I am so sick of the nightly cable news show hosts, along the lines of Greta Van Susteren, Donny Deutsch and Rita Cosby. What really gets to me is their generalist attitude; the fact that in certain subjects they just are not any more knowledgable than me or you.
For instance, the other night I was watching Donna Deutsch (who is really just an advertising executive), and he was doing that godawful annoying thing where he takes his glasses off, then puts them back on, over and over and over. ... Anyway, he was talking to Jose Conseco about the new book on Barry Bonds and steriods, (Game of Shadows), and you could just tell by looking at him that he was stuck on words at several points. He constantly referred down to his notes, which I'm sure he just did that day after researching the topic for two hours. And then the next day, we're on to the new popular story of the day.
I want specialists (the equivalent of beat writers) discussing the issues, not generalists who are only interested in the issue because it's the hot item of the day. When I have to listen to these cable news personalities jump on the band wagon of the new hottest story (Natalee Holloway, Katrina, etc.) without having any formal knowledge on the subject, it makes me question everything that is coming out of their mouths.
These are the type of journalists who are not known for their particular knowledge on a subject but for having as many faces as Michael Jackson.
Paul Colarusso @ Wed, 03/29/2006 - 6:03pm
You make a good (and true) point here. It's interesting to see where the TV news has gone in the last 15 years even. I think that they think the news has to be flashy or people won't watch. While I think that you need to grab people's interest, you should be able to do it with solid reporting and broadcasting. And each person should be an expert in what they are covering. Then maybe add a little flair.