No doubt about it, Barack Obama has been getting the lion’s share of election campaign coverage in the media of late. And that includes in Stars and Stripes.
This is not necessarily a function of political favoritism. The Democrat’s visit in the past week to Afghanistan and Iraq was a newsworthy event involving a candidate whose international and national security credentials are open to question. (At the same time, the decision of all three network TV anchors to accompany him smacks more of a reach for ratings than a search for security smarts.)
And the prolonged primary campaign that Obama fought with Hillary Clinton was an experience of high drama that is still reverberating. Add to that the legitimate interest that accompanies the first serious candidacy for the presidency by an African-American.
Still, there is serious imbalance in a lot of what has been in print and on the air about the battle between Obama and John McCain, who more often than not has been getting unmerited second billing.
A journalistic watchdog group, The Project for Excellence in Journalism, has been studying coverage patterns. Turns out Obama has been prominently featured in more than two-thirds of the stories. In the week of July 7-13, he was a big presence in 77 percent of the stories, compared with McCain’s 48 percent.
Noting these results, David Bauder, The Associated Press’ television columnist, wrote: “Sure, there are weeks Obama’s going to make more news, said Tom Rosenstiel, the project’s director.
“But every week?”
Stars and Stripes has not been immune to this trend. I looked back at 14 days’ worth of the paper’s campaign coverage, up to Monday, July 21. Its reports on Obama’s Mideast trip, all from wire service sources, had the expected photos of him smiling with U.S. troops, or looking serious in talks with local officials. The trip was given a front-page presence for three days, which is understandable. But the McCain campaign was minimally acknowledged on those days and others.
On July 21 (July 22 for Pacific editions), when there were two photos of Obama and an inside story, there was a worried-looking photo of McCain and a small story inside reporting that he was spending more money than he was raising. On the 19th Stripes’ Mideast and Europe editions gave Obama a front-page reference and a long AP story inside (quite balanced, I must say, with commanders said to be ready to disagree with the senator), and put in a small story about McCain discussing “economic woes with auto workers.”
On the 18th (the 19th for Pacific editions) there was a long story inside: “Obama raises $52M in campaign funds in June.” A story one-third the size under that had this headline: “McCain benefits from Social Security, says it must be fixed.” On the 17th (the 18th for Pacific editions), a full-page headline inside read: “Poll: Americans ready for black president.” A smaller story was headlined: “McCain to NAACP: I’ll improve learning options.” A photo of Obama was double the size of McCain’s in some editions.
On July 16, a huge photo illustration on the front page was headlined: “Wars take center stage.” Both candidates were pictured, but Obama’s photo was easily three times McCain’s in some editions. Remarks attributed to both in the illustration were balanced, but turning to Page 7 of the Mideast edition one found a story taking the whole top of the page: “Obama: U.S. interests hurt by war policy.” Underneath was a much smaller story with a one-column headline: “McCain calls for surge in Afghanistan.” A photo of Obama was larger than McCain’s.
Having said that, I did find evidence of attempts to square off the coverage. I counted half a dozen days when the candidates were given fair and essentially equal treatment, commensurate with the news.
Speaking of news, Stripes and any other media outlet would be making a big mistake if they ignored news value when making coverage decisions. If one candidate is “making news” — such as a trip to a war zone under scrutiny — he deserves the bigger play. But even then editors need to remember there’s somebody else in the race. And at all other times, balanced treatment is a necessity.
Obama's "Excessive" Media Coverage
Thank you for your comments on Democratic presidential candidate Obama "getting the lion’s share of election campaign coverage in the media of late...[including] in Stars and Stripes."
I have heard and read similar comments--most notably in the right-wing media--about the "media excesses," especially in covering the Obama overseas trip and about how the media "has fallen in love with Obama."
Rush Limbaugh, in particular, has sounded shrill, angry, and agitated when addressing the huge media attention Barack Obama--a man he mockingly calls the “Messiah”, insults as a “jerk”, and for whom he uses every other slur in-between-- is receiving during his overseas tour: the “planeloads” of “drive-by media”--or perhaps it should be the fly-by media--accompanying Obama; the attentive and enthusiastic reception he is getting from foreign leaders, the public, and from our own military while in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Limbaugh is not alone these days in expressing frustration at the coverage, popularity and respect the U.S. presidential candidate is getting in the U.S. and abroad. There are scores of pundits--and McCain staff--who are reacting in similar ways and ascribing the phenomenon to a variety of reasons--some plausible, some ridiculous, and some just plain insulting to Americans and to the foreigners who sincerely like and admire Obama.
As to the media coverage, specifically, you say, there may be a "serious imbalance in a lot of what has been in print and on the air about the battle between Obama and John McCain" and you provide some statistics to support this.
True, Obama is getting much more coverage these days than his Republican opponent.
But, could this be because Americans (and foreigners) want to learn more about the man who may be the next U.S. President?
Could it perhaps simply be because Obama, as you point out, "is making news" with his "trip to a war zone under scrutiny", and to our European allies where he--sorry to have to point to facts--is overwhelmingly more popular than his Republican opponent ( A recent poll shows the German public prefers Obama to McCain 67 percent to 6)
Could it possibly be true that the media covers exactly what the majority of its audiences want to see, read, or hear about? You mention "a reach for ratings." I am not media savvy, but I believe news media improve their ratings when they cover what a majority of people want to see, hear or read about.
Perhaps some or all of the above--but definitely not sour grapes?
On a final note, it is interesting--and perhaps telling--that we did not hear such lament from the right when Obama, for weeks, months perhaps, received 24/7 coverage by many networks and print media on his association with a certain Reverend...
Press Coverage Disparity
I believe that there are several reasons for the superior coverage of Obama Vs. McCain.
1. The members of the press seem to believe that Obama is more worthy of press coverage because they think that he is the odds on favorite to win the election. They don't want to waste their time on a perceived loser who will likely be yesterday's news by mid-November.
2. A bit of research will show that McCain has a less than grand voting record when it comes to funding the VA and other needed benefits for veterans. He has a 20 percent rating with the Disabled American Veterans and Obama has an 80 percent rating. Obama beats the McCain ratings by a mile with nearly all veterans organizations.
3. McCain seems to be a very old man and not thinking clearly sometimes. My wife acted like that several years ago and now she cannot find her way up the driveway from the mailbox. The doctor calls it Senile Dementia.
4. McCain is a few years my junior but he reminds me of General McArthur when I was in Korea with the 1st Marine Division in 1950. General McArthur kept broadcasting stories about us being home for Christmas and the Chinese kept broadcasting stories about killing every marine who crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea. We crossed into North Korea and had a hell of a time convincing anyone that we were being clobbered by 120,000 Chinese infantry. In three weeks we took 8200 casualties and were surrounded. Three years later we wound up making a deal at the 38th parallel, right where we started. That mess cost us 38,000 dead soldiers and marines and it still doesn't seem worth it to me.
I don't believe that this mess in the Middle East is ever going to seem valuable to me or mine either.
I have sent three grandkids to Iraq. One is now going to spend the rest of his life in a wheel chair. another one came home after a 27 month deployment as a 1st Lt. leading daily foot patrols in urban fighting and being shot at almost daily. He has resigned his commission and is now drunk every single day of the week before noon. A third marine has learned how to swim five miles in open ocean water at the Seal Base in San Diego, make low level parachute drops with no reserve chute, Climb mountains carrying a weapon and a field marching pack and doing a host of other things that I never learned during my 27 years as a member of the Marine Corps. He has gone dark after arriving in Okinawa several months ago. I suspect he may be in Afghanistan around the Pakistani Border somewhere about now but I don't know.
My grandkids are all now fourth generation combat veterans of the Marine Corps. My father was a marine captain at Belleau Wood in 1918 and was decorated by both the US and French government for bravery. My older brother enlisted in the Marine Corps on December 8, 1941 as a private, served on Guadalcanal with a Marine Raider battalion from August 7, 1942 until wounded around Christmas 1942. He recovered, was promoted, and sent back to the Pacific where he died leading a platoon of the 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division on Saipan in July 1944.
I enlisted in the Marine Corps on my 17th birthday with my parents permission and spent most of my working life in the Corps. After retirement I attended college and did another tour as a teacher in a community college. My only significant combat time was in Korea for a couple of years. I participated in four major campaigns during that tour of duty. I was unlucky enough to be awarded three purple hearts plus other awards. I also did some time at the Marine Barracks, Quing Dow, China until we were asked to leave China, plus a year on Embassy Duty with the Marine Detachment at the US Embassy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
My oldest son, a marine, and daughter, a Navy Nurse, are both graduates of Annapolis and significantly outrank Mr. McCain.
Mr. McCain is a naval aviator, and not exactly a very successful one at that. It would be a sin and a crime to let a naval aviator anywhere near commanding a war that has been and always will be fought on the ground in the middle east. I have served with many Marine pilots and they just don't fit into any assignment with Marine infantry. Marine pilots are assigned to close air support units with the infantry to help pilots above us to make sure that their napalm doesn't land on us while we are eating breakfast. This does not qualify them to ever be commander in chief of a ground war.
After watching that dreadful TV ad about Obama not going to visit Landshtul Hospital I think that McCain came dangerously close to disgracing his uniform and mine and I resent it.
If Mr. Obama is elected I would suggest that there will be a long list of folks who are stationed in Germany today who will not see their name on a promotion list for another 30 years, nor should they. The only thing they did was change the sheets a few days earlier than normal but it could cost them dearly.
Semper Fidelis,
DFK
MGySgt. USMC
Retired
Vista, CA
Press Coverage Disparity
I served 26 years 18 days, Honorably retiring in 1976. Enlisted same day my draft notice appeared at Ohio farm on Friday 13 October 1950. Korean era, and I intended to servve minimum and get out, go back to Manager's position with A&P Company. Military recognized my abilities, trained me, and promoted me and I am proud of my service. For those who have questions between McCain and Obama, let me suggest you read "The Nightingale's Song" available in paperback at local libraries, or from Amazon.com for $13.32. Story of 5 cadets at Annapolis in same class (McCain, Poindexter, McFarlane, North, and Webb). Written by Robert Timburg, published 1995 by Simon & Schuster. McCain graduated from academy 13th from bottom, but that was higher than his grandfathers or father had achieved. They were all Admirals, and he turned down Admiral due to not being able to lift his arms above shoulders. Result of having both arms and leg broken in ejection over Hanoi on 18th mission, after he dropped his bombs. Also shoulder smashed by Vietnamese soldier on ground, and civilians beating him up. Hung by those arms, he refused to admit commiting atrocities, and was POW for almost 6 years. Put in cell with Col. Bud Day to die, so other POWs could be blamed for his dying. First plane shot out from under McCain was on the U.S.S. Forestal with another plane on deck misfired a missile into his plane. 167 people died, and he climbed out of his plane, down the nose, dropped off onto deck and rolled through the flames.
After POW, came home to medical care, rehabilitated, and retired after 22 years, but realized he would never get a combat command since he could not lift arms. Since then he has served over 28 years as Arizona Legislator (House and Senate).
Now lets compare his resume, knowledge and experience with Barack Obama. Raised by mother who was socialist- marxist oriented, married to two muslim husbands (Obama Sr. later declared athiest, but was out of house), went to school until grade 5 in muslim school in Jakarta, Indonesia. Came back to Hawaii and lived with Grandparents, but became friends with Frank Wallace Davis, Negro poet and writer from Chicago originally, but 1971-79 was in father-son type relationship with Obama. Davis was member of CPUSA, and on FB I watch list 1971-79. After college, and law school at Harvard, Obama worked one year in Washington, then went to Chicago and became intimately involved with Chicago Daley Political Machine. Worked as neighborhood organizer (vote regestering- I had to look up neighborhood organizer), and involved with Rezko property management, and met Rev. Jeremiah Wright. (Anti-administratrion and American preaching) and other shady characters who he now denies knowing their true character. Campaigned for Illinois Senator and was able to remove opposistion from the ballots by legal means. Since 2004, he worked in Senate 143 days, voting "present" on many bills, and he gave speech at DNA convention. First most of us ever heard of him.
I served non-biased, non-political and in fact 1950 to 1953, in Personnel I stamped officers and enlisted records with 1 inch red block letters "PI" for Political Influence, if anyone had any contact with political persons. Even relatives. Anyone reading this post, can vote for whomever they want, but I made my choice long time ago, and I vote every election. Neither one fills my entire feelings, but only one comes close.
Note to DFK: I have a grandson at Pensacola, FL now (Marine Lt) who will receive his wings in 4-6 months, and I can assure you the training and equipment these days far surpasses anything we had in the past. Navy or Marine Pilot who is rated "Carrier Qualified" has qualifications beyond our imagination, and will serve honorably in the future. Otherwise, our country is really in trouble.
"Negro Poet"?
I appreciate that your 79 and have lived through some true history; SDS, Underground Weatherman, etc. [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27671&page=6 ...Frank25] But I think the poet's name is Frank Marshall Davis.
I don't have a lot of respect for Col Bud Day's political activities as part of the swift boaters and his association with the Gathering of Eagles.
We all have to vote our conscience. Thanks for your service.
Re: Examining coverage gap between Obama, McCain
Getting more media attention can be as much curse as blessing. It also means that Obama's gaffes are amplified and exaggerated. His comments, and those of his associates, are scrutinized and analyzed in detail; interpreted and misinterpreted.
So far. Senator McCain has benefited by not receiving the same type of media attention. He seems to get a pass on many of his unfortunate statements and those associated with him.