So the next time you see a prominent TV journalist like Tom Brokaw or Peter Jennings or Dan Rather at a public lecture or on a call-in talk show, politely ask them if they've ever committed adultery. More importantly, see a hedged denial as your sign to do more investigating, dig up old news or gossip and be ready to challenge this journalist's character the next chance you can. In the real world, most Americans would feel squeamish asking such questions, even if it's just to prove a point about media overkill. Unfortunately, journalists at top news outlets have been anything but squeamish lately. It seems likely that well-known correspondents, pundits and anchors would begin to think twice about personal queries if they found themselves on the receiving end.
Some questions are easier to ask than to answer.