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cal campaigns ranging from House of Delegates to Governor on a day to day basis.
That changed long ago. Daily newspaper editors, feeling challenged by blow-dry, sound-bite oriented television news operations, called in professional pollsters to ask people what they want in their newspaper. Not surprisingly the answer was more of Ann Landers, more feel-good stories, more comic panels, more photos.
As a result, editors started to give the people what they wanted and political coverage began to be served up USA Today style. Instead of day to day coverage of, say a House of Delegates campaign, today’s typical daily newspaper runs an occasional “in depth” article that is supposed to give an overview of the race.
It can, peihaps, be fairly said that the media is only giving the public what it wants. I have to admit back in those days when I was writing long pieces about political campaigns on a regular basis dealing with emerging issues, charges, counter-charges, and so on, only a relatively small percentage of readers who were into politics read them.
But at least the paper could honestly say it was giving prospective voters the kind of information they could use to make an informed judgment if they so desired. Politics is often dull and boring and so, though everybody is affected by politics and government, most would prefer to read Ann Landers or the comics or listen to a couple of television anchorpersons engage in some meaningless banter.
John Goolrick, a former political reporter, is now an aide to. 1st District Rep. Herbert Bateman. Opinions expressed are his own.
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