CNN, NBC News Bosses Fire Back: Jon Klein, Steve Capus Dismiss Palin's Media Criticism As Political Ploy

Broadcasting & Cable:

After several primetime speakers at this week's Republican National Convention unleashed a barrage of attacks on the news media for their coverage of vice-presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, network news executives defended their coverage and dismissed the charges as a stale political strategy meant to distract viewers from legitimate election issues.

"It's a time-honored marketing ploy and, every time they bash the media, it means they're not talking about a vision or a plan," CNN president Jon Klein said. "But the best antidote to cynical marketing is solid reporting."

CNN had a dustup with the McCain campaign earlier this week after Campbell Brown's persistent questioning of McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds on Palin's foreign-policy experience as governor of Alaska prompted the campaign to cancel McCain's scheduled appearance on Larry King Live. (Bounds and CNN have since patched thing up.)

"America has been presented with a total unknown who might be a heartbeat away from the presidency," Klein said of Palin, "and Americans have every right to expect as much information as possible about this person so that they can make an informed choice. Certainly our critics are in favor of Americans making an informed choice, aren't they?"

Scrutiny of the nominee only intensified Monday when the campaign revealed that the socially conservative Palin's 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol, is five months' pregnant.

"Network news and cable news literally did not touch the story until the press release came out from the [McCain] campaign," said Steve Capus, president of NBC News. "So when our critics demonize that coverage, I don't know what they're pointing to. It's been a respectful handling of a sensitive matter. There is nothing to that criticism. Nothing."

Read the whole story: Broadcasting & Cable

Comments

[luvienne]

I will not be spoonfed Karl Rove Republican spin. If Palin is questioned their feathers are ruffled. so what.This an important election. What are they hiding?They have Palin off limits for interviews. The news media are not doing their job. Informing the public. But don't worry. The truth is out there. Mccain/Palin a disaster waiting to happen.

[cae]

I agree with Jon Klein 100%. How are citizens suposed to know who these people running for office are? The media were kind of asleep at the wheel IMO around the time of the run-up to the Iraq war, and at other times. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Criticizing the press won't stop the press this time, I hope and pray. Right?!?! What the Repubs want are more Judy Miller stenographers--as many as possible. What a way to look out for the public good.

[startrekchess]

"Campbell Brown's persistent questioning"? On what side of the looking glass? She failed to do any research as anchors of old would have, and then not only humiliates her show, her network and herself on the air but subsequently defends herself by claiming thousands of support emails. Sure, from Obamabots.

That question about what a governor does as commander in chief of the guard for his or her state is one every newsperson on camera should already know. If Campbell wants to "educate" herself, I suggest she start with Google.

[kroses98]

Campbell Brown was the FIRST on that bumbling network, besides Jack Cafferty and Jeff Toobin to do a decent job in years!!! I was proud of her and was thinking of watching CNN for a change from MSNBC, after their being the ONLY network which tells the unvarnished TRUTH of the matter!!! Who wants to hear only RePUKE HACKS SPINNING PROPAGANDA? I think we in this country are tired of that, after all of these years of the "same old," "same old" B.S.!!!!!!

[Voxlisa999]

Campbell didn't ask what a Commander of the Alaska National Guard does!!!!
She asked, after Tucker touted it as foriegn policy experience, if he would name ONE DECISION she has made as "Commander in Chief?" That's all. Get your facts straight.

[njborne]

McCain, Bush and Cheney are full of crock... They release the story of Bristol knowing the various news organization would run with it. Now they lambase the same organizations they release the information. CNN, NBC and others, you've been played. Americans are being played. It's time to fight back and expose these neophytes...for the well-being of our country.

Listen, McCain want only to hear someone call him President McCain. He cares not about this country anymore. His VP pick proves it. Why would you trust someone so out of touch with America to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Why at this juncture, she must receive a CRASH course on how to be President of the United States?

McCain, go back to one of your many elitist homes and help Cindy McCain pay those monthly 100+K credit card bills. Oh that's right. You are not her sugar daddy. She's your sugar mommy, and she wants the White House for herself. Gotcha. I understand now.

[Roomer]

if cnn campaign reporters don't kow tow to "talking points" then they get booted off the "straight talk express?" who cares?

your network pays you. your work informs the public. WHATEVER the campaign says is total obfuscation.

are there an online journalism classes they can take while their riding on the bus -- that the network had to pay $10,000 to maintain access for...

he! why don't they report THAT????

[kfdan]

"It's a time-honored marketing ploy and, every time they bash the media, it means they're not talking about a vision or a plan," CNN president Jon Klein said

The point of the matter is that the GOP is about squashing any criticism about Palin. She needs to be looked at very carefully! Anything having to do with her public life is fair game! As for the private affairs with her family ... i.e. her daughter's pregnancy ... leave that alone!

[abouttime]

CNN president Jon Klein said. "But the best antidote to cynical marketing is solid reporting."

Now... That would be a MAJOR Change!

[PhiloVance]

Who was it said, don't shoot down. Focusing on Palin is a big mistake.

Let Biden handle her, if he can. :)

[PhiloVance]

Wow, lots of kool aid being passed around here at huffpo. I think you have surpassed Kos and DU for paranoia. Get a grip.

[Gasparilla]

Are you making a reply to this story? If so, what is it, because you did not address anything said?

[CindyM2008]

S/He can't. That's why the silly reply about kool-aid and such. These tools have nothing else.

[kroses98]

You could always go back to your own "Red State," Philo!!!

[LeftCoaster64]

Kool-Aid? Oh, you mean the one they were handing out by the keg at the RNC last week? It's patriotic to want to know the people who aspire to the highest offices in the land. That's what the Rethugs have been saying all along about Barack. Now it's Palin's turn to answer the tough questions.

[ShamusNYC]

.


The Republicans have become a party of WHINERS.

The big story that they're trying to deflect is the one about the AIP. If it had been Jill Biden as a member of such a party ("I want my state to leave the US") and Joe being so overtly friendly to them - I GUARANTEE YOU that we would NEVER hear the end of it from the likes of FOX, Rush, Coulter, Kristol, and all the other Neo N A ZZZ i s.

So, where is this so-called "Liberal Media"? A few folks on MSNBC, which is a part-time news network? The NYTimes? You seriously want to compare these outlets to FOX & Fiends & the Rupert Evil Empire?

Right.

[dadw5boys]

Mc CALZHIMERS will not make it to Nov 2.

[LAB10]

Palin, "There should never be a perceived whine." Take your own advise, lady.

[tanghorse]

The only way most Americans have of finding out the facts and background of a candidate - in order to make their decision on whom to vote for - is via the media. We do not have access to the candidates to ask those questions.

And to say that a candidate is being picked on unfairly or in a sexist manner is simply a game. And the Republicans are really good at playing the game, and lately - winning. They play the game of having their party representatives and media flacks using the same wording or phrase over and over until the "common" people are repeating it as fact, thinking it is the truth. Simply hearing that she is "qualified", "a maverick", "demands change" doesn't make it so.

Sarah Palin needs to have her background and judgment as thoroughly checked as any candidate has. What is there is to afraid of?

[marymansour]

MacMoose sulks and whines over media abuse while Obama and Biden plot their strategy. And I'll bet they are coming up with a doozy. Go Barack and Joe - all the way to the White House.

[alguien]

did you see biden's ripping apart of the convention speeches?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=955Y3NJTRIE

[roshni]

Welcome change for CNN.
NBC is the only credible MSM.
McCain thinks he can manipulate the media and force them not to do the vetting process he should have done.

[LAB10]

Of course Mac thinks he can manipulate his base. Both of them.

[BethStuart]

I think intimidation is the word here. After Andrea Mitchell suggested McCain might have had access to the questions at the Saddleback Forum beforehand, McCain's campaign manager wrote a letter to the head of NBC demanding a meeting to discuss NBC's "biased" reporting.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12594.html

[kroses98]

Not NBC, but MSNBC, and more specifically, Keith!!!!!!!