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Neal Gabler: How Not to Be a Journalist
Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 29 November 2005 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

Posted on 11/28/2005 9:24:49 PM PST by Congressman Billybob

Fox News Watch is a Sunday program about journalism. This weekend, it demonstrated how not to be a journalist. The star of this dreadful segment was Neil Gabler.

Much of the discussion was on the coverage of the Iraq War. Gabler has frequently demonstrated his bias to the left on this program. This time, he was over the top.

Twice in the course of this discussion he yelled, not merely said,

“Iraq is a DISASTER. Get it? EVERYBODY gets it now.”

Therefore, anyone who disagreed with his conclusion, whether a spokesman for the Administration, or even anyone on the program including the token conservative on the program, Cal Thomas, is wrong.

Gabler also denigrated the actual progress in Iraq by saying,

“The good news is they painted some schools. The bad news is, anybody who teaches there is going to get blown up.”

There have been two instances of shootings of school teachers in Iraq. That is about equal to the teacher shootings in an average year in the Los Angeles Unified School District. But perspective does not seem to be Gabler’s long suit.

Host Jim Burns tried to bring Gabler back to responsibility by saying,

“You put both of those [stories] out there and let everybody decide how to weigh them.”

Gaebler responded,

“Oh COME ON. It’s already BEEN weighed. That would be irresponsible for the press to say [that]. WE KNOW that Iraq is a DISASTER.” [All emphases are in the original.]

Later in the program, in defending Jon Stewart as “the best journalist in America,” Gabler said what we need is “journalism of truth.” Set aside the question of whether Stewart can be labeled as dealing in truth, rather than humor. Apply Gabler’s comment to Gabler. Neal ironically condemned his own comments on this very program.

(I could not locate on the Fox News website either a video or transcript of this program. However, the quotes are accurate from a TiVo of the program.)

Truth does not consist of the conclusion without facts, advanced by the journalist who shouts the loudest. If Gabler’s comment were accurate, all the news media could close their Iraq bureaus and bring their reporters home. Why risk the lives of real reporters to the bombs of the “insurgents,” who are actually terrorists and now are threatening to murder four more civilians, one of them an American? Why do that when a “media writer,” Neal Gabler, in his office in the US, can provide the conclusions without risk?

Because of his obvious, public violation of the standards of journalism, Neal Gabler should apologize to the others on this program and to its viewers, on the next program. If he does not, Gabler should be dismissed and replaced with another journalist who has a better idea of how journalism should be conducted.

John_Armor@aya.yale.edu


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: foxnews; foxnewswatch; gabler; jimburns; mediabias; nealgabler; pressbias
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To: Congressman Billybob
Neal Gabler should apologize to the others on this program and to its viewers, on the next program. If he does not, Gabler should be dismissed...

Why this sentimental significance attached to apologies?
Liberals should be permanently purged from public life, media and academe immediately as they are identified.
21 posted on 11/28/2005 10:16:18 PM PST by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Give Them Liberty Or Give Them Death! - IT'S ISLAM, STUPID! - Islam Delenda Est! - Rumble thee forth)
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To: Congressman Billybob

I thought Neil Gabler was funny. The moonbats seem to be shriller with each and every passing day. They must know their days are numbered.


22 posted on 11/28/2005 10:25:11 PM PST by Tut
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To: Congressman Billybob
I've seen outrageous crap on CNN and I am appalled at the Bush bashing that goes on. The polls gives them license to say anything because once they think they smell blood they rush in like a pack of dogs; no modesty or moderation just party line and underhanded attempts to flatter their audience with their superior wisdom... it sure ain't responsible journalism. At CNN it is so constant I think that there has to be someone who orchestrates all the Bush bashing, it just permeates everything.

I don't get Fox so I can't comment on what you saw... but I sure believe it!
23 posted on 11/28/2005 10:28:17 PM PST by Blind Eye Jones
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To: Congressman Billybob

I'm so glad i missed it.


24 posted on 11/28/2005 10:32:07 PM PST by tiki
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To: Steely Tom

Are you sure about that? I thought they paired Medved with Jeffery Lyons.


25 posted on 11/28/2005 10:41:55 PM PST by MC Miker G
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To: pcottraux
Can anyone find a video of this? I'd like to see it.

Why even bother? A top intellectual such as Thomas Sowell is worth recording, but not this Bozo!

26 posted on 11/29/2005 4:03:34 AM PST by Stepan12
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To: Congressman Billybob
I recall this fool -- he used to be on PBS years ago, having been once of the guys who replaced Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel when they moved over to commercial television.

In other words, he was just another dork in a sweater who votes with his thumb.

27 posted on 11/29/2005 4:14:00 AM PST by Rocko (this post kills fascists...and communists)
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To: MC Miker G

Gabler replaced Medved (who started out talking about movie turkeys).


28 posted on 11/29/2005 4:17:29 AM PST by Rocko (this post kills fascists...and communists)
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To: Fenris6

Thanks Fenris6, I was going to request you post his material.


29 posted on 11/29/2005 4:19:24 AM PST by girlangler (I'd rather be fishing)
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To: Congressman Billybob

I saw it.

Thanks for an accurate account of what Neal did.

If he were a conservative he'd be so embarrassed he'd have trouble showing his face on the show again. As it is, he's already dismissed it as teaching us Neanderthals the truth about Iraq.

He's nearly as disgusting as Juan.


30 posted on 11/29/2005 6:00:34 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (God has blessed Republicans with really stupid enemies.)
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To: MC Miker G
Are you sure about that? I thought they paired Medved with Jeffery Lyons.

No, I wasn't sure about that, and I believe you are right. Thanks for the correction. But I am sure that Gabler was one of the hosts they tried. If not with Medved, than I can't remember who.

The other thing I remembered is that Gabler looked and acted the part of a public broadcasting talking head to perfection. He was virtually a carbon copy of Steve Keaton (the dad on the contemporaneous sitcom Family Ties who, you may remember, himself worked at a PBS TV station).

Yes, you were right. Google finds the reference:

www.museum.tv

According to that reference, Siskel/Ebert were followed by Gabler Lyons, and then Gabler was replaced by Medved.

31 posted on 11/29/2005 6:05:26 AM PST by Steely Tom (Fortunately, the Bill of Rights doesn't include the word 'is'.)
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To: Congressman Billybob

---Host Jim Burns--- I believe his name is Eric Burns.


32 posted on 11/29/2005 6:08:50 AM PST by Rocket1968 (Durbin must resign - NOW!)
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To: Rocket1968
You're right. I'll make the correction right away.

John / Billybob
33 posted on 11/29/2005 8:15:22 AM PST by Congressman Billybob (Do you think Fitzpatrick resembled Captain Queeg, coming apart on the witness stand?)
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To: Stepan12
A top intellectual such as Thomas Sowell is worth recording, but not this Bozo!

It's good for a laugh.
34 posted on 11/29/2005 10:30:14 AM PST by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: pcottraux

Btw... I recorded the Golden Turkey awards on Fox (as an intermission to Dr. Sowell), but I guess I didn't find Neal's rant that worthy of recording.


35 posted on 11/29/2005 10:57:38 AM PST by Stepan12
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To: Steely Tom

I think Gabler's partner on Sneak Previews was Jeffery Lyons.
Gabler was later _replaced_ by Medved.


36 posted on 12/03/2005 8:28:12 PM PST by raccoonradio
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; Timesink; VPMWife78; Gracey; Alamo-Girl; RottiBiz; FoxGirl; Mr. Bob; xflisa; ...
FoxFan ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

37 posted on 12/04/2005 10:15:40 PM PST by nutmeg ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." - Hillary Clinton 6/28/04)
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To: nutmeg

Thanks for the ping!


38 posted on 12/05/2005 6:44:44 AM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: nutmeg

Thanks for the ping.


39 posted on 12/05/2005 6:52:47 AM PST by GOPJ (Fight Guest Worker Programs - They do not reflect American Values and would produce "slavery lite.")
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To: Congressman Billybob

Good recap, but I saw that dreadful harangue, and you forgot to mention the fact that Jane was right there, trying just like Neil to shout down Jim and Eric Burns' rebuttals about Iraq and Christmas. Cal is normally more strident in his defense of conservatism, but I think he was content to sit back and watch Jane and Neil make fools of themselves.

BTW: for those looking for the show, it airs every Saturday at 5 PM Central...


40 posted on 12/05/2005 6:55:49 AM PST by ABG(anybody but Gore) (This tagline is under remodeling, thank you for your patience...)
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