Daily Dose of Kurtz

We read Howard Kurtz’s washingtonpost.com chat so you don’t have to. The money shots:

Howie on news bias:

Howard Kurtz: You can argue whether The Post and other news organizations are tough enough on those in power, but the notion that “corporate interests” are controlling the coverage is and has always been a canard. A more serious, if occasional problem, is pressure from advertisers, particularly from such mainstays as car dealers, supermarkets and department stores. But corporate executives telling reporters to go easy on an administration? No. Even when a controversial columnist gets fired, it tends to be the editor, not the publisher, who does the deed.

Howie on what you missed while watching the hurricane.

Howard Kurtz: The Yankees kept winning and are in a tie with the Red Sox for first place.

Howie on Sunday talk show scheduling problems:

Howard Kurtz: Believe me, the Sunday shows hate it more than you do. The fact is that the administration rigidly controls which of its officials are put out to which shows, and often offer up Condi or Rummy or whomever to several shows on the same day when it wants to get a message out. (These aren’t the only guests, obviously, but in the Sunday world they’re deemed the most newsworthy). And it drives the anchors and producers crazy.

Howie gets mad:

Bethesda, Md.: …What would the networks do without Iraq to cover? Answer: not as well. Isn’t it in their economic interests to play up the pro-war rally, to help prolong it and keep the cash cow coming in?

Howard Kurtz: With all due respect, that’s the most offensive theory I’ve heard in a long time.

Howie gets foiled by Karl Rove:

Karl Rove: HA! You all have forgotten about my scandal!

Howard Kurtz: Sorry, Karl. We’ll be getting back to you eventually.

Howie says the media loves Category 5 hurricanes:

Rolla, Mo.: …you can almost hear the disappointment in the reporters’ voices when Rita (or any other hurricane for that matter) is downgraded from a category 5 to a 3 or 2….

Howard Kurtz: I’d have a hard time arguing with that. The media rolled in their battalions, so heavy coverage was guaranteed even if the storm fizzled.

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