[ACADEMY AWARDS THEME MUSIC UP & UNDER]
BROOKE GLADSTONE: It’s awards season. No, I’m not talking about the Grammys or the Oscars, I’m talking about the Most Dishonest & Corrupt Media Awards.
[CLIP]:
FEMALE CORRESPONDENT: Yesterday, the president tweeted that he will be crowning a fake news champion. The post reads, “I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 o'clock."
[END CLIP]
BROOKE GLADSTONE: It’s a spectacle not to be missed, so we sent Bob to check out the scene on the red carpet.
BOB GARFIELD: Right, Brooke. I’m here on the red carpet of the beautiful “Emolument” Plaza Hotel in downtown Washington. And let me just say, the energy here is electric. I see Anderson Cooper. Anderson, nice to see ya!
“ANDERSON COOPER”: Nice to see you.
BOB GARFIELD: So how does it feel to be here surrounded by so many untalented and dishonest reporters?
“ANDERSON COOPER”: It’s a great night and it’s, it’s nice that, you know, people who don’t ordinarily get this kind of attention get this kind of attention.
BOB GARFIELD: Well, best of luck, as always. Oh, there’s Maggie Haberman of the “failing New York Times.” Maggie, you’re nominated for the totally fabricated bathrobe story. Do you -- Mag, Maggie? Brooke will have to try to grab her later.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: Bob, tell us about the awards we’re going to see handed out tonight.
BOB GARFIELD: Oh, Brooke, so many exciting categories. There’s Very Dishonest, Failing, Unwatchable, Nasty, Garbage Journalism, Unfair and, of course, the coveted Lifetime Disgrace Award. I asked a few attendees here about the buzz.
“FEMALE ATTENDEE”: Oh, there’s no question, it’s going to be CNN. I mean, come on, Jim Acosta, Jake Tapper, Don Lemon, didn’t they just sweet the “Enemy of the People’s Choice Awards”?
“MALE ATTENDEE”: Lots of people are talking about the “failing New York Times” but I just don’t see it.
“FEMALE ATTENDEE”: All right, this is a dark horse but don’t count out Deadspin. They’ve been doing unfair work under the radar for a long time.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: There are a lot of mendacious hacks gunning for the top spot. With me to discuss the competition is analyst Steve Fuggs. Steve, how are you doing tonight?
STEVE FUGGS: I’m great, Brooke.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: So who should we be looking out for?
STEVE FUGGS: Well, Brooke, some of the networks have been dishonest but not necessarily sad. Plenty of networks have been biased and unfair, maybe even disgusting, but were they nasty?
BROOKE GLADSTONE: Well, Steve, CNN!
STEVE FUGGS: That’s right, Brooke. CNN has gotten lots of buzz, and with good reason. Over the last year, the president has called it vicious, incompetent, fake, obviously. He even said that they represent our nation to the world very poorly. But just last June, the president tweeted, “…what about NBC, CBS & ABC? What about the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost? They are all Fake News!”
BROOKE GLADSTONE: Sounds like there could still be some surprises in store tonight, Steve.
STEVE FUGGS: [LAUGHS] That’s right, Brooke. Whatever happens, it’s sure gonna be a fun night.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: [LAUGHING] Thanks, Steve.
But not everyone is excited about tonight’s event. I’m joined now by Sean Bernofsky, critic for Media Hedge and self-described “dishonest and corrupt” Media Buff. Sean, you won’t be watching this year’s ceremony.
SEAN BERNOFSKY: That’s right, Brooke. Over the years, the ceremony has gone from a celebration of craft to an overly-politicized entirely commercial spectacle.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: So what’s an example of fake news that you did enjoy this year?
SEAN BERNOFSKY: [LAUGHS] Honestly, Brooke, I almost only read foreign fake news anymore. There was a French piece last summer that was shattering. “Vous ne croirez pas à quoi ressemblent ces célébrités enfants maintenant.” Roughly translated, it’s, “You won’t believe what these child stars look like now.” It was beautiful, best fake news of the year and [LAUGHS] no one has heard of it, of course.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: Sean, thank you very much. Hey Bob, what’s happening on the red carpet?
BOB GARFIELD: Well, Brooke, the Trumpees, of course, are all about fake news but they’re also about fashion. Christiane Amanpour just walked past me in a stunning fake Versace gown. Wolf Blitzer sported a handsome pair of knockoff Tom Ford glasses. And, [LAUGHS] never one to be outdone, pop star Lady Gaga showed up in a dress made entirely of Trump steaks.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: Great stuff, Bob. But it’s not going to be all glitz and glam. I understand the ceremony is also going to include a tribute to the fake news stories we lost this year.
BOB GARFIELD: That’s right, Brooke. From what I’ve heard, the Academy is going to be honoring a number of stories, such as “Hillary Clinton is a Literal Demon,” “Steve Bannon is Getting the Death Penalty” and, of course, “The Pope Endorses Donald Trump.” They will be missed.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: We are poorer for the loss. Looks like things are wrapping up.
BOB GARFIELD: They are, Brooke. People are beginning to move inside and take their seats. We’ll see what happens tonight, but this much is clear, it’s going to be one [LAUGHS] for the record books. In fact, we have it on authority from the president himself that tonight’s awards ceremony will be “the most watched event of any kind ever in the history of the world.”
[ACADEMY AWARDS MUSIC THEME/UP & UNDER]
BOB GARFIELD: That’s it for this week’s show. On the Media is produced by Alana Casanova—Burgess, Jesse Brenneman, Micah Loewinger and Leah Feder. We had more help from Jon Hanrahan and Monique Laborde. And our show was edited -- by Brooke. Our technical director is Jennifer Munson. Our engineers this week wee Sam Bair and Terence Bernardo.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: Katya Rogers is our executive producer. Jim Schachter is WNYC’s vice president for news. On the Media is a production of WNYC Studios. I’m Brooke Gladstone.
BOB GARFIELD: And I’m Bob Garfield.
* [FUNDING CREDITS] *
