Will the media ever start discussing real issues again?

[Guaranteed]

Poll question: Will the media ever start discussing real issues again?

Or are they going to continue talking about Dean's "screaming speech" for the entire campaign?

This phenomenon is verging on the surreal. Just as a side question (no polling), does anyone else feel like they're in a dream or on drugs or something?

[jenk]

1. the REAL issues is asking general Clark about Michael Moore

[Guaranteed]

2. LOL you see? nt

[chiburb]

3. Maha writes about this today...

Snip:

Dukakis was hounded by a small group of anti-abortion rights activists who made noisy demonstrations at most of his speeches. And the television news would show footage of the demonstrators, then mention in passing that Dukakis had delivered a major policy speech on thus-and-so. This would be followed up by man-on-the-street interviews of random voters, who complained they had no idea how the candidates stood on the issues.

Even then, it didn't hit me that most journalists were nothing but cheap streetwalkers until the the race for the Democratic nomination in 1991-1992. I watched a particularly lively debate among Democratic candidates featuring sharp exchanges on several critical policy issues. Immediately after the debate, the cameras turned on a gaggle of pundits watching from a television studio. As I watched, expecting analysis of what had just happened, an obviously bored Cokie Roberts turned to the others and asked if they thought Mario Cuomo might decide to run.

The whole pack of them spent half an hour in gossipy chatter about Mario Cuomo, who wasn't there, ignoring the actual candidates, who included the future President of the United States, Bill Clinton.

And the quality of political journalism keeps getting worse.

(You can read the whole, insightful piece here (slow loading for dial-up):
http://www.mahablog.com/

[Guaranteed]

4. Don't they realize that there's a WAR going on? nt

[KC21304]

5. No. Now that Kerry is considered by most the front runner,

the big news will be Skull and Bones, and his haircuts.

Bring a round of Bull and Scones for everyone.

[quaker bill]

6. No, of course not

Real issues take work. This just takes a video edit and an opinion.

Everyone talks about a media bias. I agree that there is a bias. I think the bias is towards the easiest thing to do that might get the ratings up. Gotcha's are easy.

Step One: "OH MY GOODNESS, did you see IT?"

Step Two: "WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?" (repeat very often)

Step Three: "Have we covered this too much?" (repeat clip more often and by doing so, cover it way too much)

Step Four: "What impact does our covering it too much have?" (repeat clip often with associated hand wringing about media losing credibility)

Step Five: "All of the coverage seems to be backfiring" (conclusion we, the media, have lost all credibility on this and need to drop it)

It is the cable news cycle. It plays out +/- like this on any number of issues many times a year. The thing they really like about steps 2 through 5 is that no one actually has to leave the office to dig up new information.

In the interim the war and a billion other meaningful issues go largely uncovered.

[Guaranteed]

11. Great post. nt

[NashVegas]

7. I'm Not Sure They Aren't Following Us

I posted several threads this morning about the candidates energy policies. One for each candidate.

count the reponses - not including my own.

[snoochie]

8. "again"?!

What the hell? When were they EVER talking about the issues?

I don't feel like I'm living in a dream - this is the way it is under Reagan's screwjob on the Fairness Doctrine, Clinton's Telecom Act, and the consistent monopolization of the media by huge multinational corporations.

I do wonder why you think this is in any way a diversion from their SOP. I really do.

[jpgray]

9. Sadly, they never did talk about issues

All I've heard from TV is "horserace horserace horserace".

[snoochie]

10. Well, you have to have an eye/ear for detail.

I did get a little more out of it... for me it was:

"horserace (single vegan) horserace (hairstyle) horserace (sweater) horserace (scream) horserace (other assorted NON issue) horserace blah blah blah blah blah we love fat paychecks so we're NOT going to do our jobs so screw you America I got mine!"


Oh, wait... that last part wasn't spoken, but I inferred it nonetheless. :)