7 chapters across the catalog
A critique of NBC News focuses on the poor audio quality of a report featuring Michael Cohen's testimony. The reporter appeared to be using consumer-grade earbuds or FaceTime for a broadcast segment, leading to a muffled sound. The lack of professional technical standards at major networks is highlighted as a sign of declining media quality.
Journalism Professionalization, Columbia Journalism School and Industry Standards
A critique of modern journalism argues that the professionalization of the industry through institutions like the Columbia Journalism School has degraded reporting quality. In the past, reporters gained expertise through specific beats like police reporting or by holding relevant licenses, such as pilot licenses for aviation writers. The current system is described as prioritizing narrative over technical knowledge.
New York Times Editorial Culture and Self-Censorship
An anecdote involving a former New York Times editor highlights the disconnect between management's claims of editorial freedom and the reality of reporter self-censorship. While the editor claimed he would fire anyone who avoided stories out of fear, the hosts argue that reporters instinctively know which topics are verboten to protect their jobs.
Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson criticized the paper in her book for having an "unmistakably anti-Trump" stance. She claims the younger "woke" staff have abandoned traditional journalistic standards and that the paper benefits financially from negative Trump coverage due to increased digital traffic.
ABC News Response to Epstein Reporting Allegations
Following the leak of her hot mic comments, Amy Robach and ABC News released statements claiming the Epstein story did not air in 2015 because it failed to meet editorial standards for corroboration. ABC announced that their ongoing investigation will culminate in a two-hour documentary and a podcast. Critics suggest the network is attempting to bury the controversy by moving the reporting to a lower-profile podcast format.
Following the Special Counsel's dispute of the BuzzFeed story, PBS NewsHour omitted the correction from its primary news teaser, effectively burying the follow-up. The reliance on anonymous "government sources" by major publications like The New York Times is criticized as a systemic failure in modern journalism. The segment argues that the lack of accountability for "fake" reporting has become normalized in the industry.
A discussion focuses on the changing appearance of New York Times reporters, contrasting the "buttoned-down" style of past journalists like Andrew Ross Sorkin with the perceived "sloppy" appearance of newer staff members.
