10 Plus 1: Brian Goldsmith - Associate Producer, Politics Junkie

(CBS)

What do you do at CBS News?

I'm an associate producer on the "Evening News"—an odd title since I generally don't "produce" things, at least not in the traditional sense. I do lots of research, I pitch the occasional story idea, I do some writing—all for our anchor and managing editor, Katie Couric, who faces the superhuman task of staying on top of every big story, every single day.

Well I'm a politics junkie—so, for me, the more campaign stories, the more policy stories, the better. I also love a great interview. There's something about the way television gets you close to a person's face—lets you watch every movement and gesture and hesitation—that can make interviews so powerful. At their best, you feel like you're getting a little behind the veil, and learning why people believe what they believe.

As a group of us were walking out of the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington — having just interviewed James Baker and Lee Hamilton — a Chevy stopped ahead of us on the street. The passenger in the front seat rolled down his window, and yelled out, "Katie, come on and say hello." At first I thought it was one of Katie's legion of crazed fans, and paid very little attention. And then I saw it was a not-so-crazed fan named Barack Obama—and Katie, ever the strong journalist, didn't just schmooze. She buttonholed him for the first interview when he decides whether to run for president. I couldn't have been prouder of my boss.

Thankfully, I haven't.

I'd be in law school—studying how the legislative and judicial branches affect American foreign policy. Then trying to find some as-yet-non-existent job combining legal practice, campaign management, and diplomacy … complete with four day weekends and pigs that fly.

I think it would be malpractice in this day and age for any journalist not to pay at least some attention to blogs. Obviously there are a lot of them that add very little to the public discourse ("Today I got up and noticed this weird rash on my arm…") but, particularly when it comes to politics, blogs are incredibly important. On the left, that means Daily Kos and MyDD and the Huffington Post. On the right, that means The Corner and Powerline and Townhall. The Hotline—which is the Bible of political reporting—does a terrific blog called Hotline On Call, and it connects you to good political blogs in various states. I read the Foreign Policy magazine blog which is called Passport. There are great gossip blogs like Gawker (about New York) and Defamer (about Hollywood). If I'm feeling particularly serious, I read a blog by two of the smartest people around: Richard Posner and Gary Becker. There's an industry blog that everybody around here seems to read called TV Newser. I also look at this obscure blog called Couric and Company.

I finally read The Quiet American by Graham Greene, which people have recommended to me for years. Set in Vietnam during the early 1950s, it's the story of a British journalist, his Vietnamese mistress, and a young American living in what used to be called Saigon, and casts their lives—and a love triangle—against the backdrop of growing political turmoil. The characters are set in their ways but also capable of changing unexpectedly (no easy feat for a writer). And even though we know where the political turmoil ultimately leads—there is still lots of suspense along the way. It also helps that Greene writes like a dream.

You're not going to believe me but I remember watching "The McLaughlin Group" during the Iran-contra scandal. I was all of about six at the time. I remember listening to Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes and Eleanor Clift comment on the investigation of President Reagan—and I remember hearing about Lawrence Walsh, who was the independent counsel. (And, no, of course I didn't know their names at the time. But now I can put the name to the face...)

More good analysis, less mindless shouting. And more original reporting.

Well, I don't really "cover" people; I help Katie, who does. Hard for me to comment on who's a jerk, but I'll tell you who's incredibly fascinating: Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq, whom Katie interviewed, sitting on a coffee table, during her Jordan trip. An enormous part of the future of that country, the region, and American foreign policy is bound up in this one man—in both his intentions, and his ability to turn his intentions into action. The president's national security adviser famously wrote a memo calling Maliki's competence into question. President Bush responded by calling Maliki the "right guy" for Iraq—and yet there are persistent rumors that he's going to be forced out. Maliki was a surprise choice to be prime minister, carries a lot on his shoulders, and is definitely someone to watch.

I think it's two things. First, we want to watch someone who talks straight to us -- no condescension, no Ted Baxter disingenuousness. Explain what's happening in a smart, authentic way.

Second, we want to see original content. Odds are, we've been surfing the Web and know the headlines already -- so give us some terrific analysis, put things in perspective, air some particularly compelling pictures or video, and let us hear ideas and opinions directly from newsmakers.