Inconsistent Journalism: Olbermann Declares Mediaite “Worst Person”

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by Steve Krakauer | 10:55 am, September 22nd, 2009

» 24 comments

worst_9-22 Keith Olbermann awarded the gold last night during his “Worst Persons” segment to Glenn Beck, again, the silver to Republican Sen. John Cornyn and the bronze to Mediaite.

Here’s how we got to this point.

Mediaite, managing editor Colby Hall and associate editor Robert Quigley joined the group “Change Congress” and one of its founders, Prof. Lawrence Lessig, for a crowded bronze medal on “Worst Persons” last night. The crux of the story related to this post from yesterday morning about an Olbermann segment appearing in a Change Congress ad. Here’s Olbermann:

Professor Lessig and his group apparently put together a minute-long video criticizing blue dog Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross and about half of it is taken from my Special Comment of August 3rd. Change Congress never contacted me or us at the network for our permission to use the video, permission they do not have. We’ll be asking them to remove the video. Just as importantly, Mediaite or Mr. Quigley never contacted me or us for comment, in fact their post was the first anybody here had heard about the video. Yet the site had the audacity to write, “It’s not clear if Olbermann explicitly volunteered to be in the ad, he almost certainly could put the kibosh on it if he wanted.” How exactly would I have done that if I didn’t know anything about it? I’ll wait. (long pause)

The post raised questions about the ad and Olbermann’s involvement in it – questions that were answered quickly in an update, with comment from an MSNBC spokesperson. The updated post reflected all the information Olbermann says here. By 1:30pmET, an entirely new post, headlined “MSNBC Demands Political Group Stop Running Unauthorized Olbermann Ad,” was up as the top story of Mediaite. This was more than six hours before Countdown went on-air with old, outdated information. There wasn’t one more “worst” thing occurring in the world?

The argument could be made that Olbermann and his staff didn’t go and check Mediaite after the first ‘audacious’ post…except for what happened on his show just six minutes earlier. In a segment about his favorite topic, Fox News, Olbermann extensively cited an email from Fox News Washington managing editor Bill Sammon. An email that was obtained by Mediaite only, and published here exclusively. Other sites had no problem citing the source as Mediaite when discussing the email – but apparently Olbermann didn’t feel the need to give proper credit, or any credit at all. If Countdown were a blog, it would be chastised for the move. Why should a cable news show be held to a different standard?

Olbermann closed with:

Also, you guys should explain how you think you’re a journalism-based website if you close the piece with “we’ve reached out to MSNBC for comment and are awaiting their feedback.” That’s not the way it works, you’re supposed to get the comment first, before you write. Thank you.

Also, if you consider yourself host of a journalism-based cable news show, you’re supposed to cite where you get information. Thank you.

Here’s the “Worst” segment:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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» Follow Steve Krakauer on Twitter

Change Congress, Colby Hall, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, keith olbermann, msnbc, Robert Quigley, Worst Persons

http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

Thus the penalty for daring to comment on Olbermann. Regardless of the facts, those that dare criticize the failed sportscaster and failing pseudo-journalist are invariably skewered with loosely bound facts, some fiction and a large helping of blather. Well done, Mr. Thin Skin – Today’s Most Hypocritical Bully In the World.

The difference between Beck and Olbermann? The name on their paychecks.
ChuckfromTacoma

I am honored to even be allowed to participate on a blog that That lunatic considers amongst the worst person in the world. More effort will need to be exerted so that MEDIAITE can get the first place position.
Congratulations to all of you at MEDIAITE.
( Keeva, unlike Olbermann, Beck earns his paycheck by drawing viewers)
Ted

Are you really whining about this or looking for attention? You were sloppy; I’m sure you’ll do better next time.
http://mikechimeriblog.com Mike C.

No, thank you, Steve. Keeva is right: Keith is extremely thin skinned in addition to being a consistent hypocrite and a bully.
m

ChuckfromTacoma, I thought you and a bunch of others hated Mediaite because it had a liberal bias? That’s what I kept reading over and over again the past few weeks.
ChuckfromTacoma

I am a to the right of Reagan conservative. My elderly father, my brothers, my sister, half my nieces and nephews and one of my 3 kids (gasp) are flaming liberals. Just because I fight for that which I believe in does in no way mean that I hate anyone.
I have plenty of hate in my heart for child molesters, woman abusers, liars and thieves. Don’t have any left for you or anybody else just because your or their political opinions are wrong or disagreeable.
(I do enjoy flipping people crap when they are wrong)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Heckman/1446404196 Scott Heckman

First of all Mikec, you are obsessed with O’Reilly so anything you say does not count. Calling Olbermann a bully is like calling Fox News “fair and balanced”. So Mikec do us all a favor go back To Johnny Dollar’s echo chamber and please let the adults talk here. No room for children
CaptainAmerica

As Olbermann Watch consistently points out, Keith’s only research comes from the Blue Blogs. If it wasn’t updated on Media Lies To America, Daily Ko’s or any number of his other “research sites” then he is clueless about it.

Keith is also probably upset because Mediaite points out the ratings on a daily basis and his show gets few so viewers.

You should really let Keith have it by pointing out how FNC gets more than 5 to 1 more revenue when it comes to license fees
ChrisNH

The take-away here is simple: Olbermann is enraged and defensive now, at a time when he really thought he’d be gushing on how ‘his’ guy–Obama–was making it ‘rain candy’ for everyone. Well, it’s not ‘raining candy’ and it probably won’t for the remaining three years of Obama’s presidency. None of the major initiatives on his plate do anything but stifle economic growth. Does ‘economic growth’ really matter to Obama? We’ll see in November 2010 and then two years after that. In the end, Olbermann is clearly reduced to angry wreckage each night. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, but three cheers that it is.
http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

Beck certainly draws more viewers than Olbermann, but as far as reality, they both come from the same place – Delusionville.
http://mikechimeriblog.com Mike C.

Disregard Scott, everyone. He’s obsessed with me.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Shomari-Hines/1664268173 Shomari Hines

At least you guys got some free promotion. That’s the big story here.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Heckman/1446404196 Scott Heckman

Chimeri,
It is not an obsession it is calling you out, you worship Billo, the man who has said like Shawn Hornbeck liked being held captive and pushed Dr Tiller to suicide, is that what you call a role model, has Olbermann ever caused anyone to kill themsleves? Why all the hate for Olbermann, why because he calls out Fox ” we like to set up teaparties” Noise, or because he at least has something O’Reilly will never have a Pulitzer. HAHAHQAHAHAHHAHHA
SFPhoto

Scott Heckman, Dr. Tiller did not commit suicide, he was murdered. And Bill O’Reilly just isn’t powerful enough to get anybody to kill anybody else. My two cents on Keith Olbermann is that he is a sickness and anybody who watches him is part of that sickness. Even if I might agree with Olbermann on a topic or two, his presentation is so malignant that I have to turn off the TV. Keith Olberman is poison.
Billy Carter

@Scott Heckman says:

Why all the hate for Olbermann, why because he calls out Fox ” we like to set up teaparties” Noise, or because he at least has something O’Reilly will never have a Pulitzer. HAHAHQAHAHAHHAHHA

Scott Heckman…..Why all the hate for Olbermann?…..Because the guy is bogus and makes a total fool of himself. He’s so insecure, he even gets into jealous tirades with those in own network. Really now, do his idiotic little animations and props for attacking others with whom he disagrees, reflect class or bush league “journalism”? The latter would apply to Keith. This guy’s got his head so far up Obama and Pelosi’s keister’s, it’s no wonder he behaves like a raving lunatic, filled with hate and rage.

Here are facts for ‘ya, hoss:
Bill O’Reilly doesn’t have to use animations, props or hate to gain viewers. He uses good old fashioned honest reportings. He also doesn’t allow guests (regardless of who, unlike Olbermann) to try and BS their way out answering a tough questions. Simple recipe for success. Bill reports FACTS, not edited videos or lies, which are common on MSNBC. Look at the ratings, baby, FNC is AMERICA’S NETWORK. The only true news network in America.
FOX is CRUSHING Chris “Obama does no wrong” Matthews and Keith “I hate O’Reilly becasue he kicks my butt” Olbermann.
Lastly, a special surprise gift just for you, Scott Heckman. The gift that keeps on giving. Read it. Enjoy it. Lean from it!!!!

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-oreilly-has-top-two-hours-on-cable-news-friday-night-in-demo/
Dave Richards

Hey Heckman, does the name Teresea mean anything to you?
I hear she wants to discuss some of your internet postings with you.
Anna

Scott Heckman says:
September 22, 2009 at 1:06 pm

Chimeri,
It is not an obsession it is calling you out, you worship Billo, the man who has said like Shawn Hornbeck liked being held captive and pushed Dr Tiller to suicide
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What are you talking about? Tiller was shot, and saying that O’Reilly is responsible for that would be equivalent to saying that if someone shoots Pres. Bush, Olbermann would be responsible. O’Reilly was NOT making fun of Shawn Hornbeck. He was pointing out that when someone is kidnapped, the kidnapper often makes sure that the victim feels grateful to the kidnapper. That, by the way, IS what happened to Hornbeck. His kidnapper brainwashed him so that Hornbeck wouldn’t leave or go to police. It’s very common.
CaptainAmerica

Great post Anna–you nailed it on all points!
just_this_moment

“get the comment first, before you write”… How’s that possible?
tyfick0507

I agree 100%. The media on television is so poor and unreliable. The only source I trust less than television is web based media. In your face! Boards like this are lame. The only thing more useless than a web based media site is the comment boards within (comment boards in general are lame). This site should be crawling up or kissing some brown zone for the shout out from Keith Olbermann. I hope this site fails. The media should report the news and not be the news. MEDIAite is perpetuating this dung.

I wish everyone would just stop posting their thoughts on comment boards. Keep them in your head until you have the opportunity to speak to a real person who might actually care what you have to say.
Dottie from Pa

WHO IS KEITH OLBERMANN??????????????????????????????????
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tdhurst

So whose screw up was bigger? Who the eff cares!? You don’t messed this one up. Calling him out for not citing is no better than him calling you out for not getting a comment first.

Christ…do acts of journalism, not just writing.
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