This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on June 30, 2007). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.
I wish more newscasters would do something like this. Kudos for Mika Brzezinski, and it’s a pity she has to work with shmoes like the two guys who just won’t let this drop and keep pushing it in her face.
Personally I don’t think that she came off all that well.
If Brzezinski were the managing editor and had the responsibility to choose the stories (I think of Dan Rather here), then I could see her making a principled stand and getting praised for it.
But if Person X is required on the job to do something distasteful or immoral (I think of Daniel 6 here), Person X can certainly refuse to do it, but must be prepared to suffer job loss as a result – especially after calling out the name of whatever co-worker insisted that Paris be the lead story.
I thought about this some more, and wrote some extended comments (see link), asking the question – would Brzezinski receive universal blogosphere praise if she had refused to read some other story? And what about the way she treated her co-worker, producer Andy Jones?