Why Most Campaign Coverage Sucks (Salon.com)

[ihavenobias]

Horse-race journalism works for journalists and fails the public.

By Jay Rosen

Jan. 21, 2008 | Just so you know, "the media" has no mind. It cannot make decisions. Which means it does not "get behind" candidates. It does not decide to oppose your guy... or gal. Nor does it "buy" this line or "swallow" that one. It is a beast without a brain. Most of the time, it doesn't know what it's doing...

For the rest, click here: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/01/21/campaign_coverage/


PS---For non-boring Super Tuesday coverage, check out www.theyoungturks.com and or http://bravenewfilms.org/network . They will be simulcasting awesome progressive coverage with TYT and other co-hosts (in the past it's been Wes Clark Jr, Christy Harvey of MicCheckRadio.org, Robert Greewald of BNF and more). If you watch at BraveNewFilms there are some cool features such as live blogging, live polling (of viewers) and a live chat. And as always, they have awesome progressive guests (and yes, even some MSM guests), ranging from Sam Seder to people from DFA, Media Matters, Firedoglake, Campaign For America's Future, The Nation, Newsweek and many, many more.

Seriously though, just watching the election coverage through the TV Talking heads is a questionable prospect (I doubt they'll be especially honest, insightful or funny). Even the NPR coverage, while informative, can be dry and boring. And the TYT/BNF coverage gives you up to date poll results on election days because they can see what ALL of the networks are saying rather than just the *one* network you would normally watch.

The New Hampshire coverage reached over 50,000 viewers, so clearly people are responding to this new format. Support progressive programming if you really are tired of the mainstream media!

[CherylK]

1. Good article

And just so you know I'll be watching that Super Tuesday Coverage. I watched a little bit of the South Carolina coverage and was pretty impressed with it!

[ihavenobias]

2. I'm Glad You Liked It

Anything specific about it that stood out to you (the article I mean)?

[gateley]

3. The media only knows one thing -- cover the stories that will bring in

advertising dollars.

Their pundits aren't any more accurate than we are.

Interesting article -- thanks!! Recommend.