[IP] more on CNBC censors DNC
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Meeks, Brock (MSNBCi)" <Brock.Meeks@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: August 2, 2004 10:27:33 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [IP] CNBC censors DNC
Okay, let's just take a deep breath and back slowly away from creeping
conspiracy that the "anti-choice conservative networks" are all
participating in a massive [government sponsored!!?] experiment in
"GroupThink(tm)."
First of all realize that Bill Maher isn't exactly Jon Stewart when it
comes to news and on-point factual information, if for no other reason
that he calls CNBC a "network." It's not; it's part of cable, just as
C-SPAN is part of cable.
Next, realize that the networks carried a miniscule amount of the
convention at all and the coverage they did show was a slave to
commercial breaks, for crying out loud (this was why many pundits said
Sen. Kerry seemed to be "rushing" his speech... he only had X number of
minutes or the networks would have cut him off, too.)
Third, cable outlets, especially news outlets (like CNN, MSNBC and
CNBC), are notoriously handcuffed to what the biz calls "the hard
break." These are programmed breaks that will cut off a star
anchorperson unceremoniously in mid-sentence if they don't' stop
talking. I've been on TV plenty of times taking about this or that
story only to have a producer yelling "WRAP! WRAP!" in my ear,
meaning, "shut your mouth and stop yakking immediately because we're
out of time!"
So, this "limit of choice" turns out to be much more mundane (but no
less crass) than some "anti-choice" theory. If any choice is being
made... it's being made in favor of revenue over content.
--Brock
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