This blog's a few days behind the bandwagon, but work and AT&T decided I should have no time or opportunity to blog about my favorite TV journalist, Keith Olbermann. If you haven't heard, Olbemann delivered a biting and justifiably condemning Special Comment against President Bush last Wednesday in response to an interview with The Politico released the day before. The full transcript of Olbermann's assailment can be found here, and here's the delivery ala YouTube:
The segment ended with Olbermann offering his own advice to "Mr. Bush"--"Shut the hell up."
Once again, Olbermann's succeeded at what Countdown with Keith Olbermann does best: pointing out the failings of news media today. Satirical shows like Colbert Report and The Daily Show gained popularity due to their unabashed criticism of politicians, the government, and everyone else. Most mainstream news sources censor the emotion of the news to deliver an unbiased opinion--even editorial authors, so they can appeal to a broader audience with an inherently opinionated piece--but there's no personalization or humanity infused within the news' delivery. Journalists like Olbermann, or even John Stossel, who are able to maintain factuality with emotional editorials, not only inform but are able to evoke understanding and sympathy for the event about which they are reporting. That they are factually accurate is key; satirical shows are only funny because they reflect the truth, and news commentary or editorials can only be informing if they do the same.
Kudos again, Mr. Olbermann, for redeeming TV news commentators despite Nancy Grace and Bill O'Reilly.
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