I don't think they taught this in Journalism school

So, last night, President Obama held a press conference. At one point, CNN's Ed Henry asked a question, and the President gave a curt response. One question, one response. I didn't think it was really a big deal at the time.

Nope, coverage, not of the press conference, but of this one question, has received more news coverage today than the press conference itself. So much news today not about the question, or the response, but the response to the question and the response. And it isn't just other networks or newspapers talking about it, but CNN, and Ed Henry himself.

Ed Henry, Really? You are a reporter. You aren't supposed to be the story. It was a single question, and a single response. I don't really believe that warrants a response, let alone nearly 700 words. Is this how far the journalism profession has fallen that one possibly tough question and one possibly tough answer warrants dominating the news cycle the following day. I don't think this one question deserves to be recognizes or condemned. It was a question. Get over yourself Ed.

Is there any journalistic integrity left anywhere. I don't think this should be a story at all - if there is a story in the specifics of the President's answer or any answer, fine. But a day's worth of news about Ed Henry and the President and what does it mean. He is a reporter, it is his job to ask questions. To ask tough questions that occasionally might elicit a harsh response, that sometimes may be warranted, and sometimes it might be an overreaction.

If someone else wants to write about this, fine. I don't really think it is a story. But I don't think a journalist should ever be writing an article about reaction to his own one question. These networks and companies are so desperate for ratings, that they will jump all over anything. Journalism ethics be damned.

This is right along the lines of these news shows calling themselves, "The best political coverage" or similar terms. Newspapers and news networks should just be that. News. Not this bullsh*t of creating on your own labels for your own coverage. Does anyone other than CNN call it the best political coverage? So CNN should not. If you have to advertise your own news show as no bias, no bull, it is probably a pretty safe bet your are full of sh*t. And CNN is far from the only one, it really is every network. And it is just another reason why it is increasingly difficult to take any news on any of these networks seriously. Their priorities are not based on delivering the news. That is far, far down the list with money and advertising and ratings being at the top of the list for the networks; and just getting publicity for yourself at the top of the list for the reporters.

I read this article here by Eric Alterman about the press conference. I agree with everything Alterman writes. I think regardless of your political views, opinions of the President or any of his ideas, we can agree that cable news is failing at its job of informing the American public on what matters. This failure is only going to become more alarming as newspapers continue to go away. Alterman points out the questions on substantive issues had to come from other outlets - not the cable news reporters and not even major newspapers. Maybe this will be the only way to teach these so-called reporters a lesson: stop wasting our time in your attempt to entertain instead of inform, or else, lose your ability to have the President answer your questions.

Something needs to be done because cable news reporters aren't asking questions and filming stories based on what is the most important. They are going for ratings and entertainment. The way CNN followed up on the Ed Henry question underscored this. CNN and Henry wanted to get good television by trying to goad Obama. When he gave them a response that they felt they could spin and stretch into their pre-determined Obama shows anger story - they ran wild with it. And their friends were all too happy to join in. They don't want questions and answers about substance, about issues. They want a show about anger, who is angry, who is the most angry, and when were they angry. As we face this economic crisis, I have just one simple question - why the f*ck does that matter?