One day it might make a great movie (a sort of Network 2) - how FOX News was able to out-maneuver MSNBC and destroy the seed of an almost actual liberal media before it took root. But given the nature of the story, it's highly unlikely such a movie would air on NBC or FOX.
Well, maybe on FOX.
After years of feuding between MSNBC's Keith Olbermann of FOX's Bill O'Reilly, the heads of both networks sat down and arranged a deal, brokered by Charlie "CBS News and ABC News and NBC News are not influenced by the corporations that may own those companies" Rose, to lay off each other since it was bad for business. Good for ratings, true. And maybe even good for journalism. But not good for business.
Weeks back, I thought it was strange that Olbermann announced that he was retiring his Bill O'Reilly/Ted Knight impersonation - at the time under some convoluted nonsense about Billo being too dangerous now to parody. And now I know why. A deal had been cut - a deal that would keep Olbermann off O'Reilly's ass, and O'Reilly off the ass of the corporate goings-on of NBC's parent company GE.
These should be the takeaways from the story:
Your corporate media is censored by corporate interests. (Duh, we know. But now completely undeniable.)
Charlie Rose is a liar. Career over.
Keith Olbermann, someone with whom the left has always had an uncomfortable relationship (hey, I've always liked the guy, I think he's funny) has just been cut off at the knees. Keith Olbermann is a liar. Career over.
Shareholders should demand resignations from NBC's Jeffrey Immelt and Jeff Zucker. These 2 gentlemen were either too stupid or myopic or self-involved to imagine what might happen to the credibility of their news division should this story surface. So either way, they shouldn't have anything to do with media. Well, maybe Zucker could be allowed to host a local AM radio talk show.
In the world of Convenient Realities, FOX News suffers no egg on its face from its viewers. They simply don't and won't care. Reality and truth aren't what they seek in news.
In fact, there is no accountability for FOX whatsoever since they are bozo propagandists for the Republican Party anyway.
MSNBC who was gaining a substantial progressive audience, will now lose that audience because of lack of trust and credibility. And there is no discernible roadmap to regaining that credibility.
And the ever-skinny Richard Wolffe, a regular Countdown commentator and even guest host this past week, it turns out is not really a political analyst so much as a corporate communications firm strategist (or lobbyist). Career over.
But what will most likely happen is that neither network will acknowledge the story and while FOX continues to do well with they Birther and Deather hysterics, MSNBC will bleed audience until it becomes an irrelevant and distant 3rd place network.
Psst, Keith - enough of the "I wasn't part of any deal" nonsense. It's obvious you were reined in. Just fess up. But that isn't really going to matter much. Your credibility, sir, is a casualty.
I strongly recommend you reading all of Glenn Greenwald's Salon piece - this history of NBC's corporate censorship is stunning (although not completely a surprise or unfamiliar).
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