Talk Show hosts paid by the government

Bjorn · 7th January 2005, 06:47 PM

What do you think about talk-show hosts being paid by the government to promote certain viewpoints?

shecky · 7th January 2005, 06:57 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...itehouse_x.htm

Quote:

Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same.

The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004.

This is how we win hearts and minds. Pay them off.

Quote:

Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in."

Quarter of a million bucks would make me a believer, too.

Bjorn · 7th January 2005, 07:09 PM

Never mind - Jesus is coming back this week (paid for by the Catholic Church and Dubya - a hundred grand each per year).

I am an official broker of talk show hosts' viewpoints!

Gore really won Florida: 100,000
Bush really won Florida: 100,000

(First come, first serve).

DavidJames · 7th January 2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bjorn
What do you think about talk-show hosts being paid by the government to promote certain viewpoints?

I give Williams credit for this:

Quote:

Williams called criticism of his relationship with the department "legitimate."

"It's a fine line," he told The Associated Press on Friday. "Even though I'm not a journalist -- I'm a commentator -- I feel I should be held to the media ethics standard. My judgment was not the best. I wouldn't do it again, and I learned from it."

while the White House trots out

Quote:

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday that the decisions on the practice were made by the Education Department. He did not directly answer when asked whether the White House approved of the practice, saying it was a department matter.

keeping it's perfect record of never having made a mistake.

The Central Scrutinizer · 7th January 2005, 10:43 PM

Jerry Springer is getting paid?

Bjorn · 26th January 2005, 04:02 PM

He mumbled about not being the only one, and it seems like he was right (although this one is not as blatant):

Quote:

In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush's push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families.

...........

But Gallagher failed to mention that she had a $21,500 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to help promote the president's proposal.

...........

Later in the day, Gallagher filed a column in which she said that "I should have disclosed a government contract when I later wrote about the Bush marriage initiative. I would have, if I had remembered it. My apologies to my readers."

Next? CNN or Fox?

Ladewig · 26th January 2005, 05:13 PM

I am not sure why, but the thing that torques me the most is her original response:

â€œDid I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it? I donâ€™t know. You tell me.â€ She said she would have â€œbeen happy to tell anyone who called meâ€ about the contract but that â€œfrankly, it never occurred to meâ€ to disclose it.

I guess I can handle immorality easier than I can handle stupidity.

karl · 27th January 2005, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ladewig
I am not sure why, but the thing that torques me the most is her original response:

â€œDid I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it? I donâ€™t know. You tell me.â€ She said she would have â€œbeen happy to tell anyone who called meâ€ about the contract but that â€œfrankly, it never occurred to meâ€ to disclose it.

I guess I can handle immorality easier than I can handle stupidity.

Or perhaps you sensed she was lying when she said that. Most people find it easier to admit stupidity than immorality, because they know the average Joe is more prone to forgive and forget the former.

7th January 2005, 06:47 PM	#1
Bjorn Off Topic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,974	Talk Show hosts paid by the government What do you think about talk-show hosts being paid by the government to promote certain viewpoints?
	__________________ Little did I know, that all those days that came and went, were my life ....

7th January 2005, 07:09 PM	#3
Bjorn Off Topic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,974	Never mind - Jesus is coming back this week (paid for by the Catholic Church and Dubya - a hundred grand each per year). I am an official broker of talk show hosts' viewpoints! Gore really won Florida: 100,000 Bush really won Florida: 100,000 (First come, first serve).
	__________________ Little did I know, that all those days that came and went, were my life ....

7th January 2005, 10:00 PM	#4
DavidJames Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Front Range, CO Posts: 7,088	Re: Talk Show hosts paid by the government Quote: Originally posted by Bjorn What do you think about talk-show hosts being paid by the government to promote certain viewpoints? I give Williams credit for this: Quote: Williams called criticism of his relationship with the department "legitimate." "It's a fine line," he told The Associated Press on Friday. "Even though I'm not a journalist -- I'm a commentator -- I feel I should be held to the media ethics standard. My judgment was not the best. I wouldn't do it again, and I learned from it." while the White House trots out Quote: White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday that the decisions on the practice were made by the Education Department. He did not directly answer when asked whether the White House approved of the practice, saying it was a department matter. keeping it's perfect record of never having made a mistake.
	__________________ I will no longer respond to those who choose to have tools of murder as their avatars. Everyone is a skeptic except, of course, for the stuff that they believe Beaver Hateman: Is your argument that human life loses value proportionate to the number of humans available? Malcolm Kirkpatrick: That's part of the argument. Value is determined by supply and demand.

7th January 2005, 10:43 PM	#5
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Pither Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,277	Jerry Springer is getting paid?
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26th January 2005, 04:02 PM	#6
Bjorn Off Topic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,974	He mumbled about not being the only one, and it seems like he was right (although this one is not as blatant): Quote: In 2002, syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher repeatedly defended President Bush's push for a $300 million initiative encouraging marriage as a way of strengthening families. ........... But Gallagher failed to mention that she had a $21,500 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to help promote the president's proposal. ........... Later in the day, Gallagher filed a column in which she said that "I should have disclosed a government contract when I later wrote about the Bush marriage initiative. I would have, if I had remembered it. My apologies to my readers." Next? CNN or Fox?
	__________________ Little did I know, that all those days that came and went, were my life ....

7th January 2005, 06:57 PM	#2
shecky Master Poster Join Date: May 2002 Location: Home of the Homeless Posts: 2,190	http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...itehouse_x.htm Quote: Seeking to build support among black families for its education reform law, the Bush administration paid a prominent black pundit $240,000 to promote the law on his nationally syndicated television show and to urge other black journalists to do the same. The campaign, part of an effort to promote No Child Left Behind (NCLB), required commentator Armstrong Williams "to regularly comment on NCLB during the course of his broadcasts," and to interview Education Secretary Rod Paige for TV and radio spots that aired during the show in 2004. This is how we win hearts and minds. Pay them off. Quote: Williams said Thursday he understands that critics could find the arrangement unethical, but "I wanted to do it because it's something I believe in." Quarter of a million bucks would make me a believer, too.

26th January 2005, 05:13 PM	#7
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,821	I am not sure why, but the thing that torques me the most is her original response: â€œDid I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it? I donâ€™t know. You tell me.â€ She said she would have â€œbeen happy to tell anyone who called meâ€ about the contract but that â€œfrankly, it never occurred to meâ€ to disclose it. I guess I can handle immorality easier than I can handle stupidity.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

27th January 2005, 01:34 AM	#8
karl Thinker Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Uppsala Posts: 231	Quote: Originally posted by Ladewig I am not sure why, but the thing that torques me the most is her original response: â€œDid I violate journalistic ethics by not disclosing it? I donâ€™t know. You tell me.â€ She said she would have â€œbeen happy to tell anyone who called meâ€ about the contract but that â€œfrankly, it never occurred to meâ€ to disclose it. I guess I can handle immorality easier than I can handle stupidity. Or perhaps you sensed she was lying when she said that. Most people find it easier to admit stupidity than immorality, because they know the average Joe is more prone to forgive and forget the former.