Technology & Innovation — November 18, 2010

A Portrait of Rachel Maddow

With a Rhodes scholarship and Ph.D. in political science from Oxford, Rachel Maddow may be the brainiest TV news host yet to defend opinion-based journalism.

bigthinkeditor

This week, hundreds crammed into the Harvard Kennedy School to hear her [Rachel Maddow] deliver the annual lecture on press and politics—at a time when, as she put it, newsrooms were facing a financial apocalypse—and journalists have replaced lawyers as the public’s hate figures of choice. Her basic thesis was this: TV news can have a future. It can even make money. But it’s those who voice their opinions over the air who are pulling in the ratings. Political conflict, electioneering, the thrills of the campaign: that seems to be what viewers love to watch, especially if the presenter is telling them exactly what they want to hear.

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Everyday Philosophy: “Is it OK to ghost the people you date?”

Nicole has been dating someone for a while but it's not working out from her point of view. Is sudden radio silence an ethical option?

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Everyday Philosophy: “Can I ever swear in front of kids?”

Irene is on a bus with her young kids when two men come on, cussing like sailors. Should Irene step in and say something?

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Everyday Philosophy: “Should I have to work the same hours as my inefficient colleague?”

Rich is brilliant at his job. He completes work in half the time of his coworkers. Should he have to sit at his desk just as long?

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