Assorted people in journalism explain to Politico’s Michael Calderone that health care reportage, in addition to being a challenge for reporters, does not hold people’s attention. A sample:
MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan….:“Health care is bad for ratings.”
…“It’s not only not a cable TV-friendly story; it’s not a journalism-friendly story,” said John Harwood, chief Washington correspondent for CNBC.
Harwood, also a political writer for The New York Times, explained that reporters need to first understand the intricacies and nuances of health care policy before they can then try getting the story across to viewers and readers…“It’s incredibly complex to try and explain to people,” Harwood said.
…Television executives, correspondents and pundits are quick to point out that health care is perhaps the most vital issue facing the country, and it’s their professional obligation to present the facts and arguments to the public.
“Not a journalism-friendly story” because of the “intricacies and nuances.” Honest, I guess, but….yikes.
