Knoller, who has built a reputation as a solid reporter, asserted that it’s not objective reporters’ place to push people to vote.
Strikes me as a breach of the Prime Directive by interfering with the outcome.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 6, 2012
His remark elicited some impassioned responses:
Your responses sharply divided on whether anchors/reporters should urge viewers/readers/listeners to vote. Very sharply divided.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 6, 2012
Indeed. Many agreed with his opinion wholeheartedly:
https://twitter.com/conncarroll/status/265904616435232768
https://twitter.com/vicnewyork/status/265905078542667777
https://twitter.com/ChrisCashwell/status/265905168929939456
@markknoller – i completely concur – voting is a right, not a legal duty
— JenChrisCon (@francisjohn850) November 6, 2012
This x1000 MT @markknoller: Think anchors/reporters out of line urging people to vote. It's a right you can choose to exercise or not.
— Leo Shane III (@LeoShane) November 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/viewofadam/status/265905870276276225
.@markknoller Agreed. No need to push the uninterested or uninvolved to vote. If they don't care, I don't want their opinion to be counted.
— Bill (@eaglescouch) November 6, 2012
@markknoller hear, hear.
— Howard Brilliant (@HDBtweets) November 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/declanm/status/265915094582558720
While others thought he was completely wrong:
https://twitter.com/Mykelbarber/status/265905488154226690
A journalist against free speech? RT@markknoller Think anchors/reporters out of line in urging people to vote.
— Adrian Archer (@AgeArcher) November 6, 2012
@markknoller Which means they can choose to ignore reporters/anchors advice. Doesn't mean reporters/anchors should stop urging.
— Whitney Bermes (@wabermes) November 6, 2012
@markknoller Where does it stop? Do we not promote breast cancer awareness because it is one's right to be ignorant of their health status?
— Blaine Stewart (@BlaineStewart) November 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/aadragna/status/265905653665636352
@markknoller That's irresponsible. Voting is a responsibility of collective democracy.
— Paul Cone (@paulcone) November 6, 2012
“@markknoller: It's an individual right you can choose to exercise or not. BUT It is also a civic DUTY people died to preserve
— ATP (@ATPJudge) November 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/clark_micah/status/265907814491357185
Others still made clear that while the media should not necessarily refrain from urging citizens to vote, they should absolutely not inject their voting preferences into their reporting:
@markknoller disagree with you on that notion. Now, if they said who to vote for I would def have a problem #Vote2012 #Decision2012
— socmum16 (@socmum16) November 6, 2012
@markknoller As long as they don't tell you who to vote for…this is their free speech right…they are in the communication business.
— PJ Graham (@pjRN) November 6, 2012
@markknoller I am okay with it as long as they aren't telling people who/what to vote for.
— I’m Just Austin (@austink89) November 6, 2012
@markknoller Anchors/reporters are right to encourage people to vote, not how to vote. Too many people making it difficult to vote. #Vote
— Kristin Smith (@kristin262smith) November 6, 2012
@markknoller As long as they don't say who to vote for and just to vote in general, I see nothing wrong with it.
— Elaine O'Neill (@Elaine_ONeill) November 6, 2012
@markknoller Encouraging people to vote and telling them how to vote are two very distinct things. No problem whatsoever with the first.
— Dave (@DaveinPAUSA) November 6, 2012
@markknoller Urging users to vote should be bi/un-partisan and done by everyone: reporters, priests, etc. Urging certain votes, no
— (((trianglman))) (@trianglman) November 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/KDCaulfeild/status/265919378095226880
Unfortunately, that’s wishful thinking at this point. Media lapdogs crossed that bridge a long time ago.
@markknoller I think reporters need to report the news. Chris Matthews has demonstrated he has crossed the line time and again. #NoMoreMSNBC
— Jennab (@coxettegirl) November 6, 2012
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