Oh, my G-d, it’s the NEWS!

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You know I read a few newspapers and a slew of journals and magazines.  And, I used to watch the network news.  When I was younger, it was Eric Sevaried, Walter Cronkite, John Chancellor, Howard K. Smith.  A while later it was Chuck Scarborough (who I first saw in Boston before he made New York screens).

But, over the years, the news became entertainment.  And, not news.  Even 60 Minutes dropped the ball. (Don’t get me started on Andy Rooney!)  And, I stopped viewing TV news.  Until Nightline with Ted Koppel. Which they killed, as well.  I admit to finding Peter Jennings by accident- the accident being the terrorist coverage provided on 9-11; he was the best- and spoke directly to my terrified 9 year old child.  So, we watched him together- for years.

I never got into the Sunday shows – except for CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, when my kids were little and still sleeping until 10AM.  The rest of the day was devoted to whatever my children wanted when they got older.  Until a few years ago, when I found Tim Russert, who was simply great.

English: Enhanced version of existing file in ...
English: Enhanced version of existing file in Wikipedia Commons (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, when I tell you to watch a program to keep up with the world, to learn the 5W’s (who, what, when, where, and why), you know I understand the temptation to pass on this advice.

But, there’s a new sheriff in town.  A real person, who doesn’t put on airs.  But, absolutely knows his stuff (even if he has to study 20 hours a day to do so).  And, he’s interesting.  And, he’s not afraid to ask the hard questions.  (Please, don’t stop, either!)

I suggest you watch Chuck Todd as the new master of Meet the Press for a week or two.  See if I am exaggerating.  Chuck has been the political news director for NBC for some time now.  (He was even hired by Tim Russert!)  See if you won’t find context and not just a 30 second blurb, find his vast knowledge coming forth in digestible packets and easily understood.   He’ll tell it like he sees and will want answers when politicians love to get murky.  (Oh, he will be more politically correct than I…)

If you want a blow-dried, blow-up doll- stick to the evening news. If you want to know what’s going on in the world- or what’s not going according to plan- Meet the Press with Chuck Todd should be one of your staples.

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6 thoughts on “Oh, my G-d, it’s the NEWS!”

  1. Thanks for the heads up. I no longer watch the 6 o’clock news, which now starts about 4 pm, updates the weather and traffic every 3 minutes as fillers and is a lot of hog wash in general. I will be watching this young man because when I do watch I want to the point news that has some meaning.
    Chef William Chaney recently posted..No Bake Energy Bar

  2. I haven’t watched Meet the Press for years and I don’t watch the news for the reasons you mentioned. I’ll have to get back at it….thanks for the recommendation!

  3. I read the papers and watch BBC News – I also like to keep an open mind, and like to do research on things if they catch my interest. Of course the internet allows us to talk to people globally, and it could be said that *this* is the news channel that tells us what’s really going on. (of course it’s also a channel that’s chock full of complete nonsense, so caution is needed on that front!)
    cheers, Gordon
    The Great Gordino recently posted..Remembering Rick Rescorla 2014

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