BPR Buzzworthy with Rich Lowry: Wisdom from one of today’s top conservative media leaders

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Rich Lowry is editor of the prestigious National Review and a conservative opinion leader across many media platforms.  He is a syndicated columnist, a commentator for the Fox News Channel, and a writer for Politico and Time. Lowry is also a frequent guest on such public affairs programs as “Meet the Press” and “The McLaughlin Group.”

He has authored two books, “Lincoln Unbound” and “Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years” – a New York Times bestseller. Lowry began his career as a research assistant for Charles Krauthammer. In 1997, he was selected by William F. Buckley to lead National Review.

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BizPacReview is honored to have National Review editor Rich Lowry participate in our Buzzworthy Interview series.

Q. Thus far, in the early stages of the 2016 presidential campaign cycle, do you think the media coverage has been fair to all candidates in both parties?

A. No, of course not –see Marco Rubio’s speedboat. Hillary’s coverage has been relatively tough for a Democrat. There are many journalists who don’t trust her or like her. So she won’t get the Barack Obama slobbering love affair of 2008. But once she’s in a match-up with a Republican in a general election, the coverage will tilt decisively her way.

Q. Given that you are an influential opinion leader, can you tell us which traditional newspapers, columnists and magazines you read and news shows you watch on a daily or weekly basis?

A. I’m old school. I still get three newspapers a day (used to be five, so I’ve fallen off). The first thing I do is read The New York Post, and if I somehow miss it, I feel empty inside. Next, The Wall Street Journal, beginning with the editorial page, and then I will look at The Times.

I’m a New Yorker, so I don’t drive on a daily basis, but when I’m someplace where I’m in a car, I enjoy talk radio, with Rush still the granddaddy of them all.

As for TV, I’m a devoted viewer of the (Fox News) “Special Report” panel. I DVR it and will watch it whenever I get home, at almost any hour. I’m a fan of “The Kelly File,” and check in on Fox prime time on and off during the night. In the morning, I watch “Morning Joe” for the political analysis, especially at the beginning.

I DVR the Sunday shows and will pick through them all of them for what seems interesting, time permitting.

Other than that, it’s Yankees baseball. I’ve tried to cut back on my baseball watching, but always got sucked back in.

Q. Of all the media pundits and opinion writers out there today, who influences you the most?

A. I stop and listen when Charles Krauthammer speaks.

Q. The late William F. Buckley, grandfather of the conservative movement, founded National Review in 1955. Then in 1997, he selected you, only 29 years old at the time, to lead the prestigious publication as its editor. About his decision, Buckley was quoted as saying, “I am very confident that I’ve got a very good person.”

Now, after leading National Review for the last 18 years, do you feel that you are fulfilling Buckley’s high expectations?

A. I hope so! Even though I worked for him closely for 10 years, I rarely venture an opinion on what Bill would think about anything since he obviously was such an original and distinctive mind. I have loved National Review since high school, and it’s been an incredible blessing to be able to be a part of it.

Q. Are there any media trends today that you find particularly disturbing?

A. It’s conventional wisdom that it is a terrible thing that the media landscape has become so Balkanized. But this diversity is a strength, certainly compared to the old monolithic period in the decades after World War II. What’s disturbing about the media isn’t really new — the group-think, the partisan bias, the ideological blinders of what are still the most prominent media organizations in the country.

Rich, on behalf of our readers, thank you for participating in this Buzzworthy interview.

BizPac Review readers are encouraged to learn more about Rich Lowry and National Review. Also, check out Lowry’s latest book,Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Railsplitter Saved the American Dream—And How We Can Do It Again.”

You can follow Rich on Twitter @RichLowry

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