Politics

"Inside Baseball" from the Outside In

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Jay Rosen thinks coverage of the 2004 presidential election is shaping up as an exercise in "Horse Race Now! Horse Race Tomorrow! Horse Race Forever!" In this time-dishonored tradition of political journalism, reporters use sports as a metaphor for reporting on politics, relying for insights on political insiders who have learned how to spin the "race" as a game of "inside baseball." The result: "An army of sentries encircles the game, guarding every situation from which a glimmer of fresh truth might be allowed to escape."

No
Main Source: 
PressThink, January 1, 2004
Topics: 
Journalism
Politics

Krugman's Resolutions

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Columnist Paul Krugman is wondering if the news media will take its job seriously when reporting on the 2004 elections and offers some suggestions to reporters: "Don't talk about clothes." "Actually look at the candidates' policy proposals." "Beware of personal anecdotes." "Look at the candidates' records." "Don't fall for political histrionics." "It's not about you." Although this is all pretty basic advice, concludes, "I don't really expect my journalistic colleagues to follow these rules. ...

No
Main Source: 
New York Times, December 26, 2003
Topics: 
Journalism
Politics

The Governator's Judgment Day

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

A Los Angeles woman who came forward during the California gubernatorial campaign to accuse Arnold Schwarzenegger of previous instances of sexual harassment has sued the former star of "True Lies" and "Conan the Barbarian," claiming that he and his campaign smeared her as a convicted felon when she made her charges.

No
Main Source: 
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/millercomp1.html
Topics: 
Ethics
Politics

So Much for Plan A

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

"For a long time, Bush's poor job approval ratings on domestic issues were more than counterbalanced by his strong approval ratings on international issues. But that formula for political success is falling apart," writes Ruy Texeira. The latest polls show that only 48 percent of the public approves of his handling of foreign policy and Iraq. A majority believes the war with Iraq was not worth the cost and that the Bush administration was hiding information or lying about what it knew when it made the case for war.

No
Main Source: 
TomPaine.com
Topics: 
Politics
U.S. Government

The 9/11 President Launches His First TV Ad

Submitted by John Stauber on

President Bush's popularity skyrocketed after 9/11 as the country naturally rallied around its leadership. Bush announced that his war on terror would define his presidency and the 2004 Republican convention will be held in New York city as close as possible to the third anniversary of 9/11. Now, the New York Times reports that the Republican Party is launchiing "its first advertisement of the presidential race, portraying Mr. Bush as fighting terrorism while his potential challengers try to undermine him with their

No
Main Source: 
New York Times, November 21, 2003
Topics: 
Advertising
Terrorism
Politics
U.S. Government

Wesley Clark Campaigns Wrapped in the Flag

Submitted by John Stauber on

The New York Times reports that former general and corporate lobbyist, now presidential candidate Wesley Clark supports "a proposed constitutional
amendment that would make it illegal to desecrate the
American flag by burning or other means, a position that
puts him at odds with many constituencies in the Democratic
Party and several other candidates for the Democratic

No
Main Source: 
New York Times, Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Topics: 
Human Rights
Politics

CBS Caves to Pressure, Dumps Reagan Movie

Submitted by John Stauber on

TV docu-dramas, such as this Sunday's red, white and blue Iraq war mythology Saving Private Lynch, always play fast and loose with the facts, twisting reality into fiction for entertainment's sake. But a much hyped CBS miniseries on Ronald Reagan drew the wrath of the Right, and CBS has dumped the show. The New York Times reports that "CBS executives ...

No
Main Source: 
New York Times, November 5, 2003
Topics: 
Media
Politics

From Election Flack to War Flack and Back Again

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

White House advisor Karl Rove has selected Jim Wilkinson, the 33-year-old Texan who headed communications and press relations for the U.S. Central Command in Qatar during the Iraq invasion, as communications director for the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York.

No
Main Source: 
Salon.com, October 22, 2003
Topics: 
Iraq
Politics
U.S. Government

The Story Behind the Story

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

The Los Angeles Times is facing a firestorm of criticism from supporters of Arnold Schwarzenegger who have accused the newspaper of showing bias against their candidate by publishing women's complaints that Schwarzenegger sexually harassed them. "Regrets? Not one," responds Times editor John Carroll. "Personally, I knew the stories were solid as Gibraltar. ... Among those employees whose misfortune it is to answer the phones at The Times, there is a consensus that our angriest critics haven't actually read the stories.

No
Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, October 12, 2003
Topics: 
Journalism
Arts / Culture
Ethics
Politics

Pages

Subscribe to Politics