TV host returns to Hilltop

Catherine Crier an SMU law school graduate and current host ofher self-titled Court TV show was the featured speaker in the 2003Rosine Smith Sammons Lecture in Media Ethics Wednesday night.

She began by explaining why she was where she is today.

“I stepped into the media business at a time when mediawas changing, and the airwaves were opening,” she said.

“Historic events were unfolding, such as the fall of theBerlin Wall, and the world was no longer separated by miles, butmilliseconds.”

She also spoke on the recent CIA leak investigations, statinghow disconcerting the ordeal was.

Crier’s opinions and comments did not come without credit.She has bounced all over the network news stations, starting withCNN, including stints at FOX News and ABC News, where she hostedshows ranging from hard-news talk shows to political interviewprograms.

Her current show, “Catherine Crier Live”, is a livedaily series that addresses the legal perspectives of theday’s front-page stories.

Prior to her television journalism career, Crier presided overthe 162nd District Court in Dallas County starting in 1982, whereshe was the youngest state judge in Texas history.

The SMU Law graduate also said that while cameras are usuallyeverywhere, sometimes media accessibility hinders an event’simportance to an American audience.

“We help countries based on media access, and it is clearthat pictures force public opinion. Sudan, for example, wasSomalia, minus CNN.”

As for today’s ever-growing crowd of political talk shows,Crier was disillusioned.

“Late-night political talk shows have become a place forpolitical smack-down, where only two extreme views are presented,not the moderate view of the majority.”

Crier also commended Comedy Central’s John Stewart of”The Daily Show” for having the gumption to say thingsabout news issues others won’t, while adding a lot ofsatire.