Old boys club rears its ugly head as Amanpour prepares for ABC's This Week

[babylonsister]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201003300021

Old boys club rears its ugly head as Amanpour prepares for ABC's This Week

March 30, 2010 1:02 pm ET by Karl Frisch

snip//

Similarly, earlier this month word came down that CNN's Christiane Amanpour would be leaving the cable network to helm ABC's This Week - the first woman ever with full-time hosting duties on a broadcast network Sunday show.

Cue the back-biting and second guessing, much of it anonymous.

As Mediaite's Steve Krakauer noted:

ABC News staffers have talked anonymously about their concerns over the hiring, and columnists like Tom Shales have aggressively disagreed with the choice.

Then there's CNN's John King who felt the need to throw out some questions about Amanpour's selection during a recent interview stating, "There are a lot of questions. Christiane does not have a lot of experience covering American politics and so how does she fit in on ABC on Sunday morning? I'll leave that to them to figure out. It is an interesting pick, it is an unorthodox choice, I think that's just self-evident...I'll watch how it plays out with everyone else."

Get that? There are lots of questions. She's not experienced covering American politics. But I'll leave ABC News to answer these questions...questions I've just thrown out to you like red meat to the media circus lions in my best impersonation of a Fox News chyron.

Regardless of what you think of these recent hirings, they are a long overdue step in the right-direction. Women and ethnic minorities bring a different world of experience to the table. They need not be booked solely for the purpose of discussing issues important to women and ethnic minorities as is far too often the case.

The Washington press corps is change averse. It's a stodgy, self-perpetuating, conventional wisdom driven world. It could use a little more, dare I say a great deal more, change.

[malaise]

1. All I have to say is

Go Rachel - Meet the Press is yours for the taking. Gregory is clueless

[HipChick]

13. + 100... I hate that dick..

[Oceansaway]

2. i'd rather watch her than "Dick" Gregory..n/t

[pleah]

3. Well, that didn't take long. n/t

[DCKit]

4. Maybe the talking heads see the tide turning - Americans want news, not spin n/t

[Cha]

5. Anything coming from dick cheney's valet,

john king, is pathetic..like he's anything but a tool.

It's hard to believe that abc will let Christanne deal in facts and have anyone but gops on and the token Dem but I hope she does well and I'm just being cynical.

[KittyWampus]

6. For the first time in over a decade, I will go out of my way to watch an ABC news program

I wish Fareed was easier to catch... I always miss him.

[BunkerHill24]

7. I think Ms. Amanpour is well-rounded journalist....

and the little she lacks on beltway politics, she's sure to learn it from her husband who is Washington-insider and former State Department spokesman.

[90-percent]

8. Wow!

Congratulations to Christine and all truth loving people everywhere! This seems very hopeful.

Christine has enough integrity to handle this, I hope?


-90% Jimmy

[Old and In the Way]

9. IIRC, Armapour was one of those persons that were illegally wiretapped.

Given her international experience and reputation, I suppose this could be an interesting program. King, of course, is clueless. His selection of Eric Erikson proves that.

[jberryhill]

10. I'll probably start watching

The Sunday shows became largely unwatchable over the last few years.

Christiane Amanpour will bring some much-needed intelligence to the discussion.

[panader0]

11. I think Amanpour is one of the best journalists out there.

Very intelligent. Is that what her detractors fear?

[NanceGreggs]

12. In a word ...

... yes.

[spanone]

14. she's gonna kick all their sorry asses....

[chollybocker]

15. Jon King is a no-neck msm troglodite.

His opinions are *sponsored* by CNN-held conglomerates. He gets his promotions by faithfully obeying his over-lords. Another GOP rent-boy.

[crikkett]

16. Anyone who thinks Amanpour isn't on the inside hasn't been paying attention.

Just a guess.

[Motown_Johnny]

17. I think they picked the smartest person who was available to the,. I like the choice

and I am sure she will do well