This “catch and kill” concept was a new concept for me. Was the National Enquirer the only publication that had access to the story? What responsible writer would be satisfied selling his/her story to not have it published? Wow.
Jim, it’s not the writer who gets paid, it’s the subject of the news story. In other words, someone who had dirt on Trump would be approached by a staff member of the Enquirer and paid a large sum of money for exclusive rights to the story. Then the Enquirer would “kill” the story and never run it, while the source has signed a contract to not tell anyone else the story. This, the story goes away.
Fox News is a joke. Unfortunately, too many Americans refuse to watch or listen to anything else. As a result, millions of people are misinformed and misled. That's how Trump gets his power.
I have often wondered when reporters are reporting on a controversial piece of news, if their reporting and opinions are genuine about a story and they really believe it OR are the guests and reporters spinning the story so that it fits under the umbrella as to how that news station feels....yet they don't really agree with the content being reported.
In a perfect world, reporters would do neither. They should gather facts as best they can and then write a story that recites those facts in a clear, understandable way. Reporters are human, not robots, so it’s not a perfect process. But good reporters are trained to keep their personal views OUT of all stories. And reporters are extremely independent people and would fight back against any restrictions or guidelines from management.
The above comment is meant to describe real reporters, not the commentators who dominate cable news.
Thank you for your analysis of today’s trial coverage. At the moment, our system is doing what it is designed to do: provide a fair trial for a person charged with a crime. Let’s hope this continues and our system of “law and order” holds for the duration of this trial, and for the trials to come. Beschloss commented today that this was a momentous day: a former president is on trial, and there are no troops on the streets in support of this effort.
Dave, I didn't watch any news coverage of the trial. Instead I listened to the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) oral arguments surrounding the January 06 events. The ultimate SCOTUS ruling in this case is more important to America than the hush money trial. But There are several elements here that deserve attention:
First, as a basic statement, of course, there is no crime in trying to influence voters. Politicians do it all the time on the campaign trail and in their ads in news media.
Second, if the folks described in this article are willing to sell their negative stories about Donald Trump for a sizeable amount of money, what does that say about them? Not much in a positive sense.
Finally, yes, this trial is taking place in liberal New York City, and I will be shocked if the verdict is not guilty. So this will be appealed. No, I have never been a Donald Trump supporter.
Agree that the folks in this trial have less than stellar reputations and agree it doesn’t say much good about them but as I wrote in the column, what does it say about Trump that he surrounded himself with such people?
Yes, no crime in influencing voters, but that doesn’t excuse any and all such behavior. If a political payoff is recorded on the Trump Org books as a payment for legal services, that is against the law. It should have been a political expense reported by the campaign.
Lastly, Trump always appeals. It’s part of his playbook. And his supporters are paying his massive legal bills.
Dave, thank you your reply. You are correct about the proper and improper record keeping of various payments. When I commented on the payment for stories, I actually was referring to the individuals who are willing say negative things in exchange for cash. Yes, Trump's team's willingness to pay for this speaks volumes about their dishonesty. But if I were willing to say something bad about a newsmaker in exchange for money, I might be tempted to take the money and not care if my story appeared or not. Neither side in such exchanges exhibits praiseworthy character.
I watched some of the coverage on all three infotainment networks tonight. Fox News portrayed our 45th president as being a captive in a cold, windowless courtroom. Outside the courtroom he said "I should be in Georgia" campaigning. He is campaigning from the courthouse, just as sure as Sens. Klobuchar and Warren were campaigning from the U.S. Senate in session in 2019 during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary season. They protested that they, too, should have been out on the campaign trail. They were -- on MSNBC and CNN three to four nights a week with hosts such as Lawrence F. O'Donnell Jr. feeding them softball questions. The Senate was their bully pulpit just as the courthouse is for our 45th president. The difference, of course, is they were ostensibly doing the jobs they were elected to --- not on trial -- the ultimate test of Mr. Trump's heretofore Teflon coating. My point is, just be a little skeptical about someone who protests about how put upon they are when the cameras are rolling, no matter who they are.
No accountability for Fox, even after all of the lawsuits. No commitment to the truth. No accountability for WHO and WMT radio either, spreading toxic misinformation and lies into Iowa's media landscape. Thanks for the coverage!
This “catch and kill” concept was a new concept for me. Was the National Enquirer the only publication that had access to the story? What responsible writer would be satisfied selling his/her story to not have it published? Wow.
Hope you get feeling better.
Jim, it’s not the writer who gets paid, it’s the subject of the news story. In other words, someone who had dirt on Trump would be approached by a staff member of the Enquirer and paid a large sum of money for exclusive rights to the story. Then the Enquirer would “kill” the story and never run it, while the source has signed a contract to not tell anyone else the story. This, the story goes away.
Fox News is a joke. Unfortunately, too many Americans refuse to watch or listen to anything else. As a result, millions of people are misinformed and misled. That's how Trump gets his power.
I have often wondered when reporters are reporting on a controversial piece of news, if their reporting and opinions are genuine about a story and they really believe it OR are the guests and reporters spinning the story so that it fits under the umbrella as to how that news station feels....yet they don't really agree with the content being reported.
In a perfect world, reporters would do neither. They should gather facts as best they can and then write a story that recites those facts in a clear, understandable way. Reporters are human, not robots, so it’s not a perfect process. But good reporters are trained to keep their personal views OUT of all stories. And reporters are extremely independent people and would fight back against any restrictions or guidelines from management.
The above comment is meant to describe real reporters, not the commentators who dominate cable news.
Hope you’re better fast!
Keep your coverage going, Dave!
Justice and accountability on the way, we can only hope!
Thank you for your analysis of today’s trial coverage. At the moment, our system is doing what it is designed to do: provide a fair trial for a person charged with a crime. Let’s hope this continues and our system of “law and order” holds for the duration of this trial, and for the trials to come. Beschloss commented today that this was a momentous day: a former president is on trial, and there are no troops on the streets in support of this effort.
Thanks for highlighting the differences in coverage among the networks!
Thank you.
Thank you, Dave. I enjoy your perspectives.
Dave, I didn't watch any news coverage of the trial. Instead I listened to the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) oral arguments surrounding the January 06 events. The ultimate SCOTUS ruling in this case is more important to America than the hush money trial. But There are several elements here that deserve attention:
First, as a basic statement, of course, there is no crime in trying to influence voters. Politicians do it all the time on the campaign trail and in their ads in news media.
Second, if the folks described in this article are willing to sell their negative stories about Donald Trump for a sizeable amount of money, what does that say about them? Not much in a positive sense.
Finally, yes, this trial is taking place in liberal New York City, and I will be shocked if the verdict is not guilty. So this will be appealed. No, I have never been a Donald Trump supporter.
Steve, I agree in part and disagree in part.
Agree that the folks in this trial have less than stellar reputations and agree it doesn’t say much good about them but as I wrote in the column, what does it say about Trump that he surrounded himself with such people?
Yes, no crime in influencing voters, but that doesn’t excuse any and all such behavior. If a political payoff is recorded on the Trump Org books as a payment for legal services, that is against the law. It should have been a political expense reported by the campaign.
Lastly, Trump always appeals. It’s part of his playbook. And his supporters are paying his massive legal bills.
Dave, thank you your reply. You are correct about the proper and improper record keeping of various payments. When I commented on the payment for stories, I actually was referring to the individuals who are willing say negative things in exchange for cash. Yes, Trump's team's willingness to pay for this speaks volumes about their dishonesty. But if I were willing to say something bad about a newsmaker in exchange for money, I might be tempted to take the money and not care if my story appeared or not. Neither side in such exchanges exhibits praiseworthy character.
I bet Fox had much better coverage on Benghazi and got into more detail about Hunter Biden than CNN.
I’m sure you’re right
Dave, you are doing such a great service with this news post.
Thank you for your efforts.
Who could have ever foreseen when outlets just lied?
Thanks, Jon. Nice to hear from you.
Thanks. I have a hard time forcing myself to watch Fox. Really appreciate knowing about the contrast in coverage. Not surprised.
I watch so you don’t have to!
I watched some of the coverage on all three infotainment networks tonight. Fox News portrayed our 45th president as being a captive in a cold, windowless courtroom. Outside the courtroom he said "I should be in Georgia" campaigning. He is campaigning from the courthouse, just as sure as Sens. Klobuchar and Warren were campaigning from the U.S. Senate in session in 2019 during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary season. They protested that they, too, should have been out on the campaign trail. They were -- on MSNBC and CNN three to four nights a week with hosts such as Lawrence F. O'Donnell Jr. feeding them softball questions. The Senate was their bully pulpit just as the courthouse is for our 45th president. The difference, of course, is they were ostensibly doing the jobs they were elected to --- not on trial -- the ultimate test of Mr. Trump's heretofore Teflon coating. My point is, just be a little skeptical about someone who protests about how put upon they are when the cameras are rolling, no matter who they are.
👍
No accountability for Fox, even after all of the lawsuits. No commitment to the truth. No accountability for WHO and WMT radio either, spreading toxic misinformation and lies into Iowa's media landscape. Thanks for the coverage!
Well said Dave, thanks for your fair coverage during this historic time.