Olbermann navigates tightrope minus a net-numbers are up 73%

[deacon]

Keith Olbermann sometimes feels as if he's out there by himself on the high wire, a lone (or nearly lone) voice of reason in a world gone mad. Emboldened by the left as the right man in the right place at the right time, dismissed by the right as a Bush-bashing tool of liberal propagandists, the host-anchor of MSNBC's nightly "Countdown" newsmagazine has long been a zealous polarizing force as a journalist who wears his heart in plain sight.

snip

Olbermann's household numbers are up 73% in the first two weeks of September from August.



Interesting read.

http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/va/20060919/115866324800.html

[B Calm]

1. People on the right dismiss anybody who points out the truth

as Bush bashers...

[BR_Parkway]

14. At which point I ask them to explain why Bush shouldn't be bashed

Worst President Ever.

Reagan would hang his head in shame
Nixon would publically say he's circumventing the Constitution.

And REAL conservatives should be throwing him out of their party (along with all his enablers)

[annabanana]

2. It's in "Entertainment News & Gossip"

(Does that mean they think it's important?)

[magellan]

3. Great write-up for Keith!!

Love this end quote of his from the article: "Yet at the same time I actually don't feel I've changed what I'm saying much at all," he maintains. "I believe it's this administration's continued move away from reality and toward rewriting our history that has made what I'm saying finally seem more relevant. That's the truth."

[Berry Cool]

4. Well spoken. Keith hasn't changed, circumstances have.

After Katrina a lot of people said the news media were "waking up" and "finally doing their jobs." But Keith had always been doing his and he'd never been asleep to begin with. Today, some of those others are asleep again. And Keith's just getting started!

[blm]

12. The same could be said for many name Dems who didn't actively oppose Bush

publically while the Dem candidates in 2003-4 were trying to break through that wall of protection he was getting from the media and from the Dem's reluctance to speak out against him and FOR Kerry.

After Katrina some of them noticeably found their voices.

[jbnow]

21. Keith's opinions/attitude are the same but

the format has changed. It isn't just comments or his questions that show his attitude now, he is giving long editorials or commentary. That is new and it is wonderful.

[yellerpup]

5. He speaks with conviction.

K&R!

[madokie]

6. And what a breath of fresh air that is.

I live my life true to my convictions and I wish more people did. that is the thing my stepsons like the most about me is they always knew where I stood, on the same rock today as yesterday and I'm proud of that.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

7. Sports reporting is the last bastion of "reality-based" reporting

Keith came from ESPN and must have learned the importance of telling his viewers EXACTLY what happened. He's still giving us the straight play-by-play.

I almost said "sports and financial reporting", but realized that corporate spinmeisters and White House flacks have destroyed financial reporting too.

Whatever happened to Bryant Gumbel? His background is similar to Keith's, but he's had to revert to sports reporting while his perky co-host Katie is the one to sit in Edward R. Murrow's chair!

[Kolesar]

8. That's insightful

Were not there two Gumbel brothers? One in news and one in sports TV?

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. Jim Lampley was one of few public figures to question the 2004 election

I've noticed the same thing about sports reporters. Maybe it's because, when the score on the field is 21-10, you just can't lie and say its 0-73 and expect to get away with it. Everybody can see what you're reporting on, so you just have to get in the habit of telling the truth. (Of course, that's an over-generalization, personalities and preferences and emotions come into play, but blatant outright lying just won't fly.)

[Cha]

15. Very insightful!

Let's not forget Comedy reporting from Comedy Central. They had to pick up the slack, too.

[quiet.american]

9. I have to admit, Olbermann is really inspiring. n/t

[Marr]

10. Hmm... O'Reilley is trending the opposite direction, yes?

How about that, Bill? :)

[drbtg1]

13. I've seen Network, thus that article is offensive

Howard Beale, while saying what he believed, was not exactly a sane fellow and it is the insanity that made the performance so memorable. Mr. Olbermann, on the other hand, clearly retains full control of faculties while the world around all of us clearly does not.

A comparison to Mr. Murrow would be much more appropriate. However, the author may feel that was too obvious and thus counter to whatever agenda warranted that article.

[Bjorn Against]

18. I agree, and I love the movie Network

Network is one of the best films I have ever seen, but that does not mean I would want a person like Olbermann compared with Howard Beale. While Beale was very charismatic and did say some things that made a lot sense, he was also kind of insane. There is no way that you would ever see Olbermann scream and rant like Howard Beale did.

[TahitiNut]

16. He's surprisingly well-grounded for a talking head.

He seems to have a firm grasp on his own perspectives and values. To the degree he's self-centered, it seems to be solely reflected in his vocabulary and mannerisms ... his style. It doesn't seem to intrude upon his values and reliance upon his own observations and opinions. Maybe the sports background - with spittle-festooned fans incapable of balance - has served him well. Swimming those shark-infested waters must be good political training for someone with a brain and need to remain balanced.

[Az_lefty]

17. Up 73% ??? That's huge..

Murrow probably felt alone when he was taking on McCarthy, but he helped stop the slide into fascism and so is Keith.
:applause:

[Bucky]

24. That's not just huge, it's HUGH!!!1!

[CrazyForKucinich]

19. College students...would be my best guess in the jump

Now having cable once again.

[Catchawave]

20. I hope they're journalism students !

Our future is in their hands :hi:

[darkism]

22. We are!

Today, as my first day as a journalism grad student, an instructor's questionnaire asked for the journalists I most admire.

I replied, "Murrow (and his modern counterpart, Olbermann)."

I count them both among my inspirations and personal heroes, hence my signature picture. :)

[Stardust]

23. Good luck and may you always report the truth.//

[SeattleGirl]

25. Excellent!

I love KO, and appreciate his willingness to give voice to we who live on the mostly silenced "other side."