Gibson: Reporters Who Ignore Anna Nicole Smith To Focus On Iraq War Are ‘Snobs’

[babylonsister]

Filed, appropriately, under BRAINDEAD MEDIA

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/26/gibson-iraq-media/

Gibson: Reporters Who Ignore Anna Nicole Smith To Focus On Iraq War Are ‘Snobs’

As ThinkProgress has documented, the death of Anna Nicole Smith was a feeding frenzy for the national media. While many cable news shows have moved on to other stories, Fox News host John Gibson remains fixated on the late Playboy playmate. Every day since Smith’s death on Feb. 8, Gibson has devoted significant segments of his show “The Big Story” to Anna Nicole.

On his radio show on Friday, Gibson attempted to defend his coverage. He accused reporters — such as CNN’s Anderson Cooper — of “news-guy snobbery” and attacked them for covering the Iraq war. Mocking Cooper, he said, “Oh, ‘There’s a war on! There’s a war on!’ Maybe, just maybe, people are a little weary, Mr. Cooper, of your war coverage, and they’d like a little something else.”

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO GIBSON

Since Smith’s death on Feb. 8, 42 U.S. soldiers have died fighting in Iraq. Approximately 969 Iraqis have been killed. Americans aren’t weary of the media’s war coverage, they’re weary of the war itself.

Transcript:

GIBSON: Now I submit to you that that is a real, honest-to-God drama. Now it may not fit the high-minded views of a lot of news professionals, people who think that their news program is just another part of Foreign Affairs Quarterly. That only a certain kind of news is worthy of their discussing. Those people are snobs. They’re people who, when they see a story, go, “Ew, icky. I don’t want to do that.” I did this for years. I’ve been doing a long time. I’ve approached many stories and said, “That story isn’t worth our trouble.” It has always been a mistake. Always. Every single time I did it. So when I see people like this guy —

There’s a war on, there’s a war on, there’s a war on.

GIBSON: Oh, there’s a war on, there’s a war on. Maybe, just maybe, people are a little weary, Mr. Cooper, of your war coverage, and they’d like a little something else. Maybe that’s why they all thundered to this story.

There’s a war on, there’s a war on, there’s a war on.

GIBSON: My complaint about this is what you’re listening to when you hear that guy lecture the audience, is you’re listening to news-guy snobbery. Essentially saying, “I’m better than you. I know what you want to hear about, but I’m better than that story. I’m too high class for that story. I won’t stoop to what you want to hear about.”

I’m not playing that. People want to hear about the Anna Nicole story, I’m happy to tell them.

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Again...Gibson shows he's a callous asswipe. n/t

[Zodiak]

2. Gibson is a tool

....news is not what people "want" to hear, but rather, what they need to hear to keep our democracy healthy. Being informed may be boring, but it doesn't lead to things like George Fucking Bush.

[rhiannon55]

3. What a marooon!!!!

To quote Bugs Bunny.

[Dr.Phool]

4. Gibson is a complete moron.

Looks like a bleached beaver.

[deutsey]

5. In a sane, just universe, Gibson would not be playing a journalist on TV

He'd be heavily medicated and under intense psychiatric observation.

[rocktivity]

6. Rocknation: Reporters Who Ignore Iran to Focus on Smith are SHILLS!

:mad:
rocknation

[liberal N proud]

7. How fucked up is that?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

8. The Albino Beaver strikes once again.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. you didn't make this up? holy shia.

And then it hit me. the Faux Noise Channel - but of course!

[seabeyond]

10. fox wants naked girls on tv whenever they can... or any story that degrade women

at all cost,... or any story of rape of woman. how they satisfy their beer guzzlin, male. as they lecture me on christian and family values.

[montanto]

11. I don't want to hear about A.N.S.,

and Gibson is a fucking idiot and a prick into the bargain. I's surprised (though why should i be) that he's still around. Oh well, now I've given him a few minutes. *kicking self*

[babylonsister]

14. OT, but hello, montanto.

I haven't seen you around in awhile. Hope all is well with you and yours.:hi:

[montanto]

21. all's well. been busy with work and plans

to get out of town for a few weeks. :hi:

[judaspriestess]

12. wow, file that under - thats just plain stupid

shame on him.

[H2O Man]

13. All in all,

I would prefer that Fox News' audience stay focused on the ANS case, and let the rest of us focus on things like the war.

[WI_DEM]

15. Who are all the people who are clammering to hear about ANS?

I mean, really? Everyone I know thinks it's overkill and couldn't care less, but then I guess I run around with a lot of snobs.

[Journeyman]

16. So why can't Gibson cover *both* stories. . .

How much time do the travails of a dead Playmate require each day? For that matter, how much time is required to cover the War in the slipshod, half-assed manner television provides? Cover both "in depth" and there'd still be time for weather and sports, plus a gander at The Big Board.

For my money, incompetent asses have no call to strut pompously.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. There's news and there's tabloid news

They used to be aired on different programs. One aired what was taking place in world and US events the other what was taking place in Hollywood and with American cult favorites. At some point the evening news jumped the shark and began stealing material from the tabloid shows. Then the cable news became mostly tabloid type news with some real news filling to add an illusion of substance.

The people realized much was taking place in the world they'd not heard about. The result those who are providing more real news content and less fluff are getting better ratings. I hope Gibson continues to defend his fluff until he's been driven from the airwaves due to his falling ratings. It's the justice he deserves.

[demrabble]

18. Gibson is an Irrelevant Boob

Ooops.

I said "Boob".

Gibson will probably want to report that.

[beltanefauve]

19. News?

Nope, it's Info-tainment. All part of the "Dumbing Down of America" campaign. And if you're not down with the program, you're branded a "snob", I guess. How "junior high" of Gibson!

[Beausoleil]

20. We already have one

"Anna Nicole Smith's Dead Body Show". It's called "Entertainment Tonight". Gibson and his ilk need to learn what journalism is. But, of course, he's not trying to practice journalism, he's trying to make Murdoch more money! Now if he wants an "Anna Nicole Smith's Dead Body Show" for FNC, he should say that. I'll think he should even be the host. News-guy buffoonery.

[Cabcere]

22. Cabcere: "Reporters" Who Ignore Iraq War To Focus On ANS Are "Phonies"

WTF is wrong w/this douche? :wtf: Does he not realize that the media also covered Anna Nicole Smith's death (oh boy, did they cover it!), in addition to the Iraq War? Or does he just think that if we ignore the war, it'll go away - or that we shouldn't have to spoil our "beautiful minds" with images of casualties and reports on how the war's really going? :grr: THAT is the very essence of "news-guy snobbery," if you ask me. :puke:

Edit: Damn, I see Rocknation beat me to the clever fake-headline thing. :hi: