by Amy, AllHabs.net

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Over the course of the past few days, I’ve sat and listened intently as this ridiculous melodrama has played out…and I’ve finally reached a point where I feel I need to offer my two cents (regardless of how much it’s worth due to the current exchange rate between US and Canadian currencies – lol).

First let me congratulate Rick on not only writing these extremely intelligent, well-balanced pieces of journalistic GOLD but for also having the where-with-all to stand up to the bullies and territorial hounds who make up a growing portion of the MSM…it’s not often enough that their actions and words are held under a microscope.

(In case you haven’t read them, I’m referring to the following articles which have appeared on this site over the past week:  The MSM Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks, MSM and New Media, Next Steps, and MSM Takes One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.  Please read them and the comments attached to them before continuing with what I’ve written here.)

Which brings me to the incredible problem I have with Andie Bennett’s on-air comments and the manner in which she has handled herself afterwards.  I know, I know – she’s tried to “set the record straight” aplenty via posts on the first article in this series…but one needs only to look at the title of that article and apply it to this situation: Ms. Bennett Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks.  For someone who seemingly doesn’t put a lot of stock in the words of bloggers, she seems to be awfully concerned with how she is portrayed in web magazine articles.

Oh but wait – not that this should matter, but I am a WOMAN, and it seems some are particularly sensitive to other women pointing out qualms they have with their actions.  Add to that my position on the All Habs team and it’s like double jeopardy…I’m sure to be written off as a female blogger.  Oh DARN. (and no, I’m not in my parent’s basement – and, unless you’re going commando, doesn’t *everyone* technically tweet in their underwear? With other layers on top?  Amazing how easily anyone can twist words to suit their needs, huh?)

So to increase the credibility of my ensuing rant, I feel it forces my hand to give a bit of background about myself which I usually don’t talk about, but feel is necessary to divulge in order to be taken seriously…you know, given that I’m a woman and all.  *eye roll*  (Have I mentioned how much I can’t stand that cop out?)

I am actually a former member of the broadcast media.  After receiving my bachelor’s degree in radio and television production, I went on to spend five years as a Reporter/Producer for a television newsmagazine program.  I was humbly honoured to receive an Emmy nomination for a documentary which I produced and wrote, especially given that my competitive market was the greater Philadelphia media outlets.  So you could say that I know a thing or two about what it means to have responsibility as an on-air personality.  Perhaps this brings my “street cred” up a little?  It matters not to me…I don’t talk about my former TV experience much because it’s not what defines who I am.  You can take or leave my comments regardless of my background experiences.

Given all of that, the following commentary is sheerly my opinion on the entire matter:
I must say that I find it uncalled for of Andie to get so defensive on these pages and on the airwaves over the fact that one or more listeners called her out on a blatant mistake made when speaking ON THE AIR.  It’s that damned double-edged sword of accepting a job in the public eye…it means that everything you say and do IS PUBLIC and will be heavily scrutinized and judged.  Working in the media industry requires a very thick skin…it’s one of the most cutthroat areas of employment around.  You also have to learn very quickly in this business that you can’t let what your listeners/viewers/readers say about you get under your skin – you are forced to let it roll off your back and continue on.  It’s not a fun part of the business, but it is what it is.

Which leads me to my next point about holding a job in the media – it’s your responsibility to have the utmost awareness of the current news and trends in the market around you.  Her dismissal of the “tweeting from their parents basement” comment only goes to show that perhaps she is out of touch with how sensitive the MSM vs Bloggers topic is in Montreal.  The fact that she brushed it off as a joke time and time again goes even further to prove that she doesn’t take the matter seriously and, in fact, finds it joke-worthy.

Lastly, it is also the media’s responsibility to have the professional integrity (as Rick so aptly phrased it) to own up to their mistakes.  It’s ok, we’re all human – we all make mistakes…even if we’re a member of the media.  And typically you’ll tend to gain more respect and admiration from the public if you gracefully say, “Hey, I messed up, I apologize and meant no harm.”

Instead, she chose to apologize only in reference to potentially offending Michel Godbout because she apparently only cared about not insulting her fellow MSM colleague…giving no thought whatsoever to the hundreds of listeners whom she potentially alienated by not considering that THEY may also be insulted as well.  It was an apology, yes – but not a sufficient one.

She states numerous times that she was misquoted, yet when Rick obligingly gave her the opportunity to present an audio clip to correct the problem (because you see, that’s what a good journalist does…he researches more than you know and always makes sure he gets his facts straight)…she replied by saying she’s too busy to go back and listen to the session to locate the sound bite.  Well if she was really that worried about setting the record straight, she would have made the time to find the sound bite.

I’m also disappointed that she chose to single out Julie in her rebuttal – from what I can tell, Julie’s comments serve to point out that maybe if Andie used social media to interact with her listeners and followers on a more personal level, and not just when promoting a charity event, that it might help her better understand the world of new media and give her a broader scope on the situation.  Wouldn’t that be beneficial?  Julie has also tweeted about charitable causes which she has been involved with, but it’s not the centerpiece of her social media communication.  And she would never single out a fellow female media personality simply to try to advance her career – it’s not her style.  She advocates equality in media and is quite vocal about not being treated differently based on gender.

I suppose I’ve stood on my soap box long enough, and I should note that I’m not writing all these thoughts down with the intention of insulting anyone.  I’m sure that Andie takes her job very seriously and is proud of the work she does – most likely part of the reason she was so quick to defend herself…producing radio and being on the air is no easy undertaking.  It is simply my hope that by hearing the reactions from so many listeners and readers, these events will help to act as a learning experience for everyone involved in the MSM/new media debate.  It’s an exciting time for journalists of all calibers – and it’s my hope that a solid middle ground can be found sometime soon.

Thanks again to Rick for bringing this ongoing conversation to the forefront and for providing an arena for people to have their voices heard.  Keep up the great work!