Political pundits are overpopulating the news networks, according to the Washington Post.
They’re right — there ARE a lot of pundits on TV. No big surprise in this election year.
But they almost all have the same thing to say. If it’s Pat Buchanan, you know it’s going to be the same old conservative rhetoric.
If it’s Chris Matthews, you can bet there’s going to be some Hillary-bashing a-goin’ on.
Of course, there’s my guy Keith Olbermann. He and all the other political show hosts have their reliable stables of favorites, but they’re the same faces and voices over and over and over.
And most of them are men. Sure, there are a few women — I’m especially enjoying Rachel Maddow. But I can predict what all of them are going to say before they even say it. I’ve got their analysis pretty much committed to memory at this stage of the presidential vetting process.
There’s one thing I have noticed, though — I don’t see any people like me.
Or like those of us who write at Moms Speak Up. Or like my peeps at MOMocrats. Or like the gang at Progressive Women’s Voices.
See the pattern? It’s not a pretty one I’d pick out for my china.
We’re a bunch of women, a lot of us mothers, with a loads of opinions that we’re not afraid to share. So where are our voices in the network conversations?
Tim Russert. Wolf Blitzer. Keith!
Want to boost your ratings and ad revenues with our demographic? Invite a few of us onto your shows with the other pundits. I think we’d all like to have a new twist on these conversations and enjoy a little less predictability.
We’ll behave. Really! And we promise we’ll be gentle.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
YES to that!
I think the thing that has troubled me the most about not just pundits but anchors/reporters in interviews (Larry King, Wolf, etc.) is the utter lack of listening.
I saw Larry King interview Romney, for example, and he was so busy trying to get through his question list that he let the CRAZIEST and most NONSENSICAL statements alone.
I doubt he could even tell you what Romney said in reply (I was paying attention and I couldn’t—he had a lot of non-answers and unsupported assertions).
I hoped he watched a playback of that interview and saw how many dropped balls and missed chances for follow-up and discussion there were.
We do need better reporting all around.
The success isn’t simply from landing the interview; it lies in conducting a good and informational discussion that provides viewers with more data for an informed choice.
Perhaps new voices, as you suggest, will accomplish this better.
We’ve gotten too “safe” in reporting. Let’s aim for something better.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I think you are right on in your statements. I am sick the pundits for the most part and sick of the poor representation of women. It’s as bad if not worse in the blogosphere. Where are the liberal female voices?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I totally agree.
How can we rally?
February 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
You know, I think we are, but it’s coming in small steps.
It’s hard to un-learn what we’ve absorbed through the years. It was never OK to be a smart and opinionated girl where I grew up. It’s time for the nation and world to get over it.