rant · moment 13 of 21
Journalism's Moral Bankruptcy and Anderson Cooper's Fake Empathy
from Joel Osteen's Ark · #60
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
4 minTim argues journalism attracts uniquely cynical, career-obsessed people chasing clicks over accuracy, singling out Anderson Cooper's performed empathy, and briefly recalls the Buzzfeed reporter body-slammed by a politician.
- 43:10Reporters used to have empathy, but not anymore—nobody good at the job stays in journalism.
- 43:30Tim argues journalism attracts one of the most incompetent breeds of human beings possible.
- 43:53Chris Hedges described the journalism class as morally bankrupt, advancing careers on the backs of people in tragedy.
- 44:16Journalists promote their own careers above accuracy, ethics, or doing the right thing.
- 44:42Anderson Cooper's entire value comes from his ability to fake empathy and concern.
- 45:09Tim mimics Cooper performing fake distress over a crisis while sweating and demanding air conditioning.
- 45:34The reporter who got body-slammed by a candidate then lost, and people voted for the candidate instead.
- 45:54All the bad trends are converging—race war, bad weather, general decay.