This blog isn’t about politics, but the video below features a journalist, the AP’s Glen Johnson, with a laptop covering a Mitt Romney event, so I’d say it’s fair game for posting here:
Thanks to Romanesko for the initial post.
UPDATE, Jan. 19 at 8:30 P.M.: A compilation of reactions from Poynter‘s Kelly McBride:
Calling out the Candidate
Weigh in: What’s your reaction to this video? Who do you side with? Why?
It’s interesting to look at the comments from readers responding to the Poynter.org article about this topic: http://www.poynter.org/article_feedback/article_feedback_list.asp?user=390253&id=136082
One reader put it well: “Watchdogs sometimes have to bite.” Journalists should be watchdogs. But knowing when to bite, and how to do it, is tricky.
Here is an example of a similar encounter between a reporter and a political figure, Bill Clinton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqSFFU8rrWQ
Agreed, that is well said. I forgot to look at the comments on the article, thanks for pointing it out.
I’m a fan of the watchdog metaphor and put my own twist on it last semester:
You can’t be a watchdog if you’re sitting in someone’s lap.