in the front who were clapping and cheering.
Or maybe you didn’t notice. After all, it was a terrific speech, and everyone was cheering!
Well, surprise! As it turns out, those folks in the front were journalists there to cover the Democratic National Convention for their respective media outlets!
As The Hill’s Andy Barr points out:
Two members of the foreign press exchanged opportunities to take each other’s pictue [sic] while wearing an Obama hat and waving a flag.
Several others nearby screamed “woo” during some of Obama’s biggest applause lines.
Woo!!! Woo-hoooooo!!!!
You can see in comments at the link above that several readers ask Barr for the offenders’ names—or at least, their media outlets. In case you’re one of those interested in who the woo-wooers were, one was Allison Payne from WGN-Channel 9 (second item). I’m guessing plenty more are plainly visible in the tape of the speech.
Anyway, this has touched off a debate on both sides about the media’s participation at events like these. Some of them are apparently OK with wooing for Obama, but as a matter of practice, they won’t stand for the National Anthem.
What do you make of that?
By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 09/02 at 07:28 AM
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OK, everybody: Welcome to Annoying Television Journalism 101. Class is now in session.
Please watch and consider the following video:
Now, answer the following questions:
1. Which Campbell Brown characteristic is most off-putting: The scrunched-up nose, the hair tossing, the disingenuous “I’m curious” line, her compulsive habit of interrupting the interview subject, her feigned concern for Bristol Palin or her condescending, oblique criticism of Sarah Palin as a mother? Explain.
2. Explain in 100 words or less whether you think Campbell Brown was actually interested in the answer to her question about Palin’s “foreign policy” experience. In your answer, reference her combative attitude as support for your position.
3. What is the effect on the appearance of the interviewer’s objectivity when that interviewer stakes out a position through rhetorical questions?
4. Considering this clip, would you characterize Campbell Brown as a newscaster or an analyst? How does that square with CNN’s promotion of “Election Center” as a news program?
Extra credit: Describe how you believe Campbell Brown would question Michelle Obama on her decision to acquiesce to her husband’s desire to run for political office vis-à-vis the privacy of the couple’s two young daughters.
That’s all we have time for today. For homework, read this article and watch this clip. Then hope that newspapers never, ever go away.
By Jennifer J. Foster
Posted 09/02 at 07:00 AM
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Hurricane Gustav might have prompted some changes to the Republican National Convention agenda, but at least some plans went off as scheduled.
I give you ... the anarchists!
From CNN:
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN)—At least 56 people were arrested Monday after police fired projectiles and used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse a crowd demonstrating near the site of the Republican National Convention.
...Earlier Monday, a group of self-described anarchists threw park benches into streets and smashed windows, police said.
Thomas Walsh, a public information officer for the St. Paul Police Department, said Monday afternoon that 13 people had been arrested so far, accused of damage to property and conspiracy to riot. Those arrested will be formally charged in Ramsey County District Court on Tuesday, he said.
The arrest of the “anarchists” came after nearly 5,000 protesters marched peacefully outside the site of the convention site.
While Walsh described the individuals as a being part of a “splinter group” from the main body of protesters, he said it would not characterize their activity as being a protest.
“I think they did a disservice to those that came here to protest,“ he said.
Besides damaging private property, the group also smashed in the windows of five squad cars.
How funny is CNN using quotations around “anarchists?“ I can just see Joe Tribbiani using air quotes!
Anyway, this story got me thinking ... Are there any vacant warehouses in St. Paul?
