Charlie Gibson’s Blog

Mr. Gibson:
Thank you for giving us an unbiased opinion of the convention proceedings. I for one am soooo tired of all these proceedings, I haven’t even watched the convention. BUT, I will keep reading your BLOG because you keep it simple.
Thank you.

I’m new to this blogging thing too. I haven’t read yesterday’s blog but I will now. You see, I’m trying to get as much information as I can and so have just started looking around the web as well as listening to NPR and of course TV channel surfing between the big networks and PBS. I like the idea of the blog because it means that someone (like you Mr. Gibson) who’s close to the scene and not just a regular person’s rant, (though they have their place in the dialogue too), but that someone like you who’s seen and talked to the people we count on to do the right thing for the welfare of our citizens, is able to take the time to give a thoughtful perspective on what’s going on. Granted, it definitely puts a dent into your time, and I see your wondering if it’s worth it, but I bet that in the future this kind of contact with the public will be common place, and that millions of people will read it because we are so hungry to know what’s really going on. So I thank-you for taking the time to share your point of view. It adds to my knowledge base.

Thank you for taking the time to post. Your insight is appreciated. The two speeches that we heard last night from Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were very good. The one we did not hear was from President Carter. I don’t understand why they did not let him say anything. I thought he was about to speak….and then he walks behind the backdrop and that was it.
Any idea why they did not allow him to speak?
Regards,

Charlie
Don’t know if this helps but my 2 cents as to whether your blog is worth the time…
(as a guy who has his own team doing content for the web)
1st – I don’t think people have caught on yet that you are blogging…takes a bit.
2nd – I think your colleagues will tell you that many people read the discussions and don’t always contribute.
but more than those two first issues…
it is the stone age still with IPTV (or ITV)… … we are evolving into interactive and to have a voice like yours in that world helps.
very soon we will have full use (not basic as we have now) of what’s called hypervideo.
This is an interactive layer of flash over the video on the web where you can embed hotspots or links…i.e. you like the dress a character is wearing…click on it and you will be linked to where you can buy it… you want to talk to a person on the video…click on them during the specific story and you are attached to their blog…
As it evolves the links will become intelligent and not only will they link you to the person’s blog…but when you type it will also link you to more information and other people who have similar questions and ideas.
Hopefully that is a little insight …that is what my team of storytellers are working with actually and why you will see my signature here on occasion.
I am very interested to see how a long time experienced reporter evolves with this.
and I think you will find the worthy of it may grow…lol…both on you and with you…so to speak.
and every once in a while…
Aristotle’s theory may even help a veteran reporter like yourself…
as he said – “the truth is found through the dialectic”… alot of “dialectic”, worthy or not, will go on in your blog.
and FYI As a Massachusetts native,
Gotta say I appreciated that you carried Teddy’s speech the way you did.
I think most Mass natives feel like he is family…whether they like him or not. Probably most of America feels that way.

I thought the airing of both speeches in their entirety was the right call. I think people watching the convention live want to hear what’s said and form their own opinions and reactions to the speeches. If they wanted sound bites and someone else’s opinion, they could just as easily watch the wrap up on the 11 o’clock news or the morning news.

When I was young, I spent the summer with my sister and brother-in-law who were involved in local Long Island, NY politics. I worked on the float for the 4th of July parade and eagerly listened to the speeches of their political friends who cited so many wonderful plans and policies. And then we went back to the house for a barbeque. While I admit that their foul mouths took me somewhat aback, it was their cynical outlook and private comments which were quite the opposite of their public stands that I found most shocking and disillusioning. I’ve had a difficult time ever since believing anything a politician said in public. Like Senator Kennedy, I too have had a serious bout with cancer and know only too well how draining his appearance last night had to be for him. I certainly agree that it was important to cover it as ABC did. Between his speech and that of Michelle Obama, I felt the glimmer of something I thought I had lost forever — a little hope that Barack Obama’s deeds might match his rhetoric, in public and in private. It’s only taken 46 years.

I tuned in for a bit. It will be interesting to hear what Clinton has to say. However, I am really looking forward to hearing Ventura at the Paul convention in St. Paul.

Practice makes (closer to) perfect, Charlie. What took you 45 minutes of concentration yesterday should only take 15 minutes by next month. And by then, you’ll be able to crank out a post whilst eating a sandwich or taking a phone call.
As to the volume of readers, I can only say that the number of people that visited ABCNews.com yesterday is probably at least equal to the number of viewers that World News has lost in the past five years. From what I hear, you’re on track to have roughly 2-3MM visits a day by this time next year. What will the World News viewership be by then? 5 Million?

Charlie,
I hope you continue your postings! As I watch you, I often wonder what you are thinking about the news you are reporting…. You are so even-handed in your reporting, I cannot for the life of me pick up your political persuasion – I am sure you are this way so you do not lose your reputation for fairness. What also sets you apart Charlie, from all of the other anchors I’ve seen, is that one can sense in you that you do indeed genuinely care about all people and appreciate good efforts of folks to improve this world. Your reporting does not always remain focused on “the bad” as you frequently report on uplifting and inspiring stories. Charlie, I hope you remain where you are for a long, long time!

Yes, I do think that your time is well spent blogging, Mr. Gibson. You are a distinguished representative of news from this country (USA), your blog being on the internet, will be read by peoples from many countries and what they read will fashion what they think about the United States. So please do consider it worthwhile time spent. The internet is taking on greater importance in the weltschauen of many people today and you can have a significant role in that creation.

Hey charley dont worry about it we love you any way just do your best, when you can we will understand as long as you are here. blogging take time and we know you are strapped so hey what can we say..

That is what make you and your team better and we always want to watch, now you know just he little things like that that would be the smart thing to do, but only world news think of it hey thats why you are the best,

I am overjoyed that Charlie Gibson is now entering this new world of the internet. I have another where I check in daily and talk to my friends there so this is not so new to me – and I am from the “old school” as well. I remember conventions previously where all the stations would run the coverage all day long-sometimes it was quite boring-I like the 1 hour show at 10:00 PM much better as I can still watch other programs or do other things and still get a gist of what is happening. Last night’s show was truly amazing-Sen Kennedy gave an impressive speech and roused the ‘ol tiger within him telling all of us to accept the new change because we cannot live without it any more. Bless him and his family and may his roar stay steadfast until he needs to quiet down. I loved Michele Obama and the intro from her brother, the voice over from her mother, and the entire speech-it is heartwarming to see someone of her stature show her heart and love for her husband and for the job he is preparing for-and the love of her children is something they will remember into their lives-and to add a little liveliness to the convention last night was not wrong-it was beautiful-they are learning history and loving every minute of it. I am not sure what I may do with respect to the Republican convention as I am definitely a Democrat but maybe at least listen to what may be said-but it is sad that McCain needs to be attacking Obama’s choices when he himself has not been true to his word. Thanks, ABC for being the frontrunner in the News area and for bringing the best to our lives.
Ava

When I worked at the Chicago Tribune, there was a general rule (the specifics of which fail me now) that we observed when it came to comments or complaints, namely that for however many people took the time to actually call in there was (some multiplier) who share the sentiment but didn’t call in. There are many, many consumers of blogs out there, but many fewer who take the time to comment. I get a comment or two per post on my blog – and sometimes none at all – yet lately, my blog’s been logging about 500 hits a day.
Of course, I’m a fan and therefore horribly biased, but I do believe blogging is worth your time. If anything, you’re touching your core audience. And you may be preaching to the choir, but these days, any good dialogue about the goings-on in the world has value.
There’s a lot of chaff in the world, but not a lot of wheat.
You’re wheat.

Hi Charlie,
Keep blogging-the way i see it, you have to get on board like the rest of us.
one comment i do want to make about Ted Kennedy-the Kennedy name isn’t as well known as when we were growing up (oops gave my age away)Granted the brothers were well respected, but i never respected ted.
as far as michelle obama-her speech was terrible. her hand movements so choreographed.What happened to talking from the heart.
Charlie-the news disappoints me…there is no real true reporting. I want to make up my own mind-not have someone give me their opinion. just give me the facts.

Thanks for your candor, Mr. Gibson. I agree with ABC’s handling of both speeches at the DNC last night, and I really appreciate the respect your company gave to both Sen, Kennedy and Mrs. Obama. I only wish that ABC would not focus so much on John McCain when this is Mr. Obama’s time – it makes ABC seem somewhat bent on electing McCain, the war-mongerer.

40 some responses may not be “huge”, but its a start. It takes people some time to find the new elements to any website. I’m still finding my way around the new World News page. Give it time…it will happen.
I’m glad you’re blogging. It gives folks like me a chance to hear what you’re thinking about various subjects…and more importantly, a chance to respond to you. I’ve appreciated your approach to the news over the years, and can’t miss a night of World News.
I do have a question…what happened to A Closer Look? I noticed it’s gone from your nightly broadcast (at least I didn’t see it last week) and was wondering if you’ll bring it back or move in another direction. I always found the content to be very interesting, and a bit more in depth. I enjoyed it.
Best of luck ‘newbie blogger’…we look forward to more from you in the future.

Oh my — I have lived long enough to experience 17 elections — and I have yet to understand how ugly people can be about their fellow humans.
Why do I have this strong horrible feeling that vitrolic people do not bother to check out the facts.
I must insert here that I will definitely vote Democrat – having just changed parties. I felt the Republicans would do well for me/us. Well, was I wrong or WHAT? I finally qualified to own a home (I add here that I am a single female) six years ago – and I thought my decision was correct. Well, now I am going to lose my home – because I just cannot afford the payments – nor the utility bills, let alone the remainder of my other debts. Bad money management? Well, maybe – but I’ve done alright this long — and that has been a long time.
Do I want more of this? NO!! I will vote Democrat! Why would anyone threaten (or promise) to vote for any other party/candidate? Or especially to not vote at all? As I understand it, if one does not vote at all, then that goes double for the opposition. I do tend to oversimplify. And if one votes for another party or candidate, it helps the opposition win because it takes a vote away from your party. Perhaps I am way off on those statements, but this is what “sifting out the facts” means people!
My father always said that America is still the best country to live in! This is still the “Land of the Free.” I try to remember that when I am so shocked by people’s ugliness.
Keep up the good blogging, Charlie. My brain cells need the exercise!
“George from the Valley – ;)

Charlie,
You always do such a fine job, BUT… why did you find it necessary to talk over the closing prayer at the DNC tonight? Was it not important enough, or was chatter with George and Diane judge to be more important and interesting? You yourself even said, “I don’t want to interrupt this prayer” before you went on to call in Kate Snow. I’m disappointed. Please don’t do the same tomorrow night. Thanks.

We enjoy your topic of discussion, but I believe it also important that you read our opinions also. The various thoughts expressed help mold my thought at least.
I’m generally not a commenter. I more enjoy the reading and the subsequent thinking.

Hi Charlie,
I wanted to quickly comment that one of the main reasons I settled on ABC for the conventions was the coverage of Kennedy’s speech. It seemed a bit insane to me that I was hearing commentary about this historical speach at the time the speach was occuring.
I enjoy your blog.

Hmmm… after reading that last comment I have to smile – that’s one of my pet peeves on American TV in general – whether it is NBC commentators talking on top of the Olympic hymn while the children do a beautiful rendition in Greek, or whether it is EWTN commentators talking on top of the Pope’s appearance in Australia. I really didn’t notice a problem with you and George. But commentators in general seem to love the sound of their own voices – or think they can’t be silent because they’re getting paid to talk.
As for the blog – a good use of your time? Well, yes and no. It is great to hear some “behind the scenes”, to be able to give feedback and possibly receive feedback. Before the blog it was very hit-and-miss. I know PJ read audience email feedbacks because I got an email back from him one time. But a blog is less tenuous in providing insight into your broadcast for us, as well as feedback to you.
It definitely adds to experiencing and understanding the news to have a little inside glimpse. I have always treasured behind-the-scenes glimpses, such as when Lou Rukeyser spent a broadcast showing the making of W$W and how decisions were made for the broadcasts. Insight into the creation adds to the appreciation!
On the other hand, it is just more to do and more time taken up! We all have limited quantities of time. So I could see you cutting down to blogging less frequently, or shorter blogging. But to have the set up in place, putting on an RSS feed so we see when there is a new blog, if it isn’t daily, should work out fine.
Anyhow, keep up the good work. I was an avid Walter Cronkite watcher, then a PJ watcher, and now you. You have a fine broadcast! And George adds a lot as a commentator. Now if you can only get the politicians to start and stop their speeches on time! If I didn’t have 4 tuners capable of recording 4 channels the same time, I might have missed the last half of Hillary’s speech, since I had a TiVo automatically switching to record a science program! William

Charlie, You are a wonderful person
and are worthy of anyone’s time. I was struck by the lack of greeting to the delegates and general attendees by Michelle Obama- did I miss it or did she just begin to talk- I changed my party registration to vote for Barak in the Primary- even though as a “gray hair in my 60′s- and a woman-I’m supposed to be for Hillary – maybe her time will come- but I believe it’s not now! I read the Audacity of Hope and was impressed with Obama from the start-
Let’s hope in his speech on Thurs he “gathers” the crowd to him and
acknowledges that without them he wouldn’t be there! We faithfully watch you -Thank You!

Charlie,
I’ve been on the net for a good 6 years now, blogs are pretty much a waste of time.
A lively forum would be more fun but legal would never let one fly here.
The Kennedy speech would be better to watch than any analysis, even sensible analysis.
Michelle’s speech was a winner except for the propaganda/scripted bit about how her family growing up was so much like Barack’s.
[sarcasm]right[/sarcasm]

Charlie, you do a terrific job! I am an avid watcher of World News. I tivo it each night and watch it before I go to sleep. Keep up the great work. As for the blog, while it is nice to read your personal comments and observations, I recognize it might not be the best use of your time.
You are the best!

Mr. Gibson….I dont know how to “blog” either! So let’s learn together. I have watched you from the beginning of time (what a reference huh? I was there too) You are great and am looking forward to your blogs. thanks so much for being a reporting journalist who does not interject your personal views into the pieces you are reporting.

Charlie;
I think you do a tremendous job of trying to be even-handed in covering the news and to give us some perspective and context for it. A blog is great but not if it exhausts you and reduces the quality and comprehensiveness of the World New broadcast. We won’t blame you if you don’t keep it up.
That said, I’m thrilled to be able to communicate with you because I’d like to ask that the press let the Clinton vs Obama conflict rest in peace. Hillary has moved on and so should you. There are lots of other more important subjects to cover. Here are a couple I’d like to see discussed–just in case you need some suggestions!
Being President strikes me as a job so unique that candidates can never really be prepared for it no matter what they claim. What have previous Presidents found to be the skills and experience that really came in useful? Were they the ones they anticipated would be relevant? Is it more useful to have been a Governor, for instance, than to have been in Congress which is a different branch of government? Is it actually an asset to be an outsider, not a Washington politician, or does that make the learning curve too great?
To my mind, the President should be someone who is NOT like the rest of us. He or she needs to be able to keep clearly focused on the country as a whole, and the country as it relates to the rest of world, with a long-term view and an understanding of the complexity of all those interlocking pieces. The rest of us just focus on what the next paycheck will cover but that’s not what should drive the President. Please help people better understand that the job of President requires skills that very few of us have and then evaluate the candidates for their evidence or lack of those skills. That’s what really matters.
And thank you for listening to all of us!

Charlie Gibson for President.

Mr. Gibson,
The New York Times is reporting that you won’t be asking Governor Palin about her family. If a candidate introduces herself as a parent, cites her experiences as a mother as relevant to running the country, runs on a platform of “family values,” and makes a virtue of her decision not to terminate her pregnancy in the face of a child with Down Syndrome, then the candidate has made her family relevant. A failure to ask her questions about her family not only completely compromises any perception of fairness and neutrality, but promotes the false notion that all positions are equal and deserve to be treated equally by journalists. An interview like this ceases to be news and becomes infotainment. I had expected better. I guess we know how you got the exclusive (i.e. kid glove) interview.

I’ve been keeping up with the GOP’s touting Palin’s experience as Governor of AK – they claim she has more “executive experience” than Obama and McCain. While that may be true, I urge you to remember what George W. Bush’s previous job was before he became President – he was the governor of TX.
While commendable, serving as governor of a state is NOT a pre-requisite for doing a good job in the White House.
I urge reporters, bloggers, readers, and thinkers to make this connection and debunk the myth that serving as governor of a state makes you more qualified than either one of the candidates. It would be wise for any Democrat to emphatically make this “issue” a moot point.
Please, Mr. Gibson, please raise this point when you interview Palin or anyone one of her surrogates.

Mr. Gibson, given your performance at the Democratic debate last Spring, I don’t have high hopes that you will hold Palin’s feet to the fire. You seem not to understand the difference between the critically important and the trivial, and like your colleaugue Mark Halperin, Matt Drudge apparently “rules your world.” Whether you are aware of it or not, you approach interviews from a right-wing frame–I noted that even in admiring Senator Kennedy in your blog post, above, you still had to put in your disclaimer (“whether you revere him or dislike him”).
Palin is a complete unknown with a meager record and an apparent disregard for personnel rules, ethics rules, and the truth in general. The media needs to question her aggressively on behalf of the electorate and in the public interest–but your interview is soundng as if it will be the travelogue/lifestyle interview/puff piece that may explain why you landed it in the first place–because you will give her the “deference” Steve Schmidt told the press she requires.
One’s qualification for high public office is not just a factor of one’s years in service–it also is a question of whether a person has engaged and thought through the important issues of the day. Palin has thought about wedge issues and the so-called “values” issues that Republicans have used to motivate their base and pacify the masses–but as far as the record shows she hasn’t thought or written about the major issues that face the country.
If the media were doing its job, her candidacy would be treated by you and your brethren with the skepticism, critical eye, and, yes, derision it deserves–it is, in fact, a cynical political ploy, and you know it. Instead, I fear you will merely be one more fawning admirer. Please do your job, Mr. Gibson, as a journalist and a citizen, and act as if the future of the country and maybe the world depends on it–because it does.

The only conclusion I can come to after your Sarah Palin interview is that they promised you the position of press secretary if they are elected. Have you no pride? No questions about any of the contradictions between her actions in office and her claims now?? Quit wasting our time and good air time.

Mr. Gibson,
When you asked the Governor if she were ready to be in charge you are so very lucky she didn’t lean over, lower her glasses and, looking over her glasses, say to you:
“Charlie let’s cut to the chase, isn’t it apparent to you that I wouldn’t be sitting here if I thought otherwise….enough said.”
But you know, she is too much of a glass act ….. Given the fact that the guy at the top of the democrat’s ticket, as well as his running mate Bidden, has never governed as a chief executive why haven’t you publicly raised the same question of Obama or Bidden?
The relevant questions about Obama, questions that go to his suitability to serve as president, all relate to his experience, or lack thereof.

Charlie, you say that “we (ABC) broadcast to seven to ten million people each night”..
There are about 300 million in the US, and a few million more in eastern Canada available to watch your news show, but the truth is that about 270 million folks do NOT watch ABC or NBC or CBS news…why is that? Probably because none of the network news agendas connects with most viewers anymore.