NBC criticized for 'chequebook journalism'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

NBC criticized for 'chequebook journalism'
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 | 4:27 PM ET
The Associated Press

professional journalists' group is condemning NBC News for chartering a plane that carried a New Jersey man involved in a custody battle home from Brazil with his son.

The New York-based Society of Professional Journalists is calling it "chequebook journalism" and said the arrangement damages the network's credibility.

David Goldman, who successfully fought the Brazilian family of his now-deceased ex-wife for custody of nine-year-old Sean, granted an interview to Meredith Vieira of NBC's Today show that aired Monday.

NBC said Goldman was booked for Today before the network invited him on the plane.

The network had already arranged for the plane to bring its own employees back to the U.S. for Christmas, NBC News spokeswoman Lauren Kapp said. If NBC hadn't brought the Goldmans home, one of its rivals would have, she said.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2009/12/29/chequebook-journalism.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. I saw a "Special" being promo'ed with this guy in it....

I said to myself....doesn't he want to spend some time with his son first?

This case kind of reminds me of Elian Gonzales and Cuba....except for this time America played the part of Cuba. I heard that in Brazil, the court case was quite politicized!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Journalists' group slams NBC for flying boy home

Posted on Tuesday, 12.29.09
Journalists' group slams NBC for flying boy home

By DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer
NEW YORK -- The Society of Professional Journalists condemned NBC News for practicing "checkbook journalism" by chartering a jet that carried a New Jersey man involved in a bitter custody battle and his son home from Brazil.

David Goldman, who successfully fought the Brazilian family of his now-deceased ex-wife for custody of 9-year-old Sean, granted an interview to Meredith Vieira of NBC's "Today" show that aired Monday.

NBC said Goldman was booked for "Today" before the network invited him on the plane. The network had already arranged for the plane to bring its own employees home for Christmas, NBC News spokeswoman Lauren Kapp said. If NBC hadn't brought the Goldmans' home, one of its rivals would have, she said.

"We've covered this story exceptionally well," she said. "Their going on the plane did not affect our coverage of the story or getting them booked at all."

NBC News told viewers that it had paid for the Goldmans' trip home, she said. The network showed pictures of the Goldmans on the plane and on "Nightly News" featured a brief interview by correspondent Jeff Rossen with David Goldman while both were on the plane.

The journalists' group said NBC News jeopardized its integrity with the arrangement.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/AP/story/1402052.html

[FreakinDJ]

3. Its not a conflict

he was pre-scheduled for a show - nothing irregular about the flight

[atreides1]

4. Society of Professional Journalists

Where are these guys when Faux News pulls their questionable stunts? Or does Rupert "Arrr" Murdoch have his hand up their ass too?

[Jefferson23]

5. I wish this incident was the only time NBC was unprofessional.

Just a couple, unfortunately there are so many others:

David Gregory Unsure Whether Lying Damages Bush’s Credibility With Press

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/13/gregory-bush-lies/


Defending media's war coverage, NBC's Gregory asked, "Where was Congress?" (Answer: Most Dems were voting against the bill)
May 29, 2008 5:22 pm ET

snip* The right questions were asked. I think there's a lot of critics -- and I guess we can count Scott McClellan as one -- who thinks that if we did not debate the president, debate the policy in our role as journalists, if we did not stand up and say, "This is bogus," and "You're a liar," and "Why are you doing this?" that we didn't do our job. And I respectfully disagree. It's not our role.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200805290008


Fuck NBC, they have sucked at their job for many years.

[Berry Cool]

6. Their excuse was "If we didn't do it one of our rivals would have?"

Oh please. That didn't even wash with Mom.

"If everyone else was drinking poison, would you drink it too?"

[Crowman1979]

7. That's the old media for ya! Distracting people from the real news as always!

There is a massive popular uprising in Iran, and congress won't bother passing real health care reform. BUT DON'T BOTHER WITH THAT! WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE SOB STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS UP-TEEN TIMES A DAY IN AMERICA! WHOA WAIT A SECOND, WE HAVE ANOTHER FAMOUS PERSON WHO STUCK THEIR DICK IN SOME PLACE THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSE TO!

Go back to bed america your government/corporate media complex has it all figured out. :sarcasm:

[Better Today]

8. Unless Goldman somehow did or does promote NBC, it seems just to be

both a thoughtful offering and no worse than being embedded in a war zone, except in this case the subject is the one embedded to get up close and personal reporting.