A few suggestions for the new leader of Meet the Press

If the New York Times, Politico, the Los Angeles Times and the Huffington Post are to be believed, NBC's Meet the Press is going to get a new master on Sunday, when Tom Brokaw concludes his hour-long interview with President-elect Obama with the announcement that David Gregory is taking over the network's flagship public affairs show.

For political junkies, this is like seeing white smoke at the Vatican. Long ago, Tim Russert turned the Meet the Press job into media's most powerful political reporting gig -- where he could deliver reports on government and politicians for the highest-rated Sunday politics show (MTP), the highest-rated morning news show (Today) and the highest-rated evening news show (Nightly News).

Taking over after the death of Russert, who was America's dean of TV political reporting, will be a monumental challenge. So, of course, this ornery TV critic has a few recommendations for the G-man on how to make it all go smoother.

Number 1: Get more diverse. Now.

If Gregory is the most logical choice -- he's the network's most visible political reporter aside from semi-retired anchor Tom Brokaw -- he is also the safest. And at a time when we have one of the most diverse White House administrations in history, he is also another middle-aged white guy leading the discussion.

So at least broaden the voices at the table beyond the few anointed women and people of color Russert allowed to join his discussions. The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson, NPR's Michele Norris and PBS's Gwen Ifill are cool -- I even suggested Ifill as the best host candidate -- but what about The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates, or The New Yorker's Kelefa Sanneh or NPR's Farai Chideya, slightly younger voices and people of color with smart, sharp takes on the world.

Number 2: Challenge the Washington establishment more

This should be easy for Gregory -- a guy who made his bones tearing former White House spokesman Scott McClellan a new one during televised press briefings. But if Russert had a flaw, it was the way his status as a Washington insider sometimes kept him from challenging the town's assumptions. The worst example of this may be the lack of pushback during the run up to the war in Iraq, when officials such as Vice President Cheney went on Meet the Press to push questionable intelligence and ultimately flawed ideas about Iraq and terrorism. As incisive as Russert could be in the hunt for hypocrisy and contradiction, I think he got too caught up in What Big Shots Say, rather than the real impact of their actions.

Number 3: Resist the urge to turn the Democrats into a punching bag for balance

Gregory's coming from the liberal-leaning MSNBC hothouse, facing the legacy of a host known for his even-handedness. The easiest route to credibility might be giving Democrats a hard time, just to prove distance and to vet the new guys in power. Here's hoping Gregory's smart enough to know that such effort is a false balance, and results in unfair coverage that mostly serves his public image.

Number 4: Find ways to loosen up the show and reveal yourself

A few things audiences learned about Gregory from his numerous stints guest-hosting the Today show: he's got a great sense of humor, taste for pop culture and even a few quality dance moves. Nobody's suggesting he turn Meet the Press into Solid Gold, but I think Brokaw let the show get a little musty and boring during his tenure.

Gregory's challenge will lie in finding ways to make the show more relatable and compelling while maintaining its credibility and seriousness of purpose. Russert always found time to shout out to his beloved Buffalo Bills and dad Big Russ; surely Gregory can find a way to add a little of his own spice to Meet the Press' august political mix.

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Comments

[Monca D. Hardwick]

I do like your line of names. Although, I would like to add a few names to the "table list" like: Michelle (McQueen) Martin, also of NPR as well as Nightline and author Michael Eric Dyson.

[RagsTTIger]

Kindly disregard the last paragraph, of the previous post due to a copy error.

[RagsTTIger]

Keith, gotta love your knee jerk Fox comment. Pew Research has documented Fox's balanced news approach. Do a quick google to verify such. Please cite for us even one time on a news program, when both sides of an issue weren't presented. Before answering remember the difference between presenting the news and news commentary.

Your last sentence was truly amazing. Russert didn't challenge his guests?

I suggest you get that TV fixed.

NBC, staging events to slant a story. AP deliberately photoshopping pictures for dissemination, reflecting the direction they wanted in news coverage to take. CNN's Peter Arnett in Iraq or his Tailwind story. Interesting that CNN's former VP of International News admitted to a News forum that he had a deal with Hussein to allow only CNN to stay in Baghdad, to guarantee favorable coverage. ABC News and their infamous memo to the news staff to distort news stories to assist in Kerry's election. CBS and their out and out lies characterizing Bush's military experience, later costing Rather his job.

[beltwaybandit]

Actually, I would like a Meet the Press host that goes after everyone.

The problem as you point out, Eric is that even the great Russert (and he was great)at times gave DC heavyweights in power a pass...Clinton as well as Bush 43.

If Gregory is to operate at the standard we all would like, it is incumbent on him NOT to resist the "temptation" to beat up on Democrats, but to do so robustly.

And Republicans as well.

It is time for the media to stop taking sides between two political parties, neither of which have any power in and of themselves constitutionally, and start covering the government of the people.

That means regardless of political affiliation...if you hold office in this country you get scrutinized and held accountable.

No excuses.

[Eric Deggans]

Thanks very much Keith...really appreciate that.

[Keith]

Oh and Eric....Let's hope David Gregory reads and enjoys your column as much as we do.

[Keith]

Fox News truly fair & balanced?? Have I been watching the same Fox News? I must not be - Steve, please let me know what channel you're watching FN on because I must be connected to a different TV network.

It will be interesting to see what changes Mr. Gregory will bring to MTP. Here's hoping he challenges his guests even more so than Mr. Russert did.

[Eric Deggans]

Bob, I didn't say he should go easy on Dems. But in coming from MSNBC, the presumption is going to be that he will go easy on Dems, providing a natural incentive to crack down.

Steve, I believe in my analysis I pointed out why I chose those people -- they are smart, sharp, younger and people of color who look at the world very differently than the usual folks who fill Meet the Press' roundtable.

Fox News usually assembles a panel of people and then frames the discussion to favor conservative values. We'll have to agree to disagree on whether that's "fair and balanced."

[Steve]

You say that for political junkies, this is like white smoke at the Vatican... maybe for liberal political junkies, Eric, but not me. As far as broadening the voices at the table, did you choose those individuals because they're qualified, or just black? I think the model you're looking for is the format used by Fox News: both sides get a fair hearing, because they truly are fair and balanced.

[Bob]

So I take it you're laying down the marker that giving the dems a hard time will simply be false balance and unfair coverage. The republicans are of course not mentioned so I take it that similar comments about republicans are fair game.
Nice to see your unbiased take on things, as always.