Cables Quote by Al Gore
“When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining, but also because it drove ratings. And that is different from what the news media is supposed to focus on.”
About This Quote
The quote critiques how news outlets prioritize entertainment value and ratings over substantive reporting, using Trump’s coverage as an example.
In simple terms: Media favors ratings over duty.
Key Takeaway
Entertainment drives news focus.
Themes
media bias
celebrity culture
political coverage
ratings pressure
journalistic ethics
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- analyzing news coverage
- discussing media reform
- teaching journalism ethics
Key Concepts
news values
public interest
audience engagement
Practical Applications
- media literacy training
- critical news consumption
Questions to Reflect On
- How should news outlets balance viewership with responsibility?
- What mechanisms can ensure substantive reporting?
![“Just before I began doing this show [The Last Word ], a dear friend of mine, Karen Russell, asked me what I was going to do with the show.She meant how was I going to use this platform to do something important, something that I wouldn't be able to do without an hour of real estate in cable news…” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e3a/donald-trump-18_able_just-before-i-began-doing-this-show-the_134932.jpg)
