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On The Kicker this week, we discuss White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s job performance to date. Spicer’s gaffe in comparing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Adolf Hitler was only the latest in a string of controversies emerging from behind the lectern in the Brady Briefing Room. Then, we have some fun imagining the life of a journalist in 2027. The impetus for the conversation was a recently published CJR story on the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism.
Finally, author and Columbia Journalism School professor Todd Gitlin talks with Dave about the media’s love affair with war. Gitlin is a fierce critic of the manner in which journalists—both in print and especially on television—report on events like last week’s missile strike in Syria. He and Dave discuss the historical context for this concern, and how the media could better cover military action.
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SHOW NOTES:
- “A day in the life of a journalist in 2027: Reporting meets AI” by Francesco Marconi and Alex Siegman, CJR
- “Sean Spicer Raises Outcry With Talk of Hitler, Assad and Poison Gas” by Nicholas Fandos and Mark Landler, The New York Times
- “As bombs rain in Syria, TV journalists fall prey to shock and awe” by Todd Gitlin, CJR
Follow The Kicker on Twitter and email us suggestions for guests and discussion topics at TheKicker@CJR.org.
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