Can The News Be Fixed? An Interview With Disney's Bob Iger | The Problem With Jon Stewart

Summary

This conversation delves into the challenges facing modern news organizations, including their reluctance to speak publicly, the pressures to deliver ratings, and the influence of biases and sensationalism. The discussion highlights the erosion of journalistic integrity due to commercialization, with news often blurring the line between fact and opinion. The dialogue also critiques the role of social media and technology in shaping public perceptions. The conversation ends with a reflection on the possibility of creating a more responsible and credible news organization, though it acknowledges the significant challenges in doing so within the current media landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 News organizations feel under increasing scrutiny and criticism, which has led to a 'bunker mentality' among some leaders in the industry.
• 😀 The focus on ratings pressures in news organizations often conflicts with the goal of delivering high-quality, unbiased news content.
• 😀 News is frequently shaped by what might attract viewership, with some stories being underreported or skewed based on perceived audience interest.
• 😀 The decline in trust in news organizations today, compared to the past (e.g., the Cronkite era), is attributed to technology, the rise of opinion-based content, and an explosion in news volume.
• 😀 The difference between news and opinion has blurred, and much of what people consider 'news' today is actually biased opinion.
• 😀 Editorial decisions such as leading with certain stories (e.g., the Mueller investigation) can contribute to perceived bias in news coverage.
• 😀 News organizations have sometimes overemphasized political or controversial stories, which can reduce journalistic credibility and impact the quality of reporting.
• 😀 Many important stories, like the withdrawal from Afghanistan, were either underreported or misrepresented, leading to public confusion and a lack of preparedness.
• 😀 Coverage of conflict, like the mask-wearing debate during COVID-19, may exacerbate issues by focusing on polarized views rather than informing the public objectively.
• 😀 Some argue that the business model of news organizations, driven by viewership and sensationalism, often undermines responsible reporting and accuracy.
• 😀 A potential solution for improving news quality might involve creating a subscription-based model with a focus on credibility, responsibility, and accountability, but there are doubts about its practicality.

Q & A

Why are news organizations reluctant to speak publicly, according to the interviewee?

News organizations are reluctant to speak publicly due to a sense of being constantly scrutinized and criticized in ways they haven't experienced before, leading to a 'bunker mentality'.

What are the key pressures that influence news organizations in their reporting?

News organizations are influenced by ratings pressure, which impacts editorial decisions, as well as concerns about accusations of political bias, particularly liberal bias.

How does the interviewee view the role of ratings in news production?

The interviewee suggests that ratings pressure often shapes editorial choices, with producers and executive producers focusing on what they believe will attract viewers, rather than purely on the newsworthiness of the story.

What is the interviewee’s stance on whether news organizations intentionally distort stories to attract viewers?

The interviewee acknowledges that while some stories might not be covered as extensively due to perceived lack of audience interest, they argue that news organizations don’t intentionally distort stories for sensationalism.

What does the interviewee think has caused the decline in trust in news organizations?

The decline in trust is attributed to the rise of technology enabling an explosion of programming, including social media, where much of what is presented as news is actually opinion or misinformation, reducing the overall quality of news.

How does the interviewee perceive the presentation of 'breaking news'?

The interviewee argues that the constant focus on sensational 'breaking news' headlines like 'Everyone will die!' reflects the industry's reliance on engagement-driven business models, undermining journalistic credibility.

Does the interviewee believe the coverage of the Afghanistan withdrawal was overhyped?

No, the interviewee agrees that the Afghanistan withdrawal was a significant and newsworthy event but points out that the lack of ongoing coverage over the past decade may have contributed to the public's surprise at the rapid Taliban takeover.

What does the interviewee think about news organizations’ coverage of conflicts like COVID-19?

The interviewee acknowledges that COVID-19 coverage was not overhyped but emphasizes that the media focused too much on political conflicts around mask-wearing, rather than on the scientific reasoning behind it.

What does the interviewee propose as a solution for improving news reporting?

The interviewee suggests creating a new news organization from scratch, one that prioritizes credibility, responsibility, and accountability over sensationalism and hyperbole, though they admit that this is an idealistic concept.

What is the interviewee’s view on the business model of media organizations like Fox News?

The interviewee sees Fox News as a product of Roger Ailes's strategy of capitalizing on existing media biases, particularly in terms of catering to right-wing views, which led to other organizations pivoting similarly, compromising journalistic integrity in the process.