http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-910057.mp3
Macomb, IL – The panelists talk about the Rolling Stone article about General Stanley McChrystal and the resulting media frenzy that led to his firing.
In an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times, David Brooks wrote that sources sometimes vent (he uses the term "kvetches") in front of reporters. He suggests reporters should leave such "run-of-the-mill complaining" out of stories and focus on the bigger picture.
The Shop Talk panelists disagree. They feel sources understand that comments are considered on-the-record any time a reporter is clearly recording or taking notes. In addition, McChrystal has not complained about use of the quotes.
The panelists also question the mainstream media focus on McChrystal's comments. The quotes were a very small part of a much larger piece profiling McChrystal. Rolling Stone's editors apparently did not consider it a scoop. The McChrystal profile is not even the cover story - the editors instead chose to put Lady GaGa on the cover.