The interview with Bruce DePuyt on New Channel 8 this afternoon was an encouraging experience. Unlike screaming heads that dominate cable “journalists,” DePuyt is a model of civility with substance.

On today’s show, DePuyt conducted three interviews over the course of an hour: one on the decision by the Governor of Maryland to support a new streetcar line crossing Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties; the second was on the breaking news of former President Clinton’s success in securing the release of two journalists from North Korea; the third was the story of my departure from Arlington to ICMA.

This is a lot of ground to cover, but DePuyt had intelligent questions in each area. In my interview he did make one error – announcing that I have managed Arlington for almost 30 years. I have managed parts of Arlington for almost 30 years, but I’ve only been “Manager” since 2001. During the break, I gave him the clarification, to which he responded, “Oops.” He then deftly gave an accurate description when we were again live.

A more striking side conversation was about integrity in government and I made an unflattering statement about integrity in New Jersey, where a number of local officials have been recently indicted. He didn’t really take offense, but – being from New Jersey – he challenged the stereotype. I acknowledged that there are honest people everywhere. He smiled in agreement.

Civil objectivity in journalism should be something we could all take for granted, but as anyone who watches cable news knows it is rare. So many interviews are about the interviewer and advancing a particular view – or, they are so superficial as to be irrelevant.

NewsTalk is focused on getting information to the public without spin or advocacy. As other forms of journalism decline, most tragically print journalism, these outlets become important. DePuyt also drills down to line level leaders who make things happen in the D.C. area.

NewsTalk is not always exciting -- because what we do at the local level is not always exciting -- but it can be informative. Check out the NewsTalk website for video clips of the interviews and click the ones that deal with issues of interest to you. You could learn something.