The future of Chuck Todd's "Meet the Press"
As David Gregory is replaced by Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press," how should the iconic Sunday morning public affairs program evolve? Frank Sesno, the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University, and Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at New York University, discussed that with Brian Stelter. Here are a few of the highlights:
· Rosen, speaking generally about Sunday shows like "Meet the Press:" "I think these shows are an important instrument of accountability, but they've drifted out of touch with the audience, the people who are interested in politics now have a lot more information available to them. They also expect more interaction with their journalists than they did in the past. And that's not something that David Gregory was very good at."
· Sesno: "The host needs to be the surrogate for the audience." These shows should be "a place to hold people's feet to the fire - even better and closer and hotter - which is why the role of the host is so important, and I think where Chuck is going to excel."
· Rosen: "There is a very strong sense in the country that Washington is broken. The political class has failed. We can't even get on the same page about what the problem is, let alone solve the problem. I think it would be wise for Chuck Todd to see himself and his colleagues, Washington journalists, as part of the class that has screwed up politics. And maybe in taking over 'Meet the Press,' he can begin to address some of how that happened."
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About the host
Brian Stelter is the host of "Reliable Sources" and the senior media correspondent for CNN Worldwide. Before he joined CNN in November 2013, Stelter was a media reporter for The New York Times. He is the author of the New York Times best-seller "Top of the Morning."
Here's his biography. You can read his stories on this blog and at CNNMoney.com/Media/.
@cnnreliable on Twitter
All the networks are losing credibility with the mass audiences – exceptions being the polarized liberal & conservative groups and others who keep their TV locked on one channel. Hard news objective reporting just doesn’t exist these days. People who seek raw information have too many other sources at their fingertips. Who needs to spend a hour watching the talking head battle each other.
I've always liked Chuck Todd but as far as substance in politics goes, I fear he will turn out to be a lighter weight than David Gregory. We'll soon see.
I lost all respect for David Gregory when I saw him "dancing with Rove" at one to those media/political get togethers. How could a journalist lower himself to frolic on stage with a "war criminal" he would later "interview? about Iraq" on his program. The media should "prosecute" Gregory for lack of integrity. But who in the media would have the "integrity" to rise above the "big bucks" that dictate the way people in the media "prostitute" themselves?