VPR “Vermont Edition” host, Jane Lindholm, provided a bona-fide journalistic interview of Governor Jim Douglas today. The podcast is available on the VPR site, and I highly recommend clicking over for a listen.
http://www.vpr.net/episode/44687/
Oddly, the interview ended at 12:40 despite the fact the show goes to 1pm. Did Jim Douglas point to his watch and motion to Lindholm that he had to cut out? 🙂
Lindholm and VT Edition producer, Sarah Ashworth accomplished something that's pretty difficult to encounter when reading or listening to Vermont news programs. The show offered very informed questions as well as clear, hard-hitting follow-ups. Real honest to goodness journalism.
The show deserved praise, so I sent the following note along to Jane. As an aside, I think it's important to let Vermont's reporters know when we appreciate a job well done, in addition to the times we're not that impressed. There's a saying that goes, “If no one's complaining, it means you're doing a good job.” Well, it's also nice to send out a quick, “Keep up the good work!” note as well, in my humble opinion. My quick note to Jane is below the fold.
But more importantly, go listen to the podcast on the Vermont Edition page:
http://www.vpr.net/episode/44687/
Hi Jane,
Thank you for today's interview on Vermont Edition. The use of respectful yet uncompromising news questions along with journalistic, fact-checking follow-ups is the kind of reporting we need in order to learn more about the real issues here in Vermont. Unfortunately, it's far too often that interviewees are given softball questions and allowed to simply say what they assume listeners of similar views want to hear. We have come to expect this in national news reporting, which has devolved from journalistic integrity far too significantly in a way that leading news organizations have acknowledged help lead America to an unnecessary war in Iraq.
Today's interview with Governor Jim Douglas was incredibly candid, offering the kinds of frank questions and follow-up fact checking that Vermonters and Americans are no longer accustomed to or even expect.
Please keep up the good work in this direction, Jane, no matter who your interviewee may be.