Brian Lamb: Medium Cool - LA Times (interview with C-SPAN founder)

[pinto]

Interesting interview with an "insider" and a strong advocate for media objectivity. ~ pinto

Brian Lamb: Medium Cool
The C-SPAN founder discusses the tone of political discourse, his channel's impact on government and more.

By Patt Morrison
June 19, 2010

People have mistaken him for John McCain. People have mistakenly thought he's been off the airwaves for years. And inside the Beltway, where egos are the size of Montgolfier balloons, Brian Lamb doesn't have a problem with any of that. The founder and CEO of C-SPAN believes that if he can't retire from the airwaves without a big fuss by viewers, the channel isn't the no-star vehicle he designed it to be.

C-SPAN began in 1979 with a no-brand brand: all governing, all the time, no jokes, no spin. Its reach now includes three channels, radio, a video archive and a big Web presence. Lamb is working for the day that C-SPAN goes interactive on the Internet, and viewers can click to see details about a politician's history, right down to campaign contributions. The C-SPAN bus travels the country, its staff, like Lamb, doing a lot more listening than talking.

C-SPAN's stars are the callers, and the politicians. Sometimes, they're one and the same. Ted Kennedy used to phone in. Ronald Reagan did, too, a couple of times, when he was in the White House. So has Cher. In D.C.'s cacophonous and venomous media mash-up, Lamb is Mr. On-the-One-Hand-On-the-Other-Hand, and makes sure he never overplays either one.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-morrison-lamb-20100619,0,6313372.column

[Mimosa]

1. Loved C-Span in the 'old days'

I watch it rarely now. I don't know if I got burned out or it's not as interesting as it used to be.

[pinto]

2. I don't watch / listen to the call in show. But regularly check Senate / House coverage.

It's an invaluable resource if someone wants to see the process as well as the outcome. I'm a political junkie of sorts, so when I'm home, I'd rather see the actual session than the snippets on other cable channels.

And they've got pretty good musical interludes while waiting for members to come to the floor. :-)

[elleng]

3. Best possible viewing, imo.

[Skittles]

4. I have mistaken him for a repuke whore

NOT