The CBS Sunday Morning profile of Lynne Cheney

The CBS Sunday Morning profile of Lynne Cheney last weekend, reported on here by the Times, does not present the frequent problem of an "appearance of conflict of interest" about which we hear so much in media circles. It presents a literal conflict of interest; one that was easily avoidable by CBS, which either just couldn't be bothered or wanted to curry favor with the Cheneys and so ignored it. The correspondent, Rita Braver, did inform viewers that her husband, the Washington lawyer Robert B. Barnett, had represented Ms. Cheney in her publishing deal. And it's true that they do not stand to profit monetarily from the book's sales. But neither of these factors addresses the real point. Bob Barnett is in a market with other agents to represent high-profile Washington clients. Those clients are going to have a right to conclude that not only can Mr. Barnett negotiate a good deal for them, he can also provide an entry to a friendly interview on a key morning program. I'm not saying Barnett would ever say this or even imply it; I know him slightly and have no reason to doubt his integrity. But it's a natural conclusion to draw and one that will immeasurably help him in his competition for clients. And the CBS argument that Ms. Braver "was the best person" for the interview, well, I don't even know what that means. But NPR had enough integrity to refuse to try it when Bush and company tried to pick their own interviewer, Juan Williams, a couple of weeks ago. And to the degree that CBS takes its reputation as a news organization seriously, it's got proverbial egg all over its face. Too bad there's no on-air ombudsman for the network, or any network, alas ...

Read your whole Altercation here.

Comments

[JoDeeVa]

I love Sunday mornings with "Sunday Morning". Working late hours, it is one of the only days I am EVER up at that hour. Any piece by any journalist, invited into the inner sanctum of ANY Cheney draws my interest & usually, ultimately, my disdain. After the disclosure upfront, I viewed the piece through a jaundiced eye. It was the usual "oh-so wonderfully American" pablum the white house feeds all of us everyday. Relegated to the same old banal propaganda-trivia, (aside from all of the hubbub about it since then) I had not given it a second thought. Sadly, this piece may increase sales, as no doubt, many will be motivated to buy and read the book.

For me, the small hometown roots into the big city tendrils of life angle, reminded me of just why I left the small town. And, how happy I am that I did, for I fear if I had not, I may very well have ended up being one of those "patriotic Americans" who support the policies of this administration, just as many in that small town do now. Thank-you, serendipity for that happy accident of life, which BTW, was the lead story..one which begs the question of the serendipitous nature of the hook-up with Rita Braver and Lynne Cheney! Alas, it would seem NOT to be a happily accidently serendipity, but rather a distasteful case of nepositism, at it's finest! Not to mention, a bit of journalistic parochialism, at it's best! (it's ALL about us, stupid) Down to the, "..is that your wedding picture?'..long shot, closing in on 2 young fresh-faced Cheneys, ready to face the world & their (manifest) destiny!

Serendipity
Origin: Coined by Horace Walpole, suggested by the "The Three Princes of Serendip", title of a fairy tale in which the heroes were always making discoveries, by accident and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of.
Hmm, on second thought..is it serendipity that this does sound so familiar? Especially so, with a little help from our friends, contrivance & manipulation, eh?!

[ZingoBonMot]

Eric, I think you and Jeff Cohen would be great in the job of network ombudsmen!

[hopeless277]

"And to the degree that CBS takes its reputation as a news organization seriously"

You're kidding, right? Rathergate? Katie with the News? CBS news is no more than E! for old folks. They are a large part of the facist regime of Corporate Bushlandia. They deserve no respect or even recognition. Their news department has withered on the vine from inactivity. There is no independent media is America with ,Inc. after it's name. They all play for the same team. The Bush team. The facist team.