John Engler: Media has done 'incomplete' job of reporting Nassar scandal

Former Michigan Governor John Engler has battled with the news media for over 40 years.

"I love not having to talk to reporters about politics anymore - by being out of politics - and there is not much I like about politics today," he said.

But here he is smack dab in the middle of the ugly Larry Nassar story and facing a wealth of criticism for the job he is doing as interim MSU president.

Tim Skubick: "You thrive on this stuff don't you?"

"I don't thrive on it," Engler said. "I can tolerate it. Maybe I have a higher pain tolerance."

The media has been all over the Nassar story and Engler concludes the focus has been too narrow and obsessive.

"Sports reporting now applied to Michigan State, or as it used to, in your case apply to state government - who's up, who's down, who's in, who's out," Engler said to Skubick. "It's are we getting things done?"

He says the media coverage has been incomplete. The governor says he's troubled by the thirst for sensational headlines and the public's short attention span. He thinks it's a toxic combination that hurts the democracy.

"People have a very hard time actually understanding what is actually happening," Engler said. "What they getting are pretty raw emotions from the right or the left or from one side to the other. And what would be reasoned debate and some kind of dialogue almost never happens any more. That to me is a scary thing for a democracy."

Which leads Mr. Engler to this conclusion about the media and the public losing their way:

"That would be my view on all sides," he said.

And while he may be good at solving problems, the conduct of the news media and the lack of attention by the citizens is probably something he can't solve - but only gripe about.