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Five Good Questions for Ray Suarez
Ray Suarez knows public broadcasting from just about every angle.
Before joining PBS's "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" in 1999, he hosted NPR's "Talk of the Nation."
He's also worked for the NBC station in Chicago, CNN's Los Angeles bureau, ABC Radio in New York and CBS Radio in Rome, as well as several American and British news services in London.
During his career, Ray has reported on it all - including the influence of money in politics, the rise of Islam and the role of the media in covering executions. He's also won duPont-Columbia Silver Baton Awards for his coverage of Newt Gingrich's Congress and the first all-race elections in South Africa.
This year, Ray has reported on the presidential election from St. Paul, Minn., where residents told him about their concerns about the state's aging infrastructure, and on the mortgage meltdown from Baltimore, where officials discussed their lawsuit against the city's top lender and their contention that black homebuyers have been unfairly saddled with expensive home loans.
What would you like to ask Ray?
Got questions about how reporting for public radio differs from reporting for public television? Eager to learn more about his international coverage? Want to know his views on the future of journalism?
This is your chance.
Leave your questions for Ray in the comments section below. If you prefer, you may also e-mail them to me.
A reminder: Keep your questions on topic. Also, I may edit your question for clarity.
I'll choose five good questions for Ray and share his answers soon.
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Sounds good, wish they had something like this when I was a kid.. I always had an interest in...
wow that is very intersting it hink that is something
1st let me say we are Christian's. I never assumed Dr. Scott wasn't saved. Why assume he isn't...
Dear PBS Engage,
Your shows are fantastic. I try to watch them everyday on KOPB Portland...
I love the way Laurence Fox plays his character Hathaway. It is refreshing, I don't think there...
Mr. Suarez For your info,
Mr. Suarez For your info, JDM
To Letters at Wall Street Journal
You Know Mathew Futterman you know who you know reports for, you know, the Wall Street you know Journal you know. We just listened you know to him you know on the Public Radio you know News [News Hour, PBS] broadcast here [Salt Lake City] you know on TV Channel 7 at 6:00 PM you know MDT 12 August 2008 you know.
If we knew, we wouldn't have had to listen to that of which he was trying to inform us, but "you know" is the only expression of which we remember he was saying, you know.
Not necessarily intended for publication, BUT Please send him to elocution school.
J D Marks
Subscriber since 1960 you know
Holladay [Salt Lake City, you know] Utah
Picking News Coverage
As a supporter of Congressman Ron Paul I bemoan the lack of coverage given to his ideas. Sure he gets a minute to answer a question. And I know that PBS really tries to cover news that is interesting to its viewers. But when is it ever possible to explore in depth issues and positions that have not yet reached critical mass? The same problem confronts people like Kucinich, Nader, etc.
The piece on the 100 year history gap.
Mr. Suarez:
I always look forward to the program and each of you are good interviewers.
Last night I was disappointed over the downsizing on the Jamestown experience. Why is it that the Puritans are seen as the founders of the English experience? As you said, the South lost the "war." That lost was a good thing for the whole nation, but should it cloud all of the American history? It was the Virginia colonists 160 years later who came up with separtation of church and state and personal, conscious freedom. Mass. was years behind. Madison and Jefferson were sons of the Jamestown experience.
Thank you for allowing me to write this to you.
You are always so fair and insightful. However, this time . . .
Yours,
Robert Boggs
The Edwards' "Scandal"
I'm a bit confused because, on Monday, the NewsHour boasted of not carrying the John Edwards' story on Friday yet then did a nine minute segment on the non-scandal. Contrary to what the editor of the Charlotte Observer claimed in justifying his paper's own coverage, Mr. Edwards is no longer a public figure so the NewsHour scrutiny of a two year old story seems, well, bizarre.
Yet, deciding to do the segment, the show made no effort to link the Edwards' piece to the on-going news about John McCain's on-going filandering; not just lobbyist Vicki Iserman but other women including a 30 year old campaign worker who was seen being hustled out of McCain's hotel suite by Secret Service agents at five one morning. It was reported at by several credible bloggers a few days ago.
It seems to be it would have been appropriate for the NewsHour to ask its guests why isn't the news media paying as much attention to the Republican nominee as it does to a man who dropped out of the race some time ago -- and who's pecadillo occured two years ago.
I am confused. The president
I am confused. The president of the United States has no power to submit a bill in congress. The only way to get things done is through submitting a bill into congress, congress vote son it and the president either signs the bill into law or veto's it. I hear the presidential candidates talk about this plan and that plan. As president they will have no ability to enter a bill into the congress. Why do they not submit their plan as a bill in congress now? Their "plan" for this and that can be vetted. They can also then show their ability to "work across the isle" to get the bill enacted. So is it all rhetoric and the only plan is to get elected?
Offshore oil drilling
Why is that the mainstream media seems to ignore the fact that the big oil companies hold leases to over 68 millions acres of public lands on and off shore for domestic drilling? Why don't they challenge the GOP assertion that there are known reserves to be taped if we just lease more lands to the oil companies? The oil companies can begin exploring and drilling offshore right now on the areas where they currently hold leases. If we must drill now there is really nothing hindering them from doing so. Why aren't they doing so?
Finally, why is it that no one is asking why the GOP insists that a windfall profits tax will stifle exploration, could it be that the record profits that they have generated recently, make actually drilling less profitable? Aren't they just waiting to start really exploring and drilling when the value of crude oil and refined fuels shoot further up into the stratosphere?
Offshore Oil Drilling
Al Goggins,
Many acres of public land leases are held by "oil companies". This does not equate to those acres having oil. Many sites have been tested and found barren. The lease doesn't expire on the day the site is found dry. Many leases are on another Congressional drilling moratorium (set to expire after September).
Your contention that there is nothing hindering drilling is completely wrong. I suggest for your pleasure and enlightenment that you Google "Destin Dome". A good source of factual material regarding leases and drilling is ibdeditorials.com . When you cut through any political material and discard it, what remains are facts that you can further research, as I have done, to get a clearer picture of the real issue. You will see, too, that most of the PC bumper stickers to which we have been exposed are just so much garbage.
Search also for the truth about the Channel Islands in California regarding oil. The equipment is still in place but drilling is under ban. With the lifting of the ban oil could be flowing in MONTHS, not the standard 10 to 90 years we hear from the pols. Also, more oil is "spilling" into the channel from natural seepage than ever was done by man. Today.
Also, look at the real ANWR area to be explored, not the phony pictures of some other areas we see posted. 60 miles from the Prudhoe site and still in barren wasteland. Also, ANWR was APPROVED for exploration, then banned by Congress.
The TRUTH is out there. All you need do is seek it out. It will amaze and enrich you. Good luck.
Rules governing superdelegate votes at the Democrat convention
What rules govern the voting of the superdelegates at the convention?
Do they vote before, during or after the delegates from the states?
Do they vote in the open or in secret?
Do their pre-convention" pledges" really mean anything?
Change In Mainstream Journalism's Tone
As a young journalism student just starting to get deep into his studies at college, I am curious about Mr. Suarez's views on the change in mainstream journalism's tone. To illustrate my question, in a recent interview on the Charlie Rose show, Brit Hume of FOX News stated that he believes one of the reasons that FOX surged in popularity in the last decade was due to their focus on more news personality - more engaging newscasters with a great emphasis on character than content. This, to the best of my knowledge, is a drastic change from the news of old, which chose the more straight-talking un-opinionated style. From my view, the Newshour has retained the values of the American news tradition in that it is more about the guests and stories than the reporters.
Granted, this may be my own views - a matter of perception. But that said, I would like to ask what Mr. Suarez sees when he would compare the news style of a Edward R. Murrow to the more modern style of a Tony Snow or Chris Matthews.
Thank you.
Personality in the news
Back in the sixties or seventies, Walter Cronkite, the CBS anchor, was voted or found to be "The most trusted man in America." I forget who made the claim...it wasn't Cronkite, i'm sure. However, ever since then news anchors and ambitious persons on TV have coveted just such fame, and have sought the mantle of most trusted person in america. The desire to be so regarded fuels much of the posturing by news personalities - the "Greatest Generation" pitched by Tom Brokaw elevated Brokaw to a similar status, but he was unable to claim the big prize. (Slightly off the subject, a buddy of mine calls it "The Whitest Generation," and asks if his book on the sixties shouldn't be retitled "The Second-Greatest Generation," instead of "BOOM."
Brit Hume's interest in personality reflects, I believe, an obsession with gaining the Cronkite crown that is limited to within the journalism community. You have to be a dreamer to think the American public is looking for a most trusted person in America... like Diogenes the Cynic looking for an honest man... that is so old school.
As for your characterization of the Chris Mathews style as "modern," I would only suggest that "post-modern" is closer to accurate. By that I mean the field is flooded with points of light like Mathews who are self-consciously anchorish, pundits who are self-consciously puditty, and hard-edged balding guys with an attitude.
Television news people are too often driven to ecstasy by what Walker Percy called "the voluptuousness of bad news," as my buddy mentioned above reminds me whenever a pundit dies or retires and the airwaves are filled for days with weeping and gnashing of teeth and cries of "who will tell us what to think now?"
Personality in the news
I should add:
I apologize for misrepresenting Digenes the Cynic. He went about in broad daylight carrying a lighted lamp to illustrate the futility of the search for an honest man, aka Truth, aka the most trusted man in America.
The journalists on the News Hour are not the gulls and glory seekers I have described. If you are considering a career of writing, check out the book "3 minutes or less," a collection of speeches by PEN/Faulkner honorees. On page 91, you will find Jim Lehrer's contribution. He will explain to you his take on the life of the journalist as reporter. I think of it as Diogenes without the silly lamp-device, but still asking questions as-if. The News Hour is the best. This is one reason why.
Thanks
Thanks for the words Christopher. Clearly you are far more read up on the subject than I and I really do appreciate what you have said. Again, my studies have only just begun and my history of journalism, along with the definitions often used in the academia, are still very immature. Anything that gives me insight on such things is incredibly appreciated. I may in fact check out that book, "3 minutes or less."
I suppose I am speaking from a purely viewer standpoint when I mention "tone." In reality, I feel an incredible difference in the method of speech between shows such as the Newshour over other shows such as Hardball (which I do enjoy from time to time) and Hannity & Colmes (which I go out of my way to avoid.) Such tone very well might be related to what you described, Christopher.
Once again, thanks for the words. Anything I can add to the "Wish To Read" pile is always exciting.
readings
I'm honored by your remarks, and grateful. Please call me Chris. As to readings, just read widely and often. On the subject of WWII and its generations, the finest book I've read on the subject is a novel, "Guard of Honor," by James Gould Cozzens.
A current book on skeptics and doubters throughout history is "Doubt: A History," by Jennifer Michael Hecht, who is also a favorite poet of mine. I would travel anywhere to see her read on the same stage with another poet I love, who I believe complements her, Robert Bly; though I am probably alone in that belief.
Finally, I recommend the scene from Shaw's play "Man And Superman" known as "Don Juan in Hell." It's the length of a short story, but a demanding read; yet fortunately you can still find it in recorded form, from a 1950's set of disks. I'd advise both listening to the recording and reading it, if you can. Most writing about the devil, from John Milton on down, makes him the bad boy we hate and envy and would love to be, but Shaw shows him as he is: cultured, mild, civil, tasteful, discreet, well-mannered, educated, the kind of scholar you'd want to sit down with to discuss the evolving Presidencies and obscure nineteenth century political movements, and a dreadful bore bent on persuading humankind to give up, retire, relax and enjoy the good life and its many, many pleasures.
Throw in "The Seventeen Traditions" by Ralph Nader and you'll never want to leave this party where Don Juan and Donna Anna, the Statue and the Devil (the party wouldn't be complete without him - there's no keeping him out) and Shaw, plus Hecht and Bly and Nader and old Cozzens, plus all the others to whom thanks are due, hang out all the time. Ray Suarez is there, so's the whole crew.
I'll leave with my favorite line by Shaw: "Decency is indecency's conspiracy of silence."
VOTE YET??
ARE YOU VOTING FOR NEW FREEDOM FEE ,
OR NEW FREEDOM FREE ???
Run Suskind's The Way of The World
Hi Ray, love the Newshour and watch it every evening.
Any chance of having a segment on the allegations about the fake letter ordered by the Bush administration in order to justify the war in Iraq?
Thanks. --- Peter Meissner
Ask Ray Suarez
Ray, Would you mind running for president of the United States so that we can elect someone (you) with intelligence to serve over our ailing and failing country? Thanks, Nate Solod. I'll be writing you in when i vote in november here in cincinnati, ohio
Oh, Nate.....
I'm not sure Mr. Suarez would even WANT your vote, what with your past associations, Nate.
You make Bill Ayers look like Mr. Rogers, and you still probably can't pass a drug test! :-)
Your coverage on Georgia
The New York Times California edition was put to bed at the same time your show was produced last night. It was truelly depressing to see two old cold war hawks rehashing a view of Russia that is 30 years out of date.
I hope whoever puts the news together tonight at least reads the NYTimes today.
Your show last night was little more than propaganda for the Gerogian view of the conflict. Two sides of this story is not the a Democratic vs. Republican hawk, it is how Russia sees the world, how the US screwed up by encouraging Georgia publically while trying to reign them in privately, and how there are many layers of complexity in this story. How would we feel if Mexico elected a leftist and started having thousands of Russian military advisers and artillary and aircraft poured in.
Your jornalism is what got us into the Irag war. It is the kind of reporting perspective on a small client state that got the two sides into WWI almost a century ago. You should feel ashamed of your jingoistic superficiality.
recent coverage
I am sorry to say that I see a constant decline in the quality of the newshour's coverage.
One significant factor is, I believe, your use of biased sources like heritage foundation, american enterprise institute, etc.
And I also sense jingoism creeping into the coverage. I would expect a sophisticated operation would take a broader view of world events.
I suppose your reliance on sponsors forces the slant, but I do feel the sense of loss of what was once a quality product.
T. Boone Pickens
Ray, I saw your interview with Pickens, and I liked the way you handled the fellow's interest in wind and natural gas. Thank you for reminding us he was behind the Swift Boat propaganda machinery. You were right to ask him what's in it for him. Pickens, the propagandist who can transform a man's honorable war record into something like a criminal record with a rub of his magic decoder ring, ought not to be trusted in any of his judgments, projects, or opinions. I say this even as I value solar and wind power. Sure, we'll welcome his support, but he's not one of us.
A Question for Mr. Suarez
I live in Memphis, Tennessee, a city where race is unfortunately still a divisive issue politically; (see the recent race for congress between Nikki Tinker and Steve Cohen.) You have a lot of experience covering politics domestically and abroad, as you did in South Africa during their historic first multi-racial elections ... Since you began covering politics have you seen a shift in how Americans view race in politics, and do you see any solutions to the current racial issues creeping into the race for President of the United States?
The Obama Nation
Please address the fact that no mention of Mary Matlin's executive position with the Simon and Schuster imprint that published the "Obama Nation" has been made in the media. To me it is no surprise that Republican pundit Matlin would be connected with this book of outrageous and unfounded statements about Senator Obama. The book's author, Jerome Corsi, was deeply involved with "The Swift Boat" trashing of John Kerry. So it is no surprise that this right winger would attack Senator Obama. Please check Matlin's connections to the "Obama Nation". It is of note that Matlin's husband, James Carvell, is noticeably quiet on this matter. It comes as no surprise since he is an obvious Hillary supportor. Thank you.
Georgia / Russia conflict
I would like to see more investigative reporting on the real reasons for this conflict. It appears to be more about oil than defending democracy. We need the facts reported, not our government's retoric.
Many of us voters to not trust the information being relayed by the news organizations.
The US Congress
I would like to see more coverage on and about the members of Congress who do so little for this country. The public has little opportunity to see and hear discussion about a very dysfunctional Congress.
serious
did obama ever say he used drugs and alcohol
Serious answer
During a C-SPAN broadcasted Saddleback Church event in which Obama and McCain were asked identical questions about a variety of things, Obama did say that as a youth he did experiment with drugs and alcohol.
http://www.rickwarrennews.com/transcript/civil_forum_transcript-01.txt
Scroll down to around line 19 and read on for his answer.
By the way, it was a pretty great little event. I believe it was a very reasonable look at both of the candidates views on many issues and the pastor who administered them did a good job in my eyes. I would recommend the Saddleback Church event to anyone interested in learning more about their personal views.
EDIT
Just noticed an error. In the transcript he only said he experimented with drugs, not alcohol.
Not sure if that matters but there you go.
Saddleback Church forum
I was extremely disappointed by the Newhour's coverage of this event. I expected Public T.V. to at least question the appropriateness of such a forum, in which both candidates were expected to explicitly confirm their Christian beliefs, and to hold forth about them in a way that was a complete erosion of the barrier between church and state. Two of the three commentators on the Newshour were Baptists and the third was a member of Beliefnet. I am appalled that no one represented the mainstream point of view that, in the United States, we determine a candidate's fitness for office by his record of actions, not his Christian theology.
would like to view pbs news
would like to view pbs news 6:30 p.m newyork time inother words,
i want to see bbc news broadcasted overr pbs new york at 18:30 hrs.
how and where can i see June 5, and 6 2008 bbc news
excuse my english, please
thank you
jay