The News Media Just Need to 'Calm Down', Says Anchor Jim Lehrer During Speech at the University of Oklahoma

The News Media Just Need to 'Calm Down', Says Anchor Jim Lehrer During Speech at the University of Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- While journalists are concerned about various forms of new media eliminating the need for newspapers and television news, PBS's Jim Lehrer says the media just need to "calm down" and look at a few basic things.

"In the beginning there must always be the news," said Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." Bloggers, comedians, and talk show hosts are merely "commentators, not reporters." Regardless of whether the news is received through network television, newsprint, iPod or cable news, direct knowledge of what is happening in the world comes first from those who report the news. Only then can the jokes and quips of comedians and talk show hosts make any sort of sense to viewers. They must first have heard of the person or incident through the mainstream news.

With all of the changes in technology and distribution channels journalists must not "lose sight of our purpose" journalists must not "stray from the course," said Lehrer. The journalist's purpose is to "cover and report the news in a straight and professional way."

Lehrer cautioned that journalists "must not stray from some of the basics that make us unique from all of the others. By going with stories before they're ready. Spicing them up a bit with over-the-line commentary. Raising the volume, and, worst of all, make entertaining people one of our purposes."

"I tell people all of the time, 'you want to be entertained, go to the circus, don't watch the NewsHour'," said Lehrer. "I never ever want anybody to confuse the news with entertainment. Or me with the clowns."

Lehrer went on to say that not only are journalists needed to provide that first report of what is happening, they are also needed more than ever to serve as gatekeepers. "The news gatekeeper is not only not going away, but it's coming back big time," said Lehrer. "There's an increasing amount of news out there in the blogosphere, satellite, iPod and other spheres. People are busy, they want some professional, unbiased, unagenda assistance in sorting through it all ... before they go off to the editorial page or the commentators."

Lehrer was speaking to a crowd of more than 400 that included Oklahoma City media and business leaders, University of Oklahoma faculty, staff and more than 150 journalism students at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.

The University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication presented Jim Lehrer with the first Gaylord Prize for excellence in journalism and mass communication on November 17. President David L. Boren, First Lady Molly Shi Boren and Gaylord College Dean Joe Foote were among those recognizing Lehrer. Gaylord College Board of Visitors chair, Pattye Moore, also welcomed and congratulated Mr. Lehrer from the stage.

Mr. Lehrer's notes from his speech can be found attached. For more information about Mr. Lehrer's speech, the Gaylord Prize or the Gaylord College, call (405) 325-5372 or visit http://www.ou.edu/gaylord.

Source: University of Oklahoma

CONTACT: Celia Perkins, Director of Communication of Gaylord College of
Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma, +1-405-325-5372, fax,
+1-405-325-7565, cperkins@ou.edu

Web site: http://www.ou.edu/gaylord

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