On My Soapbox: Cablers Shouldn’t Broadcast P.R. Performances Without Caveats

It turns out that neither Fox News nor MSNBC referenced the fact that Bush’s teleconference was rehearsed prior to the event at 9:45 a.m. Thursday. Of course, both channels spent a considerable amount of time talking about the controversy AFTER it had occured. FNC spent time on it afterwards, beginning at 11:06am, and included packages on Special Report and the Fox Report, among other shows. On MSNBC, it was debated during Connected and led Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

But here’s my thesis: It doesn’t matter if the networks follow up and explain that the event was rehearsed. Impressions are formed immediately; cable news viewers watched the event and assumed it was legitimate.

No subsequent reporting can erase the image, seen by several million viewers, of the president appearing to speak off-the-cuff to troops.

That’s why cable news networks should engage in serious conversations about whether they are comfortable broadcasting public relations performances by politicians without including appropriate caveats.