# Media "experts" \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651 "2017-02-12T15:23:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stosh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/1 "2017-02-12T15:23:31Z")
The media is always trotting out these “experts” on both sides. What exactly does it take to be considered a “expert” by the media ? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/2 "2017-02-12T15:25:19Z")
To appear on the media as an expert you have to have had appeared on the media as an expert. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/3 "2017-02-12T15:37:12Z")
You have to be articulate, have a specialty that’s in demand, and, most importantly, be available. I worked for someone who was one of these experts. If the media called, he’d take the call immediately. If he couldn’t do that, he’d call back ASAP. And he’d give good quotes. So the next time that reporter needed an expert on that subject, he’d be the first person called. Eventually, he worked up from newspapers to radio to TV. It also helps if you’re a while male. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/4 "2017-02-12T17:43:44Z")
Some universities promote members of the faculty as experts in various fields. So if a reporter called the media affairs office at State University, the media rep will consult their faculty directory for someone who is an expert in that field and is articulate and can explain stuff well. Universities may even send their faculty to training to learn how to work with reporters, and some have studio facilities right on campus. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/5 "2017-02-12T23:33:24Z")
You pretty much have to be in a protected class. White male experts are not in very much demand. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/6 "2017-02-13T00:30:51Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > It also helps if you’re a while male. > [@jtur88](#): > > You pretty much have to be in a protected class. White male experts are not in very much demand. I stay away from cable news for my health, so I was curious which of you was right. Did some image searches: “expert panel msnbc,” “expert panel cnn,” “expert panel fox news,” and some variations. My quick and dirty findings: you’re both partly right (and wrong). Every panel I spotted in a photo had at least one white male on it. It was, however, unusual to see a panel where white men were the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/7 "2017-02-13T02:23:46Z")
[Moderating] Please try to make thread titles descriptive. I’ve edited this one to make it clearer what the thread is about. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-experts-edited-title/779651/8 "2017-02-13T03:51:57Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > You pretty much have to be in a protected class. White male experts are not in very much demand. When is the white man finally going to catch a break?