NPR: Brit Paper Picks 50 Most Influential Pundits

Brit Paper Picks 50 Most Influential Pundits

Toby Harnden, the U.S. editor/reporter/blogger for Britain's The Daily Telegraph has put together a list of the 50 most influential pundits in the United States. This kind of stuff is often inside baseball, and the only people who really care about it are the pundits themselves. (Helps in contract talks.) You might call it an ordering of the usual suspects.

The Telegraph described their list this way:

As with our previous lists of the 100 most influential conservatives and the 100 most influential liberals, we leaned towards those with the most potential to influence events over the coming months rather than simply the stalwarts of past years -- though many on our list fall into both categories.

While being opinionated did not guarantee consideration, having strong opinions was a key factor. Many important journalists have been left out because they portray themselves as objective and seek to inform rather than persuade.

(Inform rather than persuade? ... what a concept!)

The most influential pundit? Karl Rove according to the Telegraph. (Point of order, your honor. Is Mr. Rove really a pundit? Or just a former political guru in-between consulting gigs?)

But let's make our own list. Which "pundit" influences your opinion the most? Or to boldly go where the Telegraph feared to tread, are there journalists or commentators who you believe aren't just trying to persuade you, but to help you make up your own mind? (The News Blog casts votes for Ron Elving and Ken Rudin.)

9:00 AM ET | 05- 2-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I always enjoy listening to people like Daniel Schorr, who presents the events of the week in context of his considerable experience in politics and diplomacy.

That said, the person that influences me the most would probably be Jon Stewart...who despite not wanting to be taken seriously, often does a better job at presenting the issues of the day without spin than any of the media networks. After all, isn't the point of a pundit to make you say "Hmm...that's an interesting take on things" instead of repeating the talking points?

Sent by James Cutler | 9:23 AM ET | 05-02-2008

Umm, George Bush?

There's a new Youtube out there featuring Mickey Kantor saying not very nice things about white working class voters.

Sent by Peggy | 10:36 AM ET | 05-02-2008

I'd say that most of that list makes me cringe. Most times I really don't care all that much what any of them thinks.

Sure they might be interesting to hear and read sometimes but at the end of the day either they are saying and writing things that are truthful or not.

Reality is what it is and no amount of opinions change that.

Sent by deek | 1:17 PM ET | 05-02-2008

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