On the trail with Chelsea

Shelby, Seattle — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:55:26 GMT

Please find a better correspondant (not someone on Entertainment Tonight) to file these important stories. This is tabloid journalism at its best. Like we all said last time, this needs to be proofed by real reporters. Bad, bad, bad.

On the trail with Chelsea

Ann Carrigan — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:48:34 GMT

It is understandable that Chelsea Clinton would not rush to talk to the media, especially MSNBC or NBC
as it is very evident that NBC is biased and always portrays the Clinton campaign in a negative light versus that of her opponent who NBC has consistently shows favoritism for. On this past Tuesday evening, MSNBC cut away from Hilary Clintons speech after only a few sparse minutes, but covered the very long boring speech of presidential candidate, Obama. What disrespect for Hilary Clinton who has devoted her entire adult life to public service. Because she is a woman, she has been labeled as someone less capable
and less deserving of media attention.
It is a shame that this country still has the same mind-set that has played out before in the history of this country; blacks earned the right to vote many years before women earned this right simply because women are viewed as less important and less capable, regardless of whether they are the most qualified for a job. It appears many people in this country simply will not recognize Hilary Clinton as the most qualified person to lead our country as President of the United States because of the same belief and those words so often heard voiced " I am not going to vote for a woman".
Today MSNBC released data on how much Hilary Clintons' campaign had spent on dunkin doughnuts and pizza indicating that this was a poor choice of use
of campaign funds. There was no side by side comparison for what Obama's campaign had spent on such nor was it even mentioned. If this was newsworthy for one candidate, why not the other.
I think MSNBC and NBC has shown Hilary Clintont tremendous disrespect and I should hope that you would show equal respect to both democratic candidates in the future. I am very disappointed in your network.

On the trail with Chelsea

g.eglesias``nepa' — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:24:56 GMT

I also think NBC and MSNBC has shown tremendous disrespect to Hillary Clinton. MSNBC should not have cut away from Hillary's speech Tuesday evening to cover Obama's long boring speech. And since MSNBC released data on how much Hillary spent on doughnuts--they should show how much Obama and McCain spent on doughnuts also. "What's good for the Goose is good for for the Gander." (They can call it The MSNBC doughnut Report.)

On the trail with Chelsea

Pat Tacoma, Wa — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:45:32 GMT

Interesting interview, thank you.

On the trail with Chelsea

Frank D. Bartlett plus StuDents Plus BUSinESS LEaders — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:47:25 GMT

I was with Business man in weathiest area of this
city...today...he talked about the SkYRocKeting Tuition (total costs, like new PCS, New Cars, New
apts ...used to be cities forcused by mayors to...
students...NOW ConDOS....why do none of the three...
really address ...This MOST ImpORtant ISSue to Parents....??? Oh, we have been quietly asking this
to them...for 20 years....????

On the trail with Chelsea

Carolina Paton, Viña del Mar, Chile — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:37:47 GMT

Could Chelsea Clinton be the next Barack Obama in Politics? In few years time she deserve a seat in the Congress.

On the trail with Chelsea

John Knight III manteca calif — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:12:51 GMT

If Chelsea was not a Clinton you can bet she would support Obama.

On the trail with Chelsea

josh, New York — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 04:14:48 GMT

You're kidding Brian Williams. You gave us a report on Chelsea Clinton that included only interviews with fans at a Chelsea speech. And isn't the reporter the woman featured in Panntene shampoo comercials. This is the stuff of VH1. Stop wasting my time.

On the trail with Chelsea

damaris, arlington, texas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:06:30 GMT

I'm a student at UTA and I was there for the Chelsea event. I saw the report and read this article. Maria Menounos is a great reporter and she should definitely do more stories. She clarified that Chelsea didn’t answer any media questions, unlike a local reporter that said Chelsea refused to answer her Obama-related question, making it seem like she was the only reporter Chelsea didn’t respond to. There needs to be more reporters like Maria and it was awesome to meet her.

On the trail with Chelsea

Dee — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:05:14 GMT

NBC willnot give her any credit..WHY? We went to Huber Heights Ohio. She rocked the house. SHE ROCKED THE HOUSE...andlooked like a million bucks...went to New Orleans, Texas, Ohio back to Texas and looked great but you are not Fair.
I am a believer but the media such as yourself will not cut her any slack. I hope the public once again proves you so called experts wrong..GO HILLARY..She is what America needs

On the trail with Chelsea

tran v. ho, zion, ill — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:26:21 GMT

Dear Shelby from Seattle,
I understand you initial reactions in categorizing Ms. Menounos as a tabloid journalist from Entertainment Tonight but I hope I can offer some insight on the her and the subject to, perhaps, help you to gain a better understanding and to be less judgemental. Ms. Menounos was the first freshman in the entire 75 year history of Emerson College (one of the top broadcast journalism educational institutions in the world) to win the prestigioous "Evvy" award for outstanding journalist. Her subsequenr work at Channel One News (a serious news outlet for teens that launched the likes of respected journalists such as Anderson Cooper amongst many others) had her travelling the globe and enduring some of the most horrific conditions. Her travels to South Africa and her bold, confrontational, sit down interviews with government officials over the AIDS epidemic, raised important awareness on the subject and ignited, a the very least, positive change that contnues to this day. One of the interviews was conducted with a threatening soldier holding a rifle two feet behind her head. Later in the trip her group was jumped by an unruly group of men but still she pressed onward until she reached President U's chief medical advisor. She visited several of the AIDS infected orphanages ignroing warnings about her own health and well being. When she returned home to the states to edit her material, she learned that two thirds of the infected children that she had held and interacted with were now deceased. As a result she created a charity to support the cause and casues of that kind. Ms. Menounos also travelled to El Salvador in the middle of the earhquakes and was evacuated form her hotel as a reult of the ensuing tremors. She wore a rag on her face to deal with the stench od the dead bodies but, in addition to covering the tragedy, physicaly aided rescue workers in recovery efforts and used her Spanish speaking skills and her phone to create a system of communication to assist familes in contacting their loved ones here in the states. At the age of 21, she also confronted President Bush in a one on one interview pressing him hard on issues that by his own admission made him "sweat" and she did so, boldly, at a time when attacking him wasn't popular. True, she then took work at Entertainment Tonight for a marginal increase in salary to help to support her immigrant parents, one ill, whom she hs since been able to retire. In her time at ET, she still single handedly built a charity that has positively affected the lives of many. She spoke on Capitol Hill and to the lobbyists in her continued fight for the rights of diabetes sufferers and helped secure distribution for the important Holocaust film "Paperclips." She does have hobbies which include filmmking and acting and I, personally, believe she is entitled to them. However, she has stated in interviews that the is inspired most by her work in journalism as the forum grants her the greatest platform to have the greatest positive impact. Sbsequently, she left ET and joined NBC in order to get the opportunity to do so through the Today Show and Nightly. She has even done great stories on Access - her report on eating disorders and on paraplegic atheletes were insightful and through the blogs received inspirational to others in such situations. Her reports on the fires in Greece tnat destroyed hundreds of lives and ways of life for others raised such awareness that one donor who donated a million dollars to the casue wrote that he did so due to seeing her report on the subject.

I am an immigrant who has been watching Ms. Menounos since her days at Channel One. Like Ms. Menounos, I entered grade school, poor and knowing no English. She and fellow Channel One alum, Lisa Ling, serve as personal inspirations- especially in a time where we have so few people under the age of 30 in the media to look up to.

I am personally thrilled that Ms. Menounos is returning to her roots as a serious journalist and welcome more of her in this regard.

Please forgive me if I am being forceful in my opinion as you are certainly entitled to yours. I can see why you would have your opinion not knowing all the bckground information as I do. And I am not saying Ms. Menounos is, at this point, Edwin R. Murrow. I am just saying she is far more than a tabloid journalist. I elieve the same for Lisa ling who should not be chided for her lighter work on "the View." I believe in time Ms. Menounos will gain more experience, grow in her abilities and do even more elightening work. We in this country need more like her: hard working, well intentioned, honest and from humble roots.

I normally defer from blog battles of any kind and hope that I have not ignited one as it was not my intention. I apologize to all for taking up so much space on the subject but, as a second year high school history/current events teacher who is passionate about his work, I felt compelled. My students are far from well off and I am constantly at odds challenging them to live clean lives and to believe that, despite their financial shortcomings, that can achieve more. They connect to personalities like Ms. Menounos, and that enables me to propel important discussions - like that of Chelsea Clinton, the use of today's media in the current election as well as the current election overall, for exaample.

I sincerely hope to see more of Ms. Menounos and of other young reporters of her ilk. Maybe in my long winded manner, I've provided some clarification on her work and potential without offending anyone else or disallowing other opinions.

Thank you,

T. Ho, zion, ill

My students need someone to relate to, to beter engage them in the news, and they respond so well to Ms. Menounos.

On the trail with Chelsea

Margo Almeida — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:16:29 GMT

I was very upset myself when the station interupted Hilary Clinton before she had a chance to comment on her Health Care Policy. I was overjoyed when she returned with a firm effort to bring out her voice before all of america watching this debate. She has a strong conviction to help the poor and the uninsured in this country. She knows how to do it. She knows what she will do for the economy and she is passionate about it. Don't ever cut her off from us again. We just love hearing her speak. She's the voice of those many million of unheard and loving Americans.

On the trail with Chelsea

Tran V. Ho, Zion Ill — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:38:07 GMT

Dear Shelby,
Thank you for your response and for the opportunity to debate. I had hoped that the provided list of accolades and experiences of Ms. Menounos would shed some new perspective on the matter. But, as I often preach to my students, differences in opinion are what truly makes this nation great. In your disappointment, you fell prey to the very subject you seem to object to most. As a journalism major yourself, I challenge you to exercise your craft and talents (you are obviously an exceptional writer) to excel beyond such things - perhaps even reporting yourself in some fashion. Moreover, I do not know Ms. Menounos, personally, but what I have found additionally refreshing about her is that she is one of the few young women in Hollywood who has attained success WITHOUT tabloid follies i.e. excelling her career through dating other celebrities.

But, with the exception of the comment about whom she potentially slept with, I again thank you for the discussion.

Tran

On the trail with Chelsea

ge``pa' — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:42:07 GMT

I think Maria Menounos did a very good job reporting on this story--and I am looking forward to seeing and hearing alot more of her in the future.

On the trail with Chelsea

taffy C, Non American — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:36:06 GMT

I think its unfortunate when a party has two very good candidates to election at the same time, and people end up splitting hairs. I think both candidates are great and are better than any candidate the other side can ever field. But Democrats are likely to loose this year coz they are too busy bickering and will be too polarised by the time they get to the general election.

On the trail with Chelsea

Estella R. Taylor, Texas — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:37:45 GMT

To say that I am disappointed is not putting it mildly. I am appalled that Caroline Kennedy is going around B.S.ING the people that Obama is much like her father. PLEAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZE. What does she know about her father? Everything she knows about him is heresay. She does not know first hand what kind of president he was. She has heard all her life what a great President he was, but she does not know first hand. She tells what she wants people to believe and hear. Obama is NOTHING like President Kennedy. Do you really think that she would stick her neck out for anyone that is not in her social circle?

If someone could please pass this on to her, would be greatly appreciated.

Those of us that do remember him when he was President would disagree with her completely.

On the trail with Chelsea

murat — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:53:48 GMT

I think MSNBC and NBC has shown Hilary Clintont tremendous disrespect and I should hope that you would show equal respect to both democratic candidates in the future. I am very disappointed in your network.