Costas: Quality Will Always Matter

Props to Bob Costas, who answered questions from students at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communication for two hours yesterday.

We could stand a few more broadcasters like him.  After thoughtful and considerate insight on issues stemming from the broadcast of the Olympics in China, he took on issues in journalism as well, calling for an attempt at more reasoned discourse by asking both media and media audiences to take responsibility for the product produced and the product consumed.  In talking about the changing landscape of journalism in the age of the internet, Mr. Costas pointed out that the legitimacy of a blogger or journalist was predicated not necessarily on their credentials or lack thereof, but more on the quality of their work.  A journalist is theoretically accountable to newspaper editors and publishers; a blogger is not necessarily so, and therefore bears more responsibility to ensure that his product will be truthful and fair.

Mr. Costas won’t blame technology for deterioration of discourse in society.  Instead he called on journalists and newspapers to compete with internet threats to their business by simply producing a better product, and holding themselves accountable for it.  He sharply criticized the practice of newspaper (and blog) websites who provide “comment” forums that purport to give ordinary citizens a place for open, democratic debate today, comparing it to what might happen if he finished a broadcast by leaving the microphone on his chair and letting whoever could “rush the stage” speak their mind.  To Mr. Costas, these forums only facilitate the exercise of the most common, base and sometimes hateful speech.  “Calling someone an asshole is not an argument,” he said.  “Using reason, logic, and respectful discourse is an argument.”

He finished with reminiscences of sports broadcasters he had admired early in his career:  “Most of the commentary back then came from people who had read a book, and I’m not talking about the media guide.”  Sure, there are broadcasters with those qualities in today’s media environment, but it calls to mind some footage I had seen of David Brinkley at the 1968 Democratic convention: even as riots were progressing in the streets and the nation was clearly in turmoil, he maintained a cool, intelligent eloquence in his words and his delivery.

“Quality will always matter,” Mr. Costas said as he closed.  Quality broadcasters will always matter too.