Several dozen journalists, columnists, authors, bloggers, policy wonks and other thinkers signed their names to a statement deploring the conduct of ABC News, and moderators Several dozen journalists, columnists, authors, bloggers, policy wonks and other thinkers signed their names to a statement deploring the conduct of ABC News, and moderators George Stephanopolous and Charles Gibson, during Wednesday night’s Democratic debate.
The statement has been published over at The Nation and will likely be posted or re-printed elsewhere on the web. From the Prospect's current or extended family, Spencer Ackerman, Dean Baker, Sam Boyd, Ezra Klein, Addie Stan, Mike Tomasky and yours truly are among the signatories.
Sections from the opening and closing lines:
We the undersigned deplore the conduct of ABC's George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson at the Democratic Presidential debate on April 16. The debate was a revolting descent into tabloid journalism and a gross disservice to Americans concerned about the great issues facing the nation and the world. This is not the first Democratic or Republican presidential debate to emphasize gotcha questions over real discussion. However, it is, so far, the worst.
For 53 minutes, we heard no question about public policy from either moderator. ABC seemed less interested in provoking serious discussion than in trying to generate cheap shot sound-bites for later rebroadcast….
We hope that the public uproar over ABC's miserable showing will encourage a return to serious journalism in debates between the Democratic and Republican nominees this fall. Anything less would be a betrayal of the basic responsibilities that journalists owe to their public.
You can read the entire statement and see the full list of signers here.
--Tom Schaller
