ABOUT ZEITGEIST

Willie Geist has maintained since 1996 that the Internet, like the automobile and the television before it, is a fad. He gets his information from microfiche at the public library and communicates with friends through the good old-fashioned United States Postal Service, thank you very much.

So then why is he blogging? Two words: community service. After an ugly incident at his weekly Sudoku game, Willie was sentenced to speak to young people about anger management. He heard that "young people" looked at the Internet, so the blog became his punishment. It's Willie's way of giving back.

In Zeitgeist, you'll find the kind of expert analysis of news and pop culture that has made Willie one of the most beloved figures in American life today (you can look it up). You'll also get raw, behind-the-scenes footage from MSNBC. You'll even get to talk back to Willie. So give the blog a try and catch the Internet fad before it's gone for good.



The journalistic shot heard round the world

Posted: Friday, June 29, 2007 11:38 AM by Jen Brown

What was Mika Brzezinski thinking when she refused to cover the breaking Paris Hilton news on "Morning Joe" (video) and did Willie really call her a Medieval slur?  Only Willie has this exclusive interview with the woman everyone is talking about.  WATCH VIDEO

 

 

 

 

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Comments

Mika,
God Bless. Thanks for saying and taking the stand we all appreciate.  Not only are you georgous you principled and courageous.
dick wilson
She rocks! About time! News needs to be covered as news, and not just a trade rag for a the Hollywierd  industry. Great job!
You have my support Ms.Brzezinski, but if the Hilton family can make the L.A. sheriff jump through hoops then what influence do they have with your boss?
I applaud Mika for refusing to report the latest of the Paris Hilton fiasco as the lead story. She had every right to object the way she did. Much of America rolls their eyes at news stories like Paris', so why on earth is it the biggest story of the week? For me, it eliminates the credibility of these national news programs, but it is nice to see a reporter with some convictions. I would have lit fire to the story as well.
She's my hero!
Finally, some common sense about Paris junk.
As long as Americans are obsessed with this crap, their attention can be diverted from the topics that are really important...Iraq...the economy...Bush...Cheney...immigration...
Hello Mika Brzezinski:

Yeah! You go, professional newswoman with her head screwed on. It's about time, no, way past time (and I'm particularly proud that that someone who pulled her thumb out of the proverbial "celebrity dam" is a woman) someone stood up to reporting mealty tripe about turbo charged air heads like Paris Hilton.

Donatella
Willie Geist says that he "worships the ground Paris walks on". Wille, I have news: you're an idiot.

She's my hero!
How refreshing to see integrity and resistance in American media.  You took a stand against Hollywood's crushing grip on a deluded segment of the population for those of us who can't, thank you.
MIKA V. PARIS
THANK YOU MIKA, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
This was a FABULOUS piece of journalistic ethics!! I can't even imagine the courage and fed-up-to-here feelings that must have overcome her to do what she did! It was about time somebody said enough is enough - or I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!! GREAT GREAT job Mika!!
Thumbs up from across the pond, news bulletins are indeed for news items - not feckless trivia.

God forbid jail time becoming the next "trendy must have" accessory for the a-list glitterati.
Just this morning we were moaning about how pathetic it was that Larry King interviewed Paris Hilton on primetime news.  This who** doesn't deserve to appear on any news save for the trash magazines sold in the grocery stores. I'll bet her rich daddy paid off CNN to get her to appear on lap dog King's show to polish her image for future TV contracts.  But then, while surfing the Internet, I found Mika Brzezinski's brilliant response to her producer's attempt to impose Paris Wh*** as the top story, and thought "Wow, if MSNBC journalists like her were free to broadcast as they wish, I'd be watching all the time!!".  As it is, TV news is sinking deeper into catering to the portion of America who have nothing better to do but watch trashy TV and otherwise attempt to appear as guests on the Jerry Springer show.
WELL DONE MIKA!!!
I'm a 20 years old boy from Italy. I've seen the video and thank God there's someone else who is sick of this story! I don't like Paris Hilton. I prefer women with intelligence and carisma. For what I've seen, a woman like you, for example.
Great Mika!!!!!

Ciao!!
Hello Mika,

You are The Best. The idiot news leaves to tell them from the idiots.
The next time be faster to burn the sheets, before that the hands tie You
Does anyone see the irony in the fact that the only apparent result of Mika's protest is that MSNBC is now talking about her instead of Paris?

Meanwhile, the body count in various places Americans struggle to point out on a map continues to increase.

Hats off to Mika for being real, but I have to wonder if she isn't just tilting at windmills...
Mika,
You Rule! If anything, I think that Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan should be Butt Buddies in jail, that would be a story and well deserved.
Dave Mc Lintock
Atta Girl, Mika!! Finally, journalistic integrity! MSNBC is very lucky to have her. Enough is enough of Paris Hilton/Anna Nicole Smith/Britney Spears/Lindsay Lohan, etc. Isn't that why there is Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, etc., to cover these types of stories...this is "their" news, not for a hard news station. It is about time someone stood up to the producers and knocked some sense into them.  
A georgeous, intelligent woman ( that's Mika, not Paris ). The majority of Australians are well and truly over Paris Hilton!
Author and former NBC reporter Ron Powers once noted that the biggest heist of the twentieth century was not covered on the evening news.   The biggest heist of the century WAS the evening news.  

The sales department stole it.  Then they transformed the news from information we the people need to know into a competition to make the most addictive mental junk food possible.

Television news was stolen from the journalists.

One of them simply tried to get it back.

Paris Hilton symbolizes everything that is wrong with this country. She is a self-obsessed, spoiled, parasite that has somehow reached superstar status for absolutelty no reason at all.
Congratulations for one strong, intelligent, level-headed woman for having the common sense to do what so many editors and news directors have failed to do.
I'll keep watching for Mika's integrity alone.

You were great Mika. I wish journalist were all like you.
Thank you, I could care less about hearing about Paris Hilton and if going to prison changed her life or not. Possibly now we could get back to the real news in the world.
Finally someone who'll stand up and say enough is enough. True heroes and appropriate role models are dying every day in Iraq, and the media chooses to lead with a story about a blonde bimbo who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and still managed to disgrace herself and her family needlessly... Go Mika! You Rock!
Actually I would rather have MSNBC interview Paris than Ann Coutler.  Even though they both have the same amount of credibility, at least Paris is harmless.  Coutler is a danger to the very fabric of our country.
As a fellow journalist I say thank you for standing up.
Mika: You have "stones," girl and I applaud your stand on this idiotic need to cover another Hollyweird "skank." I hope and pray that the good old boys in your respective chain of command appreciate your opinion on this specfic matter and are not being swayed by this girl's celebrity. You're 100 times smarter than she is and are twice as beautiful!  
Mika,
You are amazing!  I am so thankful somebody finally stood up and refused to cover such crap.  It's not even news!!  I hope the world's media takes note that this "celebrity headline stories" should not be given the same impotance as other world issues.  It was the same thing when Anna Nicole Smith died and there was 24-hour coverage on it!  How pathetic! I agree with Katie from L.A.  The credibility of national news broadcast stations does go down when stories like this are aired before issues like Iraq.  What does that say about our country?  How does that relfect on the Amercan people? Kudos, Mika, Kudos!!
I'd given up watching the news because of celebrity coverage and all the other inane topics. After seeing this, Mika Brzezinski's coverage is worth looking into. What a kickass journalist! Way to bring dignity back into the picture; Mika Brzezinski has my respect!
Mika the Journalism major: Finally a woman with convictions. Usually the sugar coated readers just talk, talk, talk and have no (opinions).
Dan, get the hint?!
AT LAST!!!!!!!! Someone in the journalistic profession that realises Paris (and the rest of them) are not news. Stop filtering the news based on ratings.
Mika is a true American hero!
It took a woman to take a stand in this country of ours.  Good for you Mika, thank you for respecting the lives of our soldiers in Iraq and the innocent Iraqi people who are dying daily.  What did Paris Hilton ever do in her life to even deserve to be on TV? She has no talent and now she says she's found God. Sure, another PR move by the spin doctor!
Willie, it is time for you to retire and disappear.  Mika you are my hero! Good for you!
Thank you!!
Congratulations! Ms Brzezinski proves there is hope for sanity in the media after all.
Mika Brzezinski is my hero.  She is quality.  We need more like her!  Larry King should look to her for an example.
Mika, you are like a breath of fresh air. Well done to you. Maybe American journalism is not dead after all?
Brave and smart!! Well done!!!!

There is a lot of news more important and interesting for the audience why the directors of the Medias are thinking the audience is stupid?
Wake up!!  We need more interesting and real news or we go to look for news any were else (e.i. on internet) where I can choose what is important and interesting.
Mika, thank you for having integrity as a journalist. There are very few of your character left. Thank you for not pandering to the lowest common denominator.
Its about damn time! Maybe I'll start watching msnbc now.
Apart from showing great integrity for what constitutes 'news', and refusing to further the career of a trust-fund nitwit, Mika also showed that she credits her viewers with enough intelligence to think that they also don't want to know anything about Paris Hilton when there is so much real news out there.

Her co-anchors on the other hand behaved appaullingly, what was the 'daddy called her mousy' crack, or the locker-room 'i'd hit that' mentality? It was like something off 'Anchorman' - if anyone deserves a repremant, its those two jock boneheads.
Absolutly Fantastic!!! I am now watching your show BECAUSE of MIKA!!!
Not only is she a great journalist, but oh goodness shes beautiful too....give me a break.
Thank you, Mika, for having more guts and sense than your fellow newscasters to do what's correct. That someone as unimportant as Paris Hilton, in a time of war, would be on the top of the news or on the front page of a paper is beyond nauseating- it's outrageous. That's right, MSNBC, continue to show the world just how shallow we Americans are. What does Paris really contribute? Don't we have a belligerent, self-righteous president to worry about first? How about those subpoenas?
Alleluia,
A fearless woman of principle who won't be gagged. Thank you Mika for taking a stand to reject this adulation of empty celebrities who are elevated to the top of world news.
As the earlier emailer rejoiced "Not only are you gorgeous you are principled and courageous".

I found out about this b/c it was the LEAD STORY in U.S. news updates as reported by RADIO WIMBLEDON. Between matches they will run a few quick news bits. I'm delighted to share this b/c it clearly illstrates the theory that when someone (in a position of some influence) finally stands up and says, "Enough," it makes a difference. How powerful the actions of one person. Mika, not since Edward R. Murrow has a television news personality shown such conviction. Can you believe that brand of courage and defiance was once used as a weapon against political propoganda has now been used to fight the grand media darling, Paris Hilton? McCarthy vs. Paris: how low can we go?
It's a hypocritical double-standard for "Morning Joe" to dismiss the Paris Hilton jail story as an overhyped media frenzy and then turn around and invite someone like Ann Coulter onto the show.
Mika.. You Go Girl! It's about time someone stood their ground and made a common sense decision not to add to the insanity. Who the hell cares about Paris Hilton anyway? Those who do need to get a life!
Mikaa--All of the training that you received here in CT has obviously paid off!!! Great job. Paris Who??????


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