Re: Re:Re:RE: RE: Political ads with phone numbers

[Dave Faneuf <tklaundry@juno.com>]

On Tue, 5 Nov 2002 14:29:48 -0500 "Joseph Pappalardo"
<joepappalardo2001@yahoo.com> writes:
> From: "Dave Faneuf" <tklaundry@juno.com>
> 
> >    ...but I think I can count on one hand the number
> > of news stories written or broadcast about them in a NEWS context.
> > Something that was more than a daily occurrence for O'Brien and 
> Romney.

JP writes: 
> Is it really news when a candidate with 1% speaks at a nursing home 
> in
> Attleboro?

Dave writes:
Is it news when a mainstream candidate comes out with a new TV ad? 

JP writes: 
> And the age old question...how do you break a Catch 22?

Dave writes:
By providing balanced coverage of all qualified candidates.


JP writes:
> > > Now, to round out this discussion about broadcasting...do you 
> think
> > > the 3
> > > minor party candidates should've been at ALL the debates???  
> > > JP

Dave wrote prior:
> > Yes, when voters get to the polls all the names are on the ballot 
> are
> > they not?

JP responded prior: 
> But it's the candidates job to..
> 
> 1.) Gain popularity
> 
> 2.) Get their message out
> 
> 3.)  HAVE a  message that resonates.
> 
> It's not the media's job to "help them out" in these areas.

Dave writes: 
It is the media's job to provide the public with the facts, covering
issues is helping out the public and that is what we are supposed to be
doing not picking which candidates are the two that the voters should be
focused on by inclusion or exclusion.

Dave wrote:
> > I know that when I voted this morning there were names on my
> > ballot that I had never even seen before and I work in a newsroom. 
>  If
> > you are qualified to get on the ballot that makes you a legitimate
> > candidate IMO.

JP responded:
> I would think the newspapers could do more in this regard...as they 
> seem to
> have the room/inventory.  And people who are interested will read 
> the
> stories that grab them.  However, in the electronic media, 
> time/inventory is
> short.  Again, it's not radio & TV's job to make the candidate 
> popular.

Dave writes:
Yes newspapers can do more in this regard, but most don't in fact I have
noticed that my local paper has drastically cut back on the
non-wire/syndicate generated stories they run and have eliminated entire
editions and whey they had their "debates" in the newsroom it was limited
to (D) and (R).
My argument is as newspeople and keepers of the alleged public airwaves
allegedly operating for the public good we, as broadcasters, need to
present a much more balanced view of politics than we are doing
especially on TV.   There is more out there than (D) and (R).
df