How “Hard-Hitting” Interviews Have Killed Journalism

When “serious journalists” are around equally serious lying, preening and self-promoting politicians, their techniques will naturally be affected. The result is either an insipid, tail-between-legs sequence of nods, feigned laughter and facile banter about the family cocker spaniel (a la Barbara Walters) or shouting bouts where the so-called journalist must prove his ego is the size of Canada or immediately perish (re: Bill O’Reilly). The point is that neither approach lends itself to meaningful, truthful and intellectually-charged discussion, and those who suffer most are the people who care enough about the state of affairs to tune in. We can do better, guys.