Skip to main content

Broadcast News: From the loins of presidents and prime ministers



It seems NBC news is borrowing from a long Canadian tradition by hiring Chelsea Clinton as a roving television journo. This follows its hiring of Bush and McCain spawns.

This is causing a fuss among the newsies in the U.S. who feel that hiring the daughters and sons of former presidents smacks of desperation on the part of the network.

We, in Canada, say: why worry?

Our airwaves are brimming with the expulsions of prime ministers. We have the ever-ready Ben Mulroney, Catherine Clark, Sasha Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau all littering up the national broadcasters.

I'm presuming Ben Harper has a pretty good career lined up for himself with Sun TV when he's out of high school.

I don't remember any of them doing time at journalism school, unless you count charm and prep schools as breeding grounds for investigative journalism.

I don't think I'm wrong here, but I believe there is not one Canadian who likes Ben Mulroney except members of his immediate family.

And I suspect even some of them leave Benny off their Christmas lists.

Mostly, we just switch the channel when he's on.

The media has always been about who you grow and "who you know".

David Halton begat Matthew Halton. Doug Fisher begat Matthew Fisher. Craig Oliver begat Murray Oliver.

Mordecai begat Daniel (CBC). Barbara Frum begat Linda Frum (books, Senate). Ben Ward began John Ward (Canadian Press). Stevie Cameron began Tassie Cameron (Flashpoint)

It's the way of the world.

But the kids of prime ministers and presidents aren't exactly to the manner born.

Journalism isn't in their blood. Privilege is in their blood.

That's how, and why, they get hired.

It's too bad because it makes a mockery of television news.

Journalism isn't the family business of politicians. Politics is their family business.

At least Justin Trudeau understands that.

What's most curious in the case of Chelsea Clinton is that her mom is still in office. She's becoming a national reporter at a time when Mommie Dearest might just start running up the hill to wrestle the presidency from Barry O.

Just doesn't seem right to me.

Americans have always prided themselves of the separation and independence of their institutions. American journalists have also prided themselves on working in a transparent, objective environment.

Guess NBC news didn't get the memo.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Bell isn't telling you about Fibe TV

Update: This week, we switched back to Rogers after spending far too long using Bell's crappy television service. For those with Bell, read and weep. For those considering Bell, think twice even if you hate Rogers. RS I've always been an early technology adapter. I had a Betamax. That tells you everything (if you're over 50 at least). My first computer was a "Portable". It weighed 40 pounds and I had to lug it around town on a gurney. I've been through probably 15 computers in my lifetime. Apple is the best. It's also too expensive so I have a piece of shit HP, the one I'm writing this blog on. I've had cable, internet and now Netflix. American Netflix . That's how far ahead of the curve I am. I get all the newspapers for free. How? I disabled my cookies so they can't track me when I'm on the newspaper sites. Even the New York Times hasn't cottoned on to that trick. Hahaha. That will be a fifty buck consulting fee. Bein...
38 comments
Read more

Ashley Simpson: Please sign this petition to help her family

Those who read this space regularly know that my family is frantic with worry about my cousin, Ashley Simpson , who has been missing 40 days now. Both her boyfriend and her landlord reported that she had left with no money, no car, no resources from her Salmon Arm, B.C. home after a domestic dispute over money. Since then, there has been no trace of her. The RCMP now considers this a homicide investigation, but the family has not heard any updates from them in more than three weeks. Just after she disappeared, her father, relatives and friends set out from St. Catharines on a long trek to B.C. to find her. They all left their work, and their lives, intent on finding Ashley who had always kept in touch. It was completely out of character for her to lose touch. Her parents have been consumed by worry. They have been unable to work, and are having a hard time functioning. As a result, they are now relying on donations from family and friends to keep the wolf from the door...
Post a Comment
Read more

The strange case of Greg Etue

I got out of the daily news reporting game, I'll admit, because I didn't have the stomach to cover the many sad stories that came across my desk. I remember clearly once when I had to call an RCMP sergeant after his young son blew his head off with the officer's service revolver. "Please," he pleaded. "I really can't talk right now." "It was your gun, is that correct?" He slammed down the receiver. I was ashamed of myself. People have a right to some privacy in difficult times like that. I also used to hate having to go to the door of a dead child's home and jostle the competition for a picture. Really, it felt more like ghoulism than journalism. That said, I still believe that these stories must be told in an honest and forthright fashion with all the facts and none of the flourish and emotion that is all the rage in reporting these days. Over the past two years, we, in this community, have been treated to a lot o...
7 comments
Read more