Tag: political media

If you thought the media have done a terrible job of reporting on politics and policy — relying too heavily on polls — get ready for what’s to come.

The coverage is going to get worse.

The upcoming presidential campaign between Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Donald J. Trump is going to fill us to the brim with news about the “horse race.”

We’re going to be listening to evening news reports that will begin with coverage of the latest polls.

Trump has fed that narrative repeatedly during his amazing — and stunningly surprising — march to the GOP nomination. He takes the podium and blusters about his standing in the polls. The media cover it. Why? Because the public wants it.

Trump dismisses polls that show him trailing. He trumpets polls that show him standing tall over his fallen competitors.

And, yep, the media continue to cover it.

Look at me! I’m devoting an entire blog post to the coverage of polling in this upcoming campaign.

I’ve taken the bait. Swallowed it. Damn near choked on it, for crying out loud.

I am hoping we start paying more careful attention to what these candidates are going to say about things that matter. Policy stuff matters.

Foreign policy counts. Domestic policy affects our lives. Taxes. The environment. Economic policy. Those are the things that should have us riveted on this campaign.

They won’t. The media will continue to report on polls. Who’s up? Who’s down? Election probability will be the No. 1 topic of every news cycle — which, of course, has become a 24/7 phenomenon.

Let’s all get ready for a wild ride.

Gosh, I hate to say this.

But here goes: Prince Rogers Nelson’s tragic death yesterday has brought welcome relief from the barrage of coverage to which we’ve been subjected about the interminable Republican and Democratic presidential primary contests.

Do not misunderstand me.

I am in shock over Prince’s death. I join my younger friends and family members who loved the man’s music. Hey, I loved it, too, man! The man was a virtuoso performer. How many instruments did this music icon play? Five, six, seven? A lot.

The morning news/talk shows today led with continued coverage of Prince’s death, just as the evening news broadcasts led with it Thursday.

MSNBC broadcast a special one-hour segment during the evening with priceless video of Prince performing, with interviews of his former manager. My favorite segment was the video of Prince surprising Bryant Gumbel on the newscaster’s last day on “Today” in 1997.

All of this is to say that I do not miss the incessant coverage of the presidential campaign.

What does that say about the political process? Or … what does it say about the media that cover this process?

I believe it says that the process is too long and too overbearing.

It also says the media have done a lousy job of covering this process and delivering information to viewers and readers who want to know more about the candidates’ policy views and less about, oh, their assorted body parts.

All that said, I’m going to watch some more Prince videos.

And continue my mourning …

High Plains Blogger

Tag Archives: political media

Let the horse-race … coverage … continue

Tragedy produces unintended benefit

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