Instant Analysis

Every news reporter wants to be Walter Cronkite. I've noticed this for years but it often slips out of my consciousness until, something that may be significant happens.

I caught the tail end of President Obama's latest State of the Union address. He spoke well as he always does. The instant analysis following the speech was nearly unbearable.

When you look at old footage, Walter Cronkite always said what was obvious. He just put into words what the viewers were thinking. It really wasn't revolutionary. It was just the truth. This straight ahead approach made him become a very trusted man. The garbage that is spewed out now buy the so called experts is terrible. They are trying to be first to say it. They want to have the scoop. In 2011, there is no such thing as a scoop. News travels quickly and everyone knows at the same time. This relentless but futile rush for a scoop leads to very silly comments.

You can never know how history will judge a person or a moment until it is in the past. It is only with reflection and a broader view of the entire picture can you see how the individual or moment fits into the whole system. Making a statement of how this moment will be judged is futile. You don't know. You only know how you feel or react in the moment.

Reporting or discussing the news should be living in the now. It is not soothsaying. Although we all try to predict how things will go, we are often wrong. We should quit kidding ourselves. Our news reporters should report on what is happening not what may happen.

Every news reporter wants to be Walter Cronkite. I think they should just be themselves and tell us what is happening not what may or may not in the future.