On Friday, CBS News all but admitted they’ve lost the public’s trust when they admitted they would no longer be chopping down (read: engaging in funny business with) taped interviews — such as one Sunday with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — for their Sunday morning political talk show, Face the Nation.
CBS News said in statement Friday that because of “audience feedback over the past week, we have implemented a new policy for greater transparency in our interviews” as Face the Nation interviews “will now only broadcast live or live-to-tape” and only “subject to national security or legal restrictions.”
They added “[t]his extra measure means the television audience will see the full, unedited interview on CBS and we will continue our practice of posting full transcripts and the unedited video online.”
As our Bill D’Agostino wrote earlier this week, Noem’s answer about the alleged criminal record of Kilmar Abrego Garcia marked at least the fifth such headline-grabbing editing move by CBS News in the last four years.
In other words, why cut such a crucial answer for time and trust viewers to collectively visit their website or YouTube channel later in the day to view a guest’s full comments?
This act of transparency drew gripes from liberal media defenders. Variety’s Brian Steinberg claimed without evidence this means “CBS News is giving up the power it has to hold ‘Face the Nation’ interviewees to account.”
Apparently, Steinberg has never heard of live fact-checking, a snark chyron, or even interrupting your guest.
Sounding more like Oliver Darcy, Steinberg further complained this “move...leav[es] CBS News unable to remove false statements or propaganda uttered by political operatives and officials and undermining the authority and credibility of Margaret Brennan, the moderator of the Sunday public-affairs program.”
“The edict is also risky, potentially giving viewers the sense that Brennan is less able to question or challenge her guests...But it also means “Nation” could become a home of live grandstanding by interviewees from either side of the political aisle who would rather spout talking points than answer a question,” he added.
Oh, the horror! Hearing guests out! Not having the power to massage whatever message the journalists want! Egads!
Between this, the long-rumored purchase of The Free Press, and granting Free Press founder Bari Weiss a senior CBS News role, the liberal media could be on the verge of losing one of the “Big Three” to reality.
