« Daily Roundtable: President's Day Politics | Main | Daily Roundtable: In the meantime... »
Meet This Week: Jonathan Greenberger, Producer
Email
ShareFebruary 27, 2008 6:31 PM
Meet "This Week's" Jonathan Greenberger, producer for George Stephanopoulos. Jonathan works with George on turning politics into television. He researches the guests for “This Week” and provides George with analysis and results on election nights.
How did you get started in news?
It really started in high school when I was the editor in chief of my high school newspaper, "The Academy Life." I enjoyed learning about new things and reporting on them and then communicating that with other people, so in college I continued writing for the newspaper at Washington University in St. Louis. Before my senior year of college I interned at ABC News for the Political Unit, and then I returned the following year as a full-time employee.
What's it like working with George on an election night?
It's very exciting. Over the course of the evening we're trying to get a sense of how the story is going to play out - who's going to win and why. We want to keep track of what the exit polls are telling us and what the raw vote is saying. We also spend a lot of time delving into the why - why people voted as they did and how the vote broke down along certain demographic lines. We also want to see what the top issues are for voters who came to the polls that day.
You work with George on research; what's the hardest question he has ever asked you?
George doesn't ask me questions to try to stump me -- he asks me questions because he's interested in learning more about something. Typically what we're doing is analyzing patterns and looking for contradictions. Our goal is to press political newsmakers on their positions on the issues to discover what they believe and why they believe it. Sometimes if it's a more esoteric issue, it will be harder to look into, but that's part of the fun of it.
For you, what's a perfect Sunday morning show line-up?
I think at the top we have a live, in-studio debate between two newsmakers debating whatever that week's big issue is. In the second segment we have a taped "On the Trail" piece with George, both because I enjoy working with him on those and because it really resonates with the viewer when we get George out of the studio and around the country in a more relaxed, “outside the Beltway" setting. I can't say that I have a favorite "Roundtable," but who doesn't love the "Classic Roundtable" with Sam Donaldson, Cokie Roberts and George Will? Then we get others in the mix like Donna Brazile or Torie Clarke or Matthew Dowd… there are so many combinations I enjoy on the "Roundtable."
So how does lunch work around the This Week offices?
Usually around 9 a.m. we start discussing where we're going to go. There aren't that many places nearby, so we end up hitting the same two or three places over and over again. Occasionally it turns into a fight over which of the two or three places we end up going to… fortunately, my colleagues are very nice and they typically let me win.
Have a question for Jonathan? Post it in the comments section and I'll make him answer.
February 27, 2008 in Meet This Week | Permalink | User Comments (10)
This guy sounds cool. I want to be like him.
Posted by: Anonymous | Feb 28, 2008 10:09:12 AM
I agree you sound fascinating. Could you please share the mind control techniques you utilize each day to subjugate your colleagues in the lunch wars?
Posted by: Jane | Feb 28, 2008 3:34:58 PM
Ya'll impress me with the balance between issues, esp. with George's inside Whitehouse exp.
A topic I have been trying to attract attention to is the NDP & H. "Mean" Dean's attempt to deny states' rights by dealing with Fl. & Mich, in a heavy handed, behind the scenes, power politics by non elected persons.
Now, that it is before the people, the solution is clear. Fire Mean Dean! If one 1\2 of an hourglass repersented the candidates & the other 1\2 the voters then clear out the narrow minded restriction & get rid of Dean! Then, the voters will could be united at the convention.
Why comment to you? 'Cause you are on George's team.
Respectfully,
Billy Bob, Fla. Dem since early 60s (for now)
Posted by: Billy Bob | Mar 7, 2008 9:23:28 AM
Great show... always watch it.
Has anyone considered how the superdelegates would lean if they represented the "will of the people" in THEIR state? Ted Kennedy, for example is representing the "will of the people of South Carolina" rather than Massachusetts...
I haven't seen this analysis.
Mike
Posted by: MIke | Mar 7, 2008 8:08:21 PM
I do not understand why Romney's religion was used so against him and yet NOTHING is said about a man running for President that will NOT honor the pledge of the US.??? could someone please explain this to me?????? I feel it is an impt. issue as a "want to be" president.
thanks
Posted by: Gladys | Mar 9, 2008 9:59:43 AM
It's unconceivable that as the press you would not bring up a very important point that Obama's name was NOT on the ballot for the states mentioned.
Clinton did not play by the rules, and is doing exactly what American's fear the most,...more fraud in politics to gain the presidential nomination.
Is this where we are headed? Incorrect information permeated by the media is swaying the vote. The media has the responsibility to cover both sides of an argument.
Lets not forget what's important for the American public. Change is needed universally. I believe that is a movement on BOTH sides!
Still waiting for a better outcome ....
Susan (California)
Posted by: susan | Mar 9, 2008 5:18:56 PM
susan 3-9 5:18
Obama agrees to punish Am. voters due to a "rule" made by a non elected, non govt. organization that denies States rights--DUMB!
Obama does not even have his name on the Mich. ballot--DUMBER!!
Obama objects to Mich. & Fla. voters participating in the convetion because "...I gave my word..."--DUMBEST!!!
Are today's Democrats the DUMBEST ever?
You want someone, that does not stand up for Americans' voting rights, to negotiate for you with N. Korea, Russia, China, Arabs, etc.? Or are you racially motivated?
I don't worry much about which one is nominated for our form of govt. is strong--unless it is undermined by a small, powerful, selfish group!
Respectfully,
Billy Bob, Fla.
Posted by: Billy Bob | Mar 10, 2008 8:26:27 AM
Hey -
I've migrated to TW from Meet the Press over the past 6-8 months b/c of George's style of questioning and the usual panel. But I can't stand when Sam & Cokie are on....they don't usually offer anything you can't read online or in a paper. They just take up space and waste time....and yesterday, they must've cut off George Will three times! They're obnoxious...but George & George are great.
Posted by: kavin | Mar 10, 2008 10:02:31 AM
This Week is my favorite news show but I have a complaint that festers each time Sam Donaldson is on the show. I have nothing against his views. In fact I enjoy them, but George Will deserves the same respect from him and other panelists that he gives to them.
He allows them time to respond to questions that are put to them directly, but never is allowed to complete a thought, especially when Sam Donaldson is on the panel.
I became so frustrated last week with the interruptions of George Will that I changed channels. George, you needn't put up with such rudeness and I'm surprised that GS allows it to continue.
Posted by: Theo | Mar 11, 2008 3:31:04 AM
Today's roundtable had three liberal commentators and George Will, the lone conservative. As I recall, the host George S. is also a liberal democrat, having worked for Bill Clinton's administration. Why is this roundtable (and this show) always so unbalanced? Better said, why is this "roundtable" not so round?? Do you not think that 4 liberals to 1 conservative is not over the top?? And passing off Donna Brazile and Robert Reich as analysts is laughable. They are democratic operatives. Donna Brazile is a democratic "super delegate" and Robert Reich was a part of the Clinton administration and supported Bill Clinton during his impeachment. San Donaldson and Cokie Roberts may be liberals, but at least they are not democratic party operatives and could give thoughtful, not partisan, commentary. For those of us who enjoy hearing thoughtful discussion, this show has tipped so far to the left that it is not worth watching anymore.
Posted by: Carol | Mar 30, 2008 4:39:15 PM
Post a comment
