(93,000+ Views @ Huffinton Post) Cenk: The Real Problem With CNBC

[ihavenobias]

NOTE: Keep in mind this was written Wednesday 3/11/09, BEFORE Jon Stewart had Cramer on his show.


By Cenk Uygur

I know that Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer have been in a bit of a lately. Of course, it's not really a fight because Stewart isn't doing this to pick a fight with Cramer or because he doesn't like him. He's making fun of him -- because that's what he does.

Stewart also makes fun of Obama from time to time (check out him ripping Obama ). Does this mean he doesn't like Obama? No, it means he's a comedian. Over the last couple of days Cramer and Joe Scarborough have been using that word as a pejorative, but that's the guy's job -- to make people laugh. They are pissed because he's good at it.

But if they think there is a kernel of truth in what Stewart is saying -- which, of course, is why they're actually angry -- they're right. Stewart also wants to make you think about what the role of the media is. And when you think about that in regard to CNBC, Jim Cramer is the least of their problems...

...The real problem is their reporting -- or lack thereof. The CNBC reporters and anchors make the Bush press corps look like draconian inquisitors. They are . This is a problem with all of the media, and something Jon Stewart points out all the time. But it is particularly acute at CNBC (and all other business news channels).

I have a close friend who works at a business news station -- and here is the worst kept secret in show business -- it's all about the access. If you piss off the CEOs or the companies, you're going to get a call from your boss. You have jeopardized our relationship with them!

That is very thinly disguised code words for -- don't ever say anything negative about a company we cover otherwise your job is in the trouble. The message is clear -- go along to get along. This isn't journalism. It's public relations by another name.

CNBC never did any exposés about the enormous risks these financial companies took. They never exposed the insanity of the derivatives market. And they never told their audience that . Because they didn't see that as their job. They saw their job as doing whatever it took to keep Wall Street happy and playing ball with them.

They were part of the broken system. There was no journalism going on at CNBC. That is what our underlying complaint is. That is what CNBC continues to miss to this day as they try to defend themselves by saying their words were taken out of context. The problem was the context!

Will they straighten ship and start doing real investigative journalism uncovering the abuses of Wall Street now that they have been called out. I doubt it. That's not how they're structured. They don't view the average guy in their audience or the American public overall as their main constituency. They view Wall Street as their constituency. So, they will continue to serve them...

To Read The Entire Piece At Huffington Post.

[Demeter]

1. K& Double R!

If I could!

[pleah]

2. K&R#5

[theFrankFactor]

3. Dare I say it? MEGA-KICK!

http://www.helios360.com/thefrankfactor/2009/03/comedy-versus-crap

This whole scenario between Stewart and Cramer is a metaphor for the utter collapse of the integrity of main stream media. Imagine if the Main Stream Media had the balls to call out the Bush Administration the way comedy show host John Steward did Jim Cramer, the Clown Prince of Financial Feces on CNBC! But you see, the MSM isn’t about Liberal or Republican, it’s about bullshit and greed. CNBC’s viewers don’t even break a million in number but the financial clout they wield is disproportionately huge. John Stewart’s interview with Cramer is highly, and I mean highly, incriminating...
READ THE REST AND SEE THE INTERVIEW HERE:
http://www.helios360.com/thefrankfactor/2009/03/comedy-versus-crap/

[DaLittle Kitty]

27. THIS Is Merely Documentation Of Our Corporatist Nation... Where The Corporate Media...

Spews PROPAGANDA and DECEPTION to influence us to believe one thing or another which is to either our detriment or their benefit. Cramer is a TOOL! He was "encouraging" the public to BUY into the SELLING ... in order to support the SELLING back in 1999-2000 The same thing he was doing here in 2008. No different!

Stewart WAS NOT HARSH ENOUGH ON CRAMER/CNBC! In fact he "PLUGGED" MADMONEY at the very end of the show! NOTHING WILL CHANGE... until the public WAKES UP! I will NOT hold my breath on that one!

[DaLittle Kitty]

35. I Got PanHandled Tonight By A Young Woman In Her Car At WalMArt! We R In A Depression!

:think:

[yellerpup]

4. The access thing is out of balance.

People with products to sell need access that the media provides. Stop advertising for them for free 24/7 and they'll play nice to get access. Cenk rules! K&R!

[ihavenobias]

5. It's awesome that Cenk is railing against CNBC knowing he's in contention for the 10pm MSNBC job

I think that says a lot about him.

[yellerpup]

6. Smooching butt would be out of character for him.

He's smart, capable, funny, and wise. He deserves the job and he's saying what he believes. That ought to work in his favor unless ("don't upset me by disagreeing with me when I'm wrong') George W. Bush is now running MSNBC. I'm pulling for Cenk to get the job. He will be brilliant at it. :kick:

edit for spelling

[ihavenobias]

16. I hope you're right.

I guess we'll see.

:)

[spindrifter]

7. The real problem is that we, the people, keep

letting the networks get away with this infomercial programming. We need to keep calling them out and boycotting their sponsors when they persist in trying to feed us this pap. When I think of all the people who do jail time for stealing less than $20 worth of merchandise, it makes me sick to read about the financial "wizards" who have stolen from all of us and sit fat and satisfied in the Hamptons or on their boats in the Bahamas.

[20score]

8. Big K&R

[Lugnut]

9. K&R n/t

[matthewf]

10. k&r

[CherylK]

11. K & R!!!

:applause:

[GinaMaria]

12. kick

[ejbr]

13. k & r n/t

[OhioChick]

14. K&R

:kick:

[MadrasT]

15. Yep. The problem is that "PR" was presented as "factual news"

Epic. Fail.

Kick and enthusiastic R.

:kick:

[midnight]

17. I find my self wondering like Helen Thomas. Where is everbody?

Some time around 2004-ish, I stopped watching regular T.V. I felt everyone was just entertaining us VS. informing us. It says something when our comedians are more informative than our televsion news reporters.

[ihavenobias]

20. Like Thom Hartmann likes to say, there used to be a firewall betweent the News & Sales departments.

Once that was removed, entertainment trumped news, and fluff bullshit trumped hard-hitting information, especially if a sponsor is involved.

[dpbrown]

18. So NBC quashes the entire story - not even a mention on SNL last night

Stewart called out the insiders acting as cheerleaders pretending to expose "shenanigans" on his show, and the MSM conspires to ignore him.

[Wetzelbill]

19. kandr

[autorank]

21. k*r!!!!!!!!!!!!1 n/t

[carnie_sf]

22. Kick baby kick

[fasttense]

23. I have to think that since our corporate media is nothing more than hand puppets for

corporations that America is not a real democratic country anymore. Can a democracy last when the vast majority of journalism has become a PR firm for Wall Street and Bankers?

I just think America has gone over to a totalitarian, fascist regime and may never return to democracy.

[tbyg52]

24. The only post I have ever had deleted here

was because, as best I could figure out, of a link to a "conspiracy" site that said the exact same thing. I'm glad this word is getting out, finally.

Edited because I cannot spell.

[Beavker]

25. CNBC on fire this morning.

I bearly walked in the door and I've heard from a Texas Republican blasting the administration, the stimulus plan, and shouting for Tax Cuts (obviously for the rich). Same ol', same ol'.

They continue to just interview GOP Dinosaur after Dinosaur. They are doing their very best at CNBC to provide that platform for the GOP and push their agendas to keep themselves rich.

MSM isn't any better. I flipped on Stephonopolous this weekend and even there there was a fucking Republican (it was McConnell) blathering on. I couldn't watch. What is going on with the MSM and the GOP right now? They are in the Minority and becoming a joke, yet they are getting more press than ever.

The losing team should not get more inverviews than the winning team. What a joke.
Every member that has any portfolio whatsoever, needs to dump GE. If it's in a Mutual Fund in your 401K, get rid of that MF for another one. Dump the Stock if you own in.

[ihavenobias]

26. I believe it was Think Progress (and maybe Media Matters) that recently showed a 2 to 1 ratio

of R's to D's on the talk shows when the stimulus plan was a hot topic.

The only exception was MSNBC, with something like 12 R's Vs. 17 D's.

[Beavker]

28. Given the current numbers in the House and Senate

It's a joke that the Repukes would get so many. But, CNBC is an 'old boys club' basically, so it makes sense.

[ihavenobias]

34. Well, when the R's were in power the same 2 to 1 ratio was generally at play.

The excuse given was that Americans want to hear more from the party in power. Obviously that begs the question...

[olegramps]

29. There hasn't been one journalist in American in the last 40 years.

That is why we could be taken to a war in Iraq. The so-called journalists are nothing more that puppets who represent the interest of the conservative crooks that have gained control of the media. There isn't one independent voice that dares to challenge the right wing. Everyone of them lives in fear of crossing their corporate bosses. Look at the John King's despicable interview with one of the most notorious bastards in the history of the nation. He allowed the the fat stinking bastard to spin his crap without one challenge. It was just another nauseating example as to what depths the press had sunk. Our forefathers realized that the survival of a democracy was solely dependent on a free unrestricted press that would keep the public objectively informed. What we have in our nation today is a press that would make Pravda look like the beacon of truth in comparison to the propaganda that they churn out. The situation is Orwellian. Lies are truth; war is peace; greed is a Christian virtue. Unless this cycle can be broken, the future of the nation is less than secure.

[burythehatchet]

32. Bill Moyers has certainly been a voice in the wilderness.

[FiveGoodMen]

33. Yes he has!

Major props to one of the only reliable truth-tellers on TV.

[ihavenobias]

36. Ditto. Unfortunately PBS doesn't have the best ratings.

:(

[valerief]

30. CNBC, Wall St.'s never-ending infomercial. nt

[navarth]

31. kick!