Mike Shear’s article Saturday on the Senate race based on the “Politics Hour” on the Washington Post’s radio station was disappointing in the way he let Chris Matthews’ interview of the candidates Thursday night dictate part of his coverage.
But neither Plotkin nor Fisher could match the combativeness of Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” who oversaw a mini-debate between Webb and Miller on Thursday night.
I wrote before that Matthews is a jerk. Here’s my comment on Shear’s Richmond Report blog:
I am amazed, Mike, that you included the Matthews interview in your story Saturday. No matter who one supports, journalists should be appalled at the treatment Matthews gives many of his guests. His interviewing style is designed to “get you,” not elicit information, and his techniques are journalistically unethical, in my opinion. “Do you have access to history books?” In the context of the interview, what does that mean? Matthews supported this war early on. Didn’t he have access to history books? Give me a break. And why shouldn’t Webb stay neutral in the ’08 race? Warner may have been a successful governor. That doesn’t make him presidential material.
By including Matthews’ interview in your story, you allowed him to dictate the coverage of the race. I’d prefer you rely on your own judgement as to what’s legitimate info. and fair play. Alas, maybe you did.
The more coverage legitimate reporters give to Matthews’ shout fests, the more he is egged on.