The State Of Political Reporting

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

ABC News, yesterday.  Read this:

"I am trying to make sure that his statements by him are answered. Don’t you think that’s important?" Obama shot back, while walking away.

When Zeleny yelled a follow up question suggesting the Illinois senator had not answered the question, Obama fired back angrily, "Don’t try cheap stunts like that."

Obama then walked away and shook hands with the mass of voters that surrounded him.

A few minutes later, Obama came back and confronted Zeleny again.

"I will answer your question though off the record, would you like to talk off the record?" Obama asked. Zeleny refused to go off the record and then motioned toward the gaggle of TV cameras gathered around him.

(Emphasis added)

"Shot back"?  "Fired back angrily"?

Now take a look at the video and see if, in your view, ABC News accurately characterized the exchange:

Journalist license, my ass.