Radio Sweethearts

Just a few minutes ago, I watched Kerry tease the cat with a ribbon. It’s one of my favorite things in the world to watch cats try to hunt their toys.

The best part of all is when the cat hangs out underneath the couch waiting for just the right moment to take two careful steps before rocketing out at the ribbon, ambushing the tail of the thing and using every ounce of strength and cleverness in her tiny body to utterly destroy that ribbon.

It reminds me slightly of an ambush “journalist,” that most lowly of low positions in the news industry. Now, keep in mind that I’m not criticising ambush reportage – occassionally, if a newsworthy person refuses to speak in person to the reporter, it might be necessary – if the story is important enough. No, I’m thinking of the people who do these stakeout/ambushes for a living.

Of course, as I’ve mentioned before, ambush journalism in its most egregious form is the characteristic purview of Fox’s Bill O’Reilly. It’s a sleazy tactic employed in unnecessary situations by a sleazy, sleazy man.

Which is why On the Media this week completely owned the genre of ambush journalism, when OTM producer PJ Vogt, along with Gawker’s investigations editor John Cook decided to ambush an ambush journalist.

It’s a beautiful thing, really, to have this kind of taste-of-his-0wn-medicine vigilante justice journalism. It’s too bad that Vogt’s tape makes clear that it’s bungled beyond any recognition from Cook’s hyping to Bob Garfield.

I’d say Fox’s pro ambusher, Jesse Waters, didn’t know what hit him, except – y’know – it’s what he does for a living.

Apparently, Cook considers this semi-failure a success. If anyone at Gawker reads us, please pass on this message: “Dude, that was major FAIL.” But while it’s not the most moving, informative, or even funny thing I’ve heard on public radio, it is one of the most refreshingly goofy.

And I’ve listened to it, like, six times by now.

It keeps me occupied like that slippery tiny snake end of the ribbon dangling in front of the cat.

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This week’s On the Media highlights reel was written by Matthew with little participation from Kerry, but mostly because his earnest, good-hearted, but ultimately foolhardy attempts at helping her master some roller derby moves earned both of them shin-bruises and him a night on the couch.