I’ve been reading about the brouhaha over new owners and management at CBS and specifically 60 Minutes. I haven’t watched the program for more than 30 years. I haven’t a strong opinion about the journalists or the program.
When Mike Wallace was the lead guy, he practiced “gotcha” journalism. He’d set someone up then spring a trap question designed to throw the subject off guard and show how superior Wallace was. Even if I didn’t like the interview subject, I didn’t like the style. Quit watching—except for maybe Andy Rooney’s commentary, which was always thought provoking and a little off the wall.
Guess who copied the Mike Wallace schtick? President Trump. Remember early in this administration when he’d have a foreign leader visit, invite the press for what is always a smile and greet session, and then spring a trick question along the lines of “when did you stop beating your wife”? I still don’t like that style.
I became a magazine editor in my second career. I used to put people I was about to interview at ease by telling them I wasn’t Mike Wallace there to interrogate them. And smile. I wanted the latest technology and application news, not just to show someone embellishing marketing hype. That’s too easy. And not useful. All y’all can see through marketing hype—I hope.
New ownership and management comes with peril for writers. Check my pivot in 2013 from magazine to independent. At the level of network TV these days everything is political. The people there must learn to live with it or find an alternative. The tensions about trade press always revolve around treatment of advertisers or potential advertisers. (I once met PC Magazine contributing editor John C. Dvorak. Even in the 90s, PC Mag Editors’ Choice awards were influenced by advertising. Not surprised. I’ve seen it, too.)
Being independent means lower income, but I can pick. I truly respect the company that sponsors me. If I didn’t, I have FU money enough to walk away.
But for CBS and 60 Minutes, I’m glad I’m not there. Like they say, it’s the golden rule—those who have the gold make the rules.
