Jack Welch made examples out of Russert& Shipman to the rest of the media

[billbuckhead]

You wonder what's up with the media? Why they're such shameless flaks for corporations. Here's what's up?

"And here is the genius of Welch, because unlike Rupert Murdoch, he is not obvious...


Welch was absolutely determined to make his employees at NBC News finally genuflect to the most sacred words in his vocabulary: GE bottom line.
He perceived that there was a widely believed American myth of well-intended journalists selflessly seeking the truth, and that there would be hell to pay if a business leader like him were to overtly force reporters to be good corporate soldiers. So, being a very bright guy, he largely left the journalists at NBC alone.

Publicly.

In private, Welch was proud to have personally cultivated Tim Russert from a "lefty" to a responsible representative of GE interests. Welch sincerely believed that all liberals were phonies. He took great pleasure in "buying their leftist souls", watching in satisfaction as former Democrats like Russert and MSNBC's Chris Matthews eagerly discarded the baggage of their former progressive beliefs in exchange for cold hard GE cash. Russert was now an especially obedient and model employee in whom the company could take pride.

Podvin and Kay then contrast the experience on Russert and Kay with that of Claire Shipman...


It was bad news for NBC correspondent Claire Shipman, who made the mistake of offering a positive opinion of Al Gore on the air. Jack Welch, chairman and chief executive officer of a $350 billion conglomerate, responsible for overseeing the highly diversified activities of hundreds of thousands of employees working in over one hundred countries, was so incensed by her disobedience that he took time out of his busy schedule to personally confront her about it.
She no longer works for NBC. And her managing editor, Tom Brokaw, did not stand up for her right to journalistic independence from the corporate lord.

"I think Jack Welch's the smartest boss I've ever had and he signs my paychecks," said Brokaw, exhibiting a profound understanding of the situation."
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<http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/8/13191/83603>

[MadMaddie]

1. Pathetic...

[joemurphy]

2. Spineless worms...whited sepulchers...hypocrites.

[joemurphy]

3. How many millions do the TV newsies have to salt away

before they declare their independence? How many mansions, how many hot cars, how much stock? And we're supposed to genuflect to their claims of journalistic integrity and independence? Fuck them.

[billbuckhead]

6. On NPR, Russert was whoring his book and how much integrity he has

I almost smashed my dashboard. I rarely ever listen to NPR anymore. I don't want to drive under the influence.

[GR]

4. Yes, I Lost All Respect For Brokaw After That...

and Welch was on Hardball today, but I fast forwarded through it..He's a worm and I recognized him as such a number of years ago when he was being held up as a wonderful example at a business seminar I attended. They showed him on video and compared him to the previous GE CEO and I just didn't like him. He seemed ruthless and full of himseld and my impression was borne out...

[enid602]

5. retired?

I think Jack Welch has been retired from GE for a few years.

[mrdmk]

7. According to CorpWatch, Welch ran the company until 2001

link
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?list=type&type=16


edit: that self imposed comma