SOUNDBITES — “I guess Anderson Cooper would be my answer, because he always has that slight bit of cynicism when it’s deserved. . . . I always said there are only two reasons to have television: war and pornography. So I guess if it’s war, I’d look at him. And I guess if I had to look at any newscaster in a porno film, I’d pick him.” —Director John Waters, on which newsman he trusts post-Cronkite
PR guru and passed-over GLAAD chief hopeful Cathy Renna’s take: “I would say bishop Gene Robinson. . . . I just feel like he has done what he’s done with such a tremendous amount of integrity, not just the process obviously for himself of becoming the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. . . . I mean, he campaigned for Obama, but he’s not afraid to disagree with Obama.”
[WaPo]
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Rachel Maddow looks a lot like Anderson Cooper! Oh, women are not allowed yet?
Michael W.
I trust Shepard Smith more than that pansy.
Shep keeps it real.
Helga von ornstein
Ted Koppell is the only person alive that I could actually trust to deliver the truth. Since he retired (forced out, we all know) I have given up on trusting these needless bits fed to us each night just to keep up the ratings.
It is so bad now if it can not garner ratings then it is not shown.
adamblast
I too watch the Bishop Robinson Newshour and subscribe to its newsletter.
Chitown Kev
I’ll go with my Chicago homie Lester Holt.
galefan2004
As far as news anchors go it would be a fight between Tom Brokaw and Charlie Gibson. While I like Anderson Cooper, he barely deserves and honorable mention.
Charlie Gibson said that will simply never be another Chronkite simply because news is way to spread out now and way to fascinated with entrainment. When America stopped turning to their evening news to see actual news and started turning to it to watch entertainment pieces the credibility of every news “celebrity” simply disappeared.
mk
@Michael W.: You do realize Shep is in the in the closet, right? And that despite being gay he works for FOX News as part of the right wing machine promoting the blatantly anti-gay republican party? And that he hasn’t publicly disassociated himself with conservative views on gay rights (despite throwing little tantrums and expressing views regarding subjects that are not gay rights)?
Alan
@Michael W.: Really? Shepard Smith?
He’s one melt-down away from Glenn Beck. The general public trusts a reputable news anchor who can keep their emotions and biases in check. Anderson is certainly at or near the top of the list.
angus
Jon Stewart
ksu499
I have to go with Jim Lehrer or Bob Schieffer. I believe either has intense integrity.
Joanaroo
Don’t watch the Big 3 much for news but will agree with Bob Schieffer. I like AC on CNN and do watch Jim Lehrer on PBS. Also there’s Amy Goodman on Pacifica’s “Democracy Now”.
SteamPunk
@angus: Yep, Jon Stewart for me too!
ernesto66
Bill Maher or Keith Olbermann.
Maher’s a little too stuck on the pot thing, and a little too atheist (I’m an agnostic). Olbermann uses so many big words I’m afraid a lot of what he says goes over middle America’s head.
But neither seems afraid to talk – or listen – to anyone who might disagree with him. And both can be passionate, but not to the extent that they’re blinded by their feelings. And both, especially Olbermann, are fiercely intelligent.
And I hate to say it, since I too decry the Entertainment Tonight-ization of the news, but both are just fun to watch. The news hasn’t been this depressing to watch since Carter was in office.
Pop Snap
Am I alone in thinking that Anderson Cooper is the sexiest news person I’ve ever seen?
I mean, damn, for a dude with gray hair…
Ian
I don’t ever watch this clown.
For me it’s all about Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow on MSNBC
CNN is a racist TV network.
M Shane
Newsmen are only the mouthpiece’s of the Stations and Corporate interests who fund them. We should all know that bu now. They are not going to tell any truth which endangers thier jobs. Some examples:
When he covered the reconstruction after Hurricaine Katrina, in 2005, did he report that it was the greatest Private industry exploitation of a domestic disaster in U.S. History in which massive numbers of poor blacks weredriven out to buld expernsive condos, all of the schools but one were made charter schools, Charity hospital destroyed….A neo-con coup. He returned 20 times, and never told the truth.
Reporting the Sri Lanka sunami,2004, did he report that all of the fishermen were driven out so that Big private hoteliers could take over their shorline homes for Resorts.
Did he tell the truth which most news experts knew that the reasons for the Iraqi War were a lie.
in 2007-2008 he is reported Planet in Peril a Documentary which is partially true -coflict between high population and natural resources- could be a pitch for globalization(?).
Big Corporations pay for these shows so they have to be bent for their requirements regardless of the truth.
I suspect that people trust him, but that is a misfortune really
I would rather go to bed with him. Once anyway and he can use his talents constructively.
Of course they all get paid more whoring for industry?!
Joeb1212
I couldn’t even get through the title with a straight face….no pun intended. Andy Cooper? Trusted? With what, underage Latino boys?
Paul
@Ian: The article is about “newsmen” NOT left wing radical nutjobs like Misters Olbermann and Maddow.
MJS
John Waters should make a movie with Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin, Suze Orman and Mink Stole.
Scott
Hands down it’s Charlie Gibson. He has the paternal air just like Cronkite. He comes across as very real.
Rex
Anderson Cooper can’t even tell the truth about his own life – plus he was one of the prime cheerleaders for the Iraq War – his ratings have tanked – so long Anderson!
My favorite is Lou Dobbs who is now questioning Obama’s birth certificate – he certainly has to be the most trusted name in news hating immigrants, liberals, and just about anyone who does not fit into his world.
So much for the most trusted name in news – CNN SUCKS!
TANK
It’s glen beck.
clue
sean hannity
Erick
Well, not according to this:
http://www.timepolls.com/hppolls/archive/poll_results_417.html
Alex
A surprising number of Jon Stewart and Barack Obama supporters in that article.
You left out Tony Kushner, “because he can take some truth about America and expose it in a very clear mirror.” — Septime Webre, artistic director of the Washington Ballet.
Ford
Chelsea Handler
hephaestion
Anderson Cooper, the next Cronkite.
I wouldn’t call Cooper a hunk, but he is definitely a tasty little morsel, as Lea Delaria famously said of Chelsea Clinton.
rick
JON STEWART IS THE MOST TRUSTED MAN IN NEWS. TIME MAGAZINE DID A POLL AND JON WON HANDS DOWN.
Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace
@M Shane:
Bingo. You got it.
Finally some clarity. As I was reading the comments, I was getting worried at first until I got to your comments.
Washington, Connecticut, USA.
celebutardo
His Hurricane Katrina reporting was admirable. He is an anchor on CNN – which is corporate – so no. The whole fair and balanced schtick newscaster use these days is inane, evil, and a tool for disinformation.
Case Closed.
celebutardo
And I’m not surprised that no one mentioned Bill Moyers of Frontline, who is justifiably one of the wisest and most intelligent information gatherer to have his/her materials broadcast on television.
Democracy Now is up there too.
Indymedia.org
p.s….nightly news anchors are for the most part clowns…and when they’re not being clowns they are being frowns.
(The Coop is a curmudgeon)
mikeandrewsdantescove
Anderson Cooper is definitely good but not great. There are times he can be in a bad mood. His comments about knowing nothing about sports when interviewing Palin’s press person was stupid. He swam against Michael Phelps, obviously works out and bikes.
Alan
@TANK: “It’s glen beck.”
No Tank, actually it’s Glenn Beck.
http://www.glennbeck.com/
TANK
@Alan:
Exactly. Him or Joe Scarborough. Maybe he’ll eat a baby like Neil Cavuto, and break the standoff.
TANK
steve doocy and the rest of the “fox and friends”.
Wry Bred
1. Bill Moyers, absolutely
2. Keith Olbermann
(Cooper needs to crack a smile or smile up a crack or something, at least once in a while. Maybe his boyfriend should sit under his desk.)
Wry Bred
@TANK:
Or maybe the Muppets.
TANK
@Wry Bred:
Nancy Grace.
TANK
and newsman? How sexist! Star Jones and I are offended, and she’s a lawyer–so watch out.
mikebuc
@Michael W.: Have you seen the guns on that pansy?
mikebuc
@Rex: Why is keeping his personal life personal translated, at least by you, as not telling the truth? He has never denied that he’s gay, and if you watch enough you’d see he hints at it from time to time.
The opportunities ahead for Anderson will take him to a popularity Cronkite could only dream of. Mark my words.
Brian
Anderson. yeah, the gay one.
Robert, NYC
Rachel, Keith and Bill for me and for international news, BBC in America’s Matt Frei and Caty Kay for a foreign perspective and I often get better American news coverage from these two as well.
me
from the proper anchor pool i guess andy wins by default, but that isn’t saying much seeing as i don’t really trust the msm to begin with. amy goodman would be a better choice imo but many would say that she’s biased
people like rachel maddow and keith olbermann, though i trust them for the most part, are not really proper news anchors. they opine on the news too much
of those jon stewart and bill moyers are probably the most trustworthy
i also like bill maher as of late
Nitesurf
His comments about knowing nothing about sports when interviewing Palin’s press person was stupid. He swam against Michael Phelps, obviously works out and bikes.
Anderson’s skewering of Palin’s idiotic spokesperson was actually one of his finer moments, his utter disbelief at the bullshit this woman was spewing was great to watch and he made her look like a complete fool.