Politics | 11/11/2008 8:50 am

The Media and the Presidency: How Insiders View the Election

Media bias? Campaign effectiveness? It all added up in this year’s outcome

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Credit: The Week

Last night at New York City’s famed Rainbow Room atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Sir Harold Evans, editor at large of The Week magazine, led a panel of media’s most influential in dissecting both the presidential campaigns of Obama, McCain and Clinton, as well as the media’s role in the events leading up to last Tuesday’s historic win by Barack Obama. On the panel was wowOwow’s own Lesley Stahl of "60 Minutes," Dan Rather of HDNews, Joe Scarborough of MSNBC’s "Morning Joe," Jacob Weisberg of Slate.com and the Democratic operative Bob Shrum and Republican operative Ed Rollins.

According to this panel, the differences in the operational effectiveness of the two campaigns played importantly in the election’s outcome. The Obama campaign, it was agreed, was a model of professionalism: unity and cohesiveness among the leadership, consistent, on-point messaging, effective and imaginative use of the new media’s power to organize and raise funds, etc. The McCain campaign, in contrast, was characterized as lacking in cohesive messaging, a lack of unity at the top levels of the operation and a "circa 1995" utilization of new media (and not such great use of traditional media, either).

The panel also dissected the role of media bias in the election’s outcome. Both Dan Rather and Jacob Weisberg remarked on a kind of "secular" media bias, one that is not driven by ideology. In Dan Rather’s view, it was "journalism’s love of the new" that drove the media’s embrace of the Obama "story." Weisberg referred to a media bias for whatever story that sells papers (and presumably, drives online page views at Slate), as opposed to a philosophical bias on the part of the media.

Hillary Clinton and her failed run for the presidency was also dissected by the panel. Bob Shrum noted that the Clinton campaign (like the McCain effort) completely misread the country’s desire for change and, instead, ran as an establishment "ready on day one" candidate, a choice which ultimately undid her chances. Both Shrum and Weisberg noted that media bias actually helped Hillary, and kept her in the race long after it was obvious she had no chance of winning the number of needed delegates.

Lesley Stahl remarked, "As a woman, whether you liked her or not, her great campaign proved that a woman could be president. We were proud of her."

On Obama’s surge as the economic problems facing the country became more evident, Joe Scarborough’s take was, "When things get serious, people want serious people on the stage … after the economy hit, Palin was over." According to Rather, Obama has the power to persuade and inspire. "Restoring trust … the No. 1 priority, and he had it."

37 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Frannie Em: Or is that all along they new it was wrong, didn’t care, but now media needs to be repentant to redeem their craft? Save it. Of course they knew… and hoped people wouldn’t notice it, maybe. The bias was so evident in the primaries, and it never stopped. TV was one thing — it tends to be frivolous anyway, but the print media was the disappointment. Here they are struggling to keep a share of the market, many going under, consolidating, cutting back, and they are foolish enough to compromise themselves further. Who cares to buy their rags now? Journalists have become hacks without objectivity or integrity.

By Marjorie C. on 11/12/2008 6:57 am

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I am a reporter and it really frosts my cahooties that the press has ruined our reputations—for me it started during the NYT Jayson Blair thing. I had sources tell me, several of them, that they were surprised someone even really talked to an authority and didn’t make it up. That hurt! I also think those middle-aged print reporters trying to save their bacon by going on cable undermined print. Print it my baby—my love. The Eugene Robinsons and Jonathan Alters—well, I can’t say what I think even on this site.

By Star Lawrence on 11/12/2008 9:37 am

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Star I don’t blame you. Media bias eventually affects all Americans. It masks the truth and manipulates the democratic process. That is what is so dangerous about it. I don’t care which side it is bias towards, it is just dangerous. Like subliminal advertising or propaganda. Worse than rights being taken away by FISA, because it is insidious and the bias insinuates itself into the fabric of our culture. Isn’t this what was complained about leading up to the Iraq War? Why didn’t journalists ask more questions, investigate more, etc.? Why didn’t journalists ask more questions, make a stink about the de-regulation bills of 1998/9 before they happened, what it would mean to our financial system. Maybe they did and we were just asleep. Why didn’t they do more reporting on the problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? If they did, not enough. Or were we asleep? Remember how the illegal immigration issue got lit up so fast?

By Frannie Em on 11/12/2008 3:24 pm

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Marjorie Well, people noticed and didn’t care. It has been touted that this election created more action and less inertia in the American public, I agree, in many ways it has, but at the same time the public was asleep to the media bias. I don’t care who won, that can’t be good. What if the election would have gone the other way with bias slanted in McCain’s direction? That would have been dangerously wrong as well. Print media, as well as the really smart and experienced journalists have to exist. They have to exist and not report from a viewpoint, but from investigation, because there is so much garbage on the internet that serves up an idea du jour, motivated to frighten the readers into more biased partisanship, resulting in readers caring less and less about examining divergent opinions. That stasis becomes deadly.

By Frannie Em on 11/12/2008 3:40 pm

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Now that sportscaster shouting guy Keith Olbermann says he never even votes.

By Star Lawrence on 11/12/2008 9:33 am

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I believe overwhelmingly the media was indeed bias in terms of how they reported and covered the presidential campaign. There was a glaring difference in how they reported on Obama vs. McCain. They for the most part didn’t even attempt to fake a sense of neutrality. There was and is an overwhelming lean toward Obama (for all the obvious reasons, he is to be respected) and they lost their professional obligations to report the news in an unbiased manner. I don’t blame the Republican posters on this site for being miffed…their guy was a loser and therefore needed to lose. However the days of the news reporter who merely reads the news without personal interjections are long gone.

By Belinda Joy on 11/11/2008 3:40 pm

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Why should Republicans be miffed? Rupert Murdock/his Newscorp is THEIR propaganda arm. Just part of his holdings: US newspapers and magazines The New York Post Dow Jones & Company Consumer Media Group The Wall Street Journal - the leading US financial newspaper. Wall Street Journal Europe Wall Street Journal Asia Barron’s - weekly financial markets magazine. Marketwatch - Financial news and information website. Far Eastern Economic Review Enterprise Media Group Dow Jones Newswires - global, real-time news and information provider. Factiva - provides business news and information together with content delivery tools and services. Dow Jones Indexes - stock market indexes and indicators, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Dow Jones Financial Information Services - produces databases, electronic media, newsletters, conferences, directories, and other information services on specialised markets and industry sectors. Betten Financial News - leading Dutch language financial and economic news service. Local Media Group Ottoway Community Newspapers - 8 daily and 15 weekly regional newspapers. STOXX (33%)- joint venture with Deutsche Boerse and SWG Group for the development and distribution of Dow Jones STOXX indices. Vedomosti (33%) - Russia’s leading financial newspaper (joint venture with Financial Times and Independent Media). SmartMoney (50%) The Timesledger Newspapers of Queens, New York: Bayside Times, Whitestone Times, Flushing Times, Fresh Meadows Times, Little Neck Ledger, Jackson Heights Times, Richmond Hill Times, Jamaica Times, Laurelton Times, Queens Village Times, Astoria Times, Forest Hills Ledger, Ridgewood Ledger, Howard Beach Times The Courier-Life Newspapers in Brooklyn Caribbean Life The Times-Herald Record (Middletown, New York) Magazines News America Marketing (Smartsource) (weekly Sunday newspaper coupon insert/website) The Weekly Standard (Washington, D.C.) Australian Alpha Magazine Australian Country Style Australian Golf Digest Australian Good Taste Big League BCME Delicious Donna Hay Fast Fours GQ (Australia) Gardening Australia InsideOut (Aust) Lifestyle Pools Live to Ride Notebook Overlander 4WD Modern Boating Modern Fishing Parents Pure Health Super Food Ideas Truck Australia Truckin’ Life twowheels twowheels scooter Vogue (Australia) Vogue Entertaining & Travel Vogue Living Love it! (UK based Magazine) InsideOut (UK Based Magazine) Music / Radio MySpace Records India Radio City (India radio station)(20%)held through STAR TV- commercial FM network with stations in 20 cities. Russia Nashe (50%) Best FM (50%) Sport 50% of the National Rugby League (Australia and New Zealand) Majority ownership of the Brisbane Broncos (68.9%) and, full ownership of the Melbourne Storm rugby league team. Colorado Rockies (15%) Studios Fox Filmed Entertainment: 20th Century Fox’s parent company 20th Century Fox: a film production company 20th Century Fox Television - primetime television programming. 20th Television - television distribution (syndication). Fox Searchlight Pictures - specialised films. Fox 2000 Pictures - general audience feature films. Fox Television Studios(productions)- market specific programming eg. COPS. Fox Television Studios International Fox World Productions Fox World Australia Fox TV Studios France Fox TV Studios India Natural History New Zealand - natural world documentaries, non-fiction programming. Fox Atomic - produces theatrical films, comics, and digital content targeting the 17-24 year olds. Aiming to produce/acquire eight films per year over a range of genres, specifically action and horror Fox Faith - Promotion and distribution of Christian and related “family friendly” movies on DVD and some theatrical release. Fox Studios Australia, Sydney, New South Wales Blue Sky Studios - production of CGI films eg. Ice Age. Fox Entertainment Group New Regency Productions (20%) - general audience feature films. Regency Television (50%) - mainstream television shows. Regency Enterprises (20%) - parent company of New Regency Productions (50%), and Regency Television (50%). TV News Corp agreed to sell eight of its television stations to Oak Hill Capital Partners for approximately $1.1 billion as of 22 December 2007. The stations are US FOX affiliates.[13] Broadcast Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), a US broadcast television network My Network TV, a US broadcast television network Fox Television Stations Group, a group of owned and operated FOX television stations Saeta TV Channel 10, channel of Uruguay ITV plc (17.5%), a British broadcast television network and the UK’s largest advertising revenue based broadcaster via BSkyB, although a recent legal decision will require this stake to be cut. News Corp Europe bTV, a broadcast television network in Bulgaria B1 TV (12,5%), a broadcast television network in Romania, in partnership with Ismar International NV Fox Televizija, a broadcast television network in Serbia (49%) Fox Turkey, a Turkish terrestrial channel (56,5%) (formerly TGRT) Imedi Media Holding (100%), a Georgian radio and TV broadcaster. Imedi Television Radio Imedi Israel 10 (9%), a terrestrial channel in Israel. LNT (100%), a terrestrial channel in Latvia TV5 Riga (100%), a terrestrial channel in Latvia ANTV (20%), a private television station in Indonesia, under the administration and label of STAR TV Prime Television New Zealand - commercial TV station, interest held through stake in SKY Network Television Satellite television BSkyB, United Kingdom (39.1% holding). Foxtel (25%), Australia, a joint venture with Telstra and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited SKY Network Television , New Zealand (44%) Sky Italia, Italian satellite TV service Premiere (25.01%), Germany’s largest pay TV provider. STAR TV, an Asian satellite TV service Phoenix Television (17.6%), satellite TV network with landing rights in Hong Kong, and select provinces on Mainland China Tata Sky (20%), an Indian DTH TV service (in partnership with Tata Group) Cable CHANNELS Fox Business Network, a business news channel. Fox Classics, a channel airing classic TV shows & movies Fox Movie Channel, an all-movie channel that airs commercial-free movies from 20th Century Fox film library Fox News Channel, a 24-hour news channel Fox Reality, a ‘Reality TV’-themed channel Fox Sports Net, a chain of US regional cable television networks broadcasting local sporting events linked together by national sports news programming. Local channels include “Fox Sports Southwest”, “Fox Sports Bay Area”, etc. (some affiliates are owned by Cablevision). Fox College Sports, a college sports network consisting of three regionally-aligned channels SportSouth, a regional sports network in the United States, with its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Fox Sports International Fox Soccer Channel, a United States digital cable network specialising mainly in soccer. Fox Sports Middle East - English language sports network airing in Middle East countries including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE & Yemen. Fox Pan American Sports (37.9%) - joint venture with Hicks, Muse, and Tate & Furst. Fox Sports en Español (50%), a Spanish-language North American cable sports network; its sports lineup is tailored to appeal to a Latin American audience. Fox Sports en Latinoamérica, a Mexico-based Latin American satellite and cable sports network. FX Networks, a cable network broadcasting reruns of programming previously shown on other channels, but recently creating its own programming, including the Emmy Award-winning program The Shield. SPEED Channel FUEL TV Big Ten Network, cable and satellite channel dedicated to The Big Ten Conference, launched Aug 2007 (49%) National Geographic Channel (joint venture with National Geographic Magazine) 67% National Geographic Channel International 75% Fox International Channels, domestic cable channels offering different formats of Fox programming in over thirty countries worldwide. Fox Fox Life Fox Life HD Fox Crime FX Fox Horror Fox Movies Fox Sports Speed Channel National Geographic Channel National Geographic Channel HD National Geographic Wild National Geographic Adventure National Geographic Music National Geographic Junior

By Delete This on 11/12/2008 2:13 am

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Scary.

By Ms. Dee on 11/12/2008 8:17 am

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Sen McCain lost—but he is not a loser. See the difference?

By Star Lawrence on 11/11/2008 4:37 pm

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Star/Marjorie C. I don’t know why we keep talking about this election. I have no doubts that the best candidate won. I agree that McCain lost the electon but he is not a loser. He is not the man he used be either. But it seems the same old charges are being made by you and you still accuse the media of the same old propaganda. Star you’ve told use many times that you cancelled Newsweek because they had Obama on the cover too many times. It made you ill. .

By starry Nite on 11/11/2008 10:07 pm

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Well said, Starry.

By Donna Chee on 11/11/2008 11:42 pm

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Yes—the cover and every article inside from some supposedly different angle. I hear I missed my special commemorative issue. Darn.

By Star Lawrence on 11/12/2008 9:40 am

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PS Last evening Newsweek ed John Meacham was on O’Reilly and admitted (as has the Wash Post) that the mag was biased. It has been a learning experience, he said. Bill, in his newly minted pushover persona, didn’t ask him about the Charlie Rose interview. I wish he had. And I want my $35 back—they said I will get it.

By Star Lawrence on 11/12/2008 9:42 am

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Star A learning experience? OMG. LOL He is the editor of Newsweek? You’ve got to be kidding? Doesn’t that sound like a comment a high school journalism student would make? I would have been embarrassed to say something like that.

By Frannie Em on 11/12/2008 3:45 pm

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It was lame. O’Reilly read a letter the next nite from someone who said—yeah, and next time, he will still be learning. Well, I won’t be reading—I mean, being indoctrinated.

By Star Lawrence on 11/13/2008 10:26 am