OPEN MIND, THE: BEHIND THE FRONT PAGE {DAVID S. BRODER} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of interview programs hosted by Richard D. Heffner. On this program, the guest is Washington Post political journalist David S. Broder. Heffner reads a passage from Broder's book, "Behind the Front Page: A Candid Look at How the News is Made," and the conversation touches on the following topics: the news media's influence on politics, despite the more "comfortable" claim of being a mere spectator; the need to verify facts rather than assume; the "tradition of objectivity" and Broder's preference for acknowledgement of the "tension" regarding a reporter's personal point of view; the inaccuracy of the phrase "all the news that's fit to print"; the selection and omission process in the production of news stories; the commercial and profit element to the news industry; reporters' freedom to focus on the story rather than on advertisers, and how the "entertainment value" issue falls to the producers; the increasing number of accessible news sources and the need to "upgrade" one's product in order to survive; disparaging comments from Vice President Spiro T. Agnew and Broder's opinion of his "flawed sense of values"; the need for reporters to be the "resident skeptic" of politicians' claims; the line between skepticism and cynicism; President Reagan and his peers as "the great evaders," who avoid making themselves available for questioning from the press and the people; the need for open dialogue between leaders and citizens; politicians' dislike of the media's "instant analysis" of their speeches and actions; the relative value of a national news council; and whether such a thing as a national news source actually exists. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 4, 1987 11:30 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:36378
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; News
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1956-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kathleen S.M. Shepherd … Executive Producer
- Richard D. Heffner … Producer, Host
- Meg Hanlon … Associate Producer
- Jeff Square … Director
- David S. Broder … Guest
- Spiro T. Agnew
- Ronald Reagan