I talked to Sean Bielat just after the filming of his latest commercial that will be coming out Wednesday
You will still have to wait a few days to see the whole thing
Archive for the ‘media’ Category
Voices of the Candidates: Sean Bielat after the commercial shoot
Posted: October 18, 2010 by datechguy in congress, elections, media, politicsTags: 2010 elections, advertising, election 2010, ma-4, sean bielat
Unclear on the mission statement
Posted: October 16, 2010 by datechguy in mediaTags: media matters, reality, school choice
Ezra still has that Journolist perspective
Posted: October 16, 2010 by datechguy in mediaTags: ezra klein, journolist, media spin
Stacy Teases him but I think the headline is really revealing.
Do the pollsemphasis mine back up the attacks on the Chamber of Commerce?
Not do the facts, not does the evidence, do the polls!
Remember in the days of Journolist (you know that scandal that the Morning Joe crew never asked Ezra about during his appearances on the show)
when the debate was about spin vs facts. It wasn’t a question of what was true, it was a question of if it would work.
I’m sure Ezra and pals have still have a listserv somewhere that this is discussed but the Journolist priority of how it spins never leaves. That’s because it wasn’t a function of Journolist…it is the function of the people in it.
Off the record. Personal honor vs public responsibility and David Brooks
Posted: October 16, 2010 by datechguy in mediaTags: david brooks, economy, honor
One of the things that I’ve learned since I’ve gotten involved in this business is what the words “off the record” means.
People will tell you things “on background” or “without attribution” meaning that you can use them as long as it is attributed to “a source said” type of thing or as general background information.
“Off the record” is something more blunt. This means you accept information on the condition that you pledge your personal word and honor not to reveal it.
Now if you can get that information from another source that’s different but once you have agreed to “off the record” one’s personal honor and one is obliged to keep that word. That was David Brooks dilemma.
In such a situation he is ethically obliged not to talk (or as Stacy McCain says never burn a source) so I don’t fault him for that…
…BUT it would be interesting to see what his columns about the president looked like after the fact. Did he seem less supportive? Did he give the words of the administration less credence and more doubt? One can’t come out and say “This guy is lying to your face and he told me so!” but you can change the direction of your coverage from admiration to skepticism without breaking your word.
One has an obligation to protect ones source but also to inform the public. Social schedule not withstanding if your priority is to be honorable, you have to find a way to do both.
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