Watching The Watchers
Glenn Reynolds has advice for Sarah Palin and John McCain: bring your own camera.
But there’s a remedy now, with technology being what it is. If I were a candidate, I think I’d bring my own camera to interviews, shoot the whole thing and post the unedited raw video on the Web.
The technology for this is easy - I’ve got a little Sony HD video camera that records on a chip and fits in a coat pocket or purse - and putting video on the Web is a snap, too.
Of course, the knowledge that this will happen is likely to be enough to keep people honest - but if anything is edited unfairly, the full video will tell the tale. No need to wait for Groundskeeper Willie to appear.
TV journalists won’t be happy with this, of course, but it’s hard to see a principled basis for objecting.
In the past, the tools for broadcast newsgathering were expensive and specialized, and much of the media’s power came from the fact that no one else had them. Those times are long gone, and candidates, and journalists, are going to have to adapt.
It would be very, very interesting to see the journalist’s reaction to such a tactic. Puffed up outrage disguising naked fear would be my guess.
By martian, Saturday, 13 September , 2008 @ 12:16 pm
I would love to see the look on the face of the first reporter this was done with. It would be priceless! They wouldn’t be able to pull any ham-fisted editing jobs like they did with Palin.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Saturday, 13 September , 2008 @ 8:05 pm
I am for anything that holds the MSM accountable.
By Quilly Mammoth, Saturday, 13 September , 2008 @ 11:35 pm
As disgusting as the 9-11 Troofers are they have made an example of one thing: Ambush Journalism. Someone should confront the MSM talking Heads on the street and ask them why.
“Mr. Gibson? Did you know before or after your interview that that “exact words” phrase was wrong?”
‘Mr. Gibson, when are you going to stop lying to the American People?”
By bill-tb, Sunday, 14 September , 2008 @ 7:37 am
A very good idea. I wish they would video their rallies as well, especially a panoramic crowd shot.
You can get a all digital video camera and tripod for less than $1000 — MAy not be studio quality, but would work just fine on you tube. I am sure some crowd person would be pleased to do the taping for a hug <-()