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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
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How to Become a Pundit on $7,500 a Day

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(Newser) – Socrates and his ilk were deep thinkers, but modern-day pundits had better look good, think in sound bites, and be ready to spend $7,500 per day in training to get on TV, CBS News reports. "We coach people to look their best and sound their best any time they're on TV," says TJ Walker, pundit trainer. His keys to success: Don't look up, don't lean back, and never say something as if it's just your opinion.

One analyst who looked at 30,000 pundit predictions found "a negative correlation between how telegenic you are and how accurate you are." Commentator JP Freire says Americans aren't "doe-eyed idiots" who believe pundits, anyway, but one neurological study differs, showing that people's brains go blank when an expert speaks. Says one doctor: "My advice is to have confidence in your own decision-making, and use it. Yes, absolutely use it."

Steven Pearlstein, Nina Easton, and Rick Stengel listen to moderator David Gregory speak during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios April 19, 2009.
Steven Pearlstein, Nina Easton, and Rick Stengel listen to moderator David Gregory speak during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios April 19, 2009.   (Getty Images)
Roger Simon (2nd L) speaks as (L-R) Kimberley Strassel, Ron Brownstein, and Eugene Robinson look on during a taping of 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios.
Roger Simon (2nd L) speaks as (L-R) Kimberley Strassel, Ron Brownstein, and Eugene Robinson look on during a taping of 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios.   (Getty Images)
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They do have expertise. They have expertise on opining. And in many cases, they don't know any more than your crazy uncle who's had too much to drink at the Christmas party. - TJ Walker, pundit trainer, on pundits

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15 comments
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Thisplacemakesmepuke
Jul 5, 09 8:36 PM CDT
The fox knows many things-the hedgehog one big one. Archilochus For 7500 bucks, you'd think this guy would know his source. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
kokuaguy
Jul 5, 09 8:45 PM CDT
; ^) Reply
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-3
DeniseVB
Jul 5, 09 8:55 PM CDT
I call yell at my t.v. for free :p Reply
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Jul 5, 09 9:09 PM CDT
Did you mean 'can' instead of call?
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0
Derni
Jul 5, 09 9:18 PM CDT
PEOPLE LKIKE PEOPLE WITH BELIEFS AND OPINIONS THAT SUPPORT THEIR SYSTEMIC BRAIN FRANEWORK-IN OTHERWORDS-THOSE THINGS THEY BELIEVE IN-PEOPLE OPEN TO CHANGE LET THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN CHALLENEGE THEIR BELIRFS WITH INCOMING DIVERSE OPINION Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-6

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