Anybody Know How The Cable News Networks (MSNBC, CNN) Work?...... [View All]

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Here's what I wondering. I was watching Morning Joe this a.m. and what looked like Mika and Joe trying to come off spontaneous - seemed forced. The more I watched - the more I began to realize that what they were doing is reacting to some sort of script. This was apparent when they began to talk about something - again trying to sound spontaneous - and lo and behold - they had a video clip ready about what they were talking about. Then when they were talking to guests - I noticed the same thing. And I began to wonder - were the guests rehearsed? Then the more I watched the news all day more questions came up.

Now I'm not that stupid that I don't realize that they follow some sort of outline. I know they read the news and that it is written and on a monitor for them to read. But when they ask questions that appear to be coming from the host/anchor at the time - I began to wonder - are these people that smart that they can think on their feet or are the questions written for them as well? Then when the guest answers the question - the host/anchor goes on to either make a witty or poignant remark - and I began to wonder - where these written for them to read as well?

What about the guests? Do they appear on these programs gratis? or are they paid? If paid - how much? The pundits that keep appearing from Time Mag, National Review, NYT, Chgo Trib, etc, etc, etc are they paid? Do these people make themselves known to the networks that they are available? Are they like expert witnesses at a trial? Who books the guests? How much in advance do they get the guest booked?

This has just piqued my curiosity. How much of what they do on these news shows is programmed, written and rehearsed and how much is spontaneous? Who writes the questions and comments? Are the guests rehearsed? Are they told what to say? or at least told what not to say? Who makes the decisions as to what constitutes the news, the questions and the comments? How do they make these decisions? How do they keep that going for the full day of the news? Why is it when you switch channels - the same story is being talked about at the same time (this happens more on the local news versus cable)? What are the backgrounds and qualifications of the people behind the scenes that make these decisions, write the editorials and compose the questions?

I know personalities like Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, Keith Olberman, Tucker, Pat Buchanan, Wolf Blitzer, Russert, Williams - are able to ramble on with their comments and have a certain latitude of what they can say - but when their segments come up are they told what they need to cover for that particular segment? What about these people that analyze the numbers, polls, etc - Do they really do the analysis - or is it done for them by someone else and they just deliver the results.

What about Meet The Press? Does Russert do his own research? I think not. So - how big are the research teams? What are their resources? I'm sure they have a big film library - but someone has to catalog it and computerize it so that they can access it handily.

I know that this all probably sounds very 'common sensicle' to most out there - but I think some of us would like to have a more in depth knowledge of how it is we are most likely manipulated.

I have written off Fox News - because I know that it is very slanted. So I don't want to go there. I also know about Outfoxed and have seen snippets of it but it doesn't answer all of my above questions.

I'm just really curious as to what goes on behind the scenes. I think that an insightful behind the scenes and honest look at this is needed. I don't think we'll ever get that from the networks themselves. I don't see an expose being done on 60 Minutes or Dateline.

Does anybody out there have first hand knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes? I'm not interested in silly comments that I'm sure I'll get from some of the posters here at DU - I really want a better appreciation as to how the news that we get is put together - so let's be serious - ok?

I know that a lot of what we get is not really news - but opinion - and that opinion comes from somebody. So outside of the breaking stories that hit and with and all the stupid comments that are made over and over - because - this by nature of it just breaking - is spontaneous - and nothing is written for the anchor/host - how do they do it?