Television news anchors are supposed to be above the fray of ordinary commercialism. They wish to be seen as trustworthy, honest and impartial.
Several prominent Chicago television news folks have been seen in a glorified commercial for a furniture store. Appearing far from impartial, it's proved to be an awkward moment.
The people who once covered Mayor Richard Daley, who were supposed to be independent of thought, don't look so independent when they gush over the departing politician. After the fact, they'd like very much to be edited out of the commercial.
How the clip came to be is, perhaps, due to a bit of subterfuge. The news anchors, and other local celebrities, were guests at a farewell party. Asked to say a few words, they were polite and said nice things.
What of the news people who were filmed on the set of their evening broadcast?
At their specific request, Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis have since been left on the cutting room floor.
The damage has already been done.
Viewers who have watched these anchors, expecting to hear an unbiased version of events, are left wondering if they've been had. If the anchor is fawning over a man who tore up Meigs Field because he could, did they give the man a pass on other things that might have influenced a voter to just say no to the Daley Machine?
In that case, why bother listening to them at 4, 5, 6 and 10?
No comments:
Post a Comment