Media Expert Decries Campaign Coverage

DALLAS — The founder of a prestigious institute on media and politics added his voice Saturday to the chorus of complaint over perceived press bias in favor of Democrat Barack Obama.

Walter Shorenstein, a prominent San Francisco-based real estate developer, Democratic fundraiser and longtime supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, penned a memo to Democratic party "superdelegates" and other activists criticizing media coverage of the presidential campaign.

Shorenstein is the founder of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University. His memo came days before Tuesday's key primaries in Ohio and Texas, which Clinton must win to save her waning candidacy.

The former first lady and her advisers have lashed out at the press in recent days, suggesting unfair coverage of the campaign has in part led to Obama's victories in the last 11 voting contests. They've encouraged supporters and voters to watch a "Saturday Night Live" skit that aired last weekend, depicting a group of journalists fawning over Obama.

Clinton appeared on this week's "SNL" to praise a similar sketch that parodied the media's treatment of her and her rival.

In his memo, Shorenstein concurred with the Clinton campaign's assessment.

"I am absolutely outraged with the media coverage of the presidential campaign," Shorenstein wrote in the memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press. "This is the most important election in my long lifetime, and to quote one of my favorite movies, 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!'"

He was quoting the 1976 movie "Network," in which a mentally disturbed television news anchor played by Peter Finch went on the air and implored viewers to rebel against gimmicks staged by network news executives.

"There is too much on the line for the media to ignore important issues while they obsess about Hillary's hairdo or Barack's baritone," Shorenstein continued. "Is it in the country's best interest that voters received far more information about Hillary's laugh than Obama's legislative record? Is it good for our nation that more attention is paid to the differences in their speaking style than their health care plans?"

Shorenstein attached several studies to the memo indicating the press had given more favorable coverage to Obama than to Clinton, and urged activists to forward the material to friends and voters and to complain to reporters.

"Our democracy depends upon the fourth estate to fulfill the uniquely critical role of informing voters about the important issues facing our nation," Shorenstein wrote. "Yet far too often, the campaign coverage has been biased, blase, or baseless."

Comments

[JumpyJack]

Hillary, is this how you would fight the Republican attack machine? Call them "biased" and "unfair"? "Shame on you, Karl Rove!"
Let me just remind you that this is a typical "strategy" of a losing first-grader...

[slow2]

"BIASED, BLASE, and BASELESS..." Yada, yada, yada. It's not enough to sic the campaign onto the media; now Billary brings out the big guns, the big contributors, to add their voices to her incessant complaints. Forgive us if we missed the comments by the press on either Hill's hair or Obama's baritone; the coverage has been typically about Mark Penn's mismanagement, Hillary's losses (oh wait, that's all because of the msm), and/or the campaign decision to keep Bill up or back.

This woman wants to be president in the worst way -- no pun intended! Remember all those clinging, whining, teachers' pets who had to run home to mommy in the third grade with their boo-hoos and their complaints about the kids who bloodied their nose or ripped their homework or took their seat in class?

It is astonishing to see the front-runner -- THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE CANDIDATE -- who sailed through the first months of the campaign, suddenly turn and blame everybody in the western world for her badly-run campaign and its chaos today.

One wonders whether Hill will ever blame Bill for any of her woes??? Nahhhh. Too risky, she might decide to run again in four years. He's got all the phone lists. And the IRS returns has the press forgotten those?

[Didi47]

Wow it looks like the whole Obama team rushed to this page to screech that the press has not been biased against Hillary! What a laugh! American Media covering this election is nothing more than a disgrace... and in my opinion - should have criminal charges laid against them for deliberately deceiving the public and for deliberately defaming a candidate to sway the voter! They had an ethical journalistic responsibility to report honesty and scrutinize BOTH CANDIDATES WITH EQUAL VIGOR! Not doing so has denied the public their rightful opportunity to make an INFORMED decision. The rest of the world is aghast over what has happened to representatives for the 'voice of the people'. It's way past disgusting. It's criminal. What on earth has happened to all the principals the US stands for? What you have done to Hillary in this campaign makes Russia's Putin look like a choir boy!

[indie17]

Wow! It looks like all you can do it post the same nonsense over and over.

[KaAp]

He is the founder but he himself is a real estate developer, he is not a member of the press nor is he a fellow at the center nor does he put out the reports themselves .... I just opened up another window and read the report on press and the 2008 primaries ... which does not show anything significant just that democrats received more favorable coverage than republicans ... obama received the best coverage and followed by clinton etc etc ... and that is for the entire primary ...
I do not think that the coverage has been unfair to Senator Clinton ... I think that the Clinton's have always had problematic relationships with the press and I do think some of their statements justified press reporting on them ... I also think because she was the presumptive nominee of the party for so long she received more coverage ...
I think some people fail to distinguish between punditry and news and that is something very frightening on so many levels ...

[robynuva]

How many months did the MSM give her the stage to herself?
She is mathematically out of the delegate race, but all I hear is the press saying she is still in this thing.

The Clinton’s have blamed every bump in the road on the press since 1992. They have lied to the press, they have screamed like banshees whenever they don’t get favorable coverage, they have gone out of their way to alienate the press, and now they are surprised by when the press asks her hard questions. I think the press gave her a free ride for years, and now they are just treating her the same way they treat anyone else.

We keep hearing that Clinton can handle the heat of a Presidential race better than Obama. How? By whining louder than the other guy?

[Didi47]

robynuva:

You keep posting these incredible accusations against both Hillary and Bill Clinton, as do ALL Obama supporters - because you have nothing else to use! How come you don't answer the countless questions posed on these pages that scrutinize Obama. The only responses are more Hillary attacks. Like school children - calling names... like bullies. This is an election and questions must be answered. To date... no one is doing so. Not you for sure... and certainly not the tabloid type press.
Wow it looks like the whole Obama team rushed to this page to screech that the press has not been biased against Hillary! What a laugh! American Media covering this election is nothing more than a disgrace... and in my opinion - should have criminal charges laid against them for deliberately deceiving the public and for deliberately defaming a candidate to sway the voter! They had an ethical journalistic responsibility to report honesty and scrutinize BOTH CANDIDATES WITH EQUAL VIGOR! Not doing so has denied the public their rightful opportunity to make an INFORMED decision. The rest of the world is aghast over what has happened to representatives for the 'voice of the people'. It's way past disgusting. It's criminal. What on earth has happened to all the principals the US stands for? What you have done to Hillary in this campaign makes Russia's Putin look like a choir boy!

[robynuva]

What WE have done to the Clinton campaign? Of course, her actions could have nothing to do with the fact that her record and her methods of campaigning have caused the majority of Democrats to vote against her.

Accusations? I have accused Senator Clinton of voting for the Iraq war without reading the NIE regarding WMD that was available to all Senators at the time. She has said she did not read it.

I have accused her of sponsoring an amendment to the Constitution that would ban flag burning. I have accused her of voting to advance the cause of war with Iran. I have accused her betraying feminists by appearing on the 700 Club.

It is my opinion that she has enabled her husband to take advantage of far less powerful, much younger women. So, I have accused her of that.

She is a smart woman, and her contributions to our country are not to be ignored, but I would prefer a candidate that is less interested how to become President, and more interested in changing the way politics works in this country. My belief is that Obama understands that the only way to change this is to get enough Americans to demand that it be changed.

Perhaps there have been less accusations regarding Obama because he has a much shorter record to attack. Or perhaps he is as transparent as he seems, and there is just no “there” there. ( if you have questions regarding Tony Rezko and Senator Obama please see http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article)

One of my major objections to Mrs. Clinton is that her history and her record are just so EASY for Republicans to attack, and I want to win this time.

[Zeusthunderbolt]

The strategy is working:

Nonstop positive Hillary coverage for the last 2 weeks. Obama is not even defending himself.

Why does he not speak of the importance of a President to inspire?

Why does he not have an advertisement running which says?

10 million Americans have voted for Obama: Senator Clinton calls them Delusional

She says that the Midwestern and western voters who gave senator obama his 11 consecutive victories are insignificant.

Millions of Americans getting involved in the political process for the first time: she calls them a cult

Americans: do we want a president who inspires a movement to change the political landscape

Or the same old politics of Hate and division

America: Let us reject and denounce the politics of Hate, Division and lies.

We can change this old Washington political game; We can come toghether , Yes we can Yes we can Yes we can.

[slow2]

Good points zeusthunderbolt; maybe Obama's ads in TX and OH are including some of those.

It is infuriating to see the Clinton campaign damn so many people as "delusional" but I don't think anyone except Clintonistas buy that stuff.

We will surely have to unite sometime, but, I just heard on NPR/Tavis Smiley Hillary make the statement that "...we'll have a candidate by JUNE." Now that's an extension; and that sounds like she has no plans to drop out after TX and OH, regardless of the results.

Scary.

[Didi47]

Hey Zues.... same words, same cut and paste.... same come together... same Hillary bashing, same old, same old .... empty void of nothingness when it comes to trying to find out what the hell this supposed change is all about!

Same old Obama repeating HIllary's platform, parroting her words, and even stealing her ad!

And same old media selling Obama non stop - while defaming HIllary. Real good press you 've got there, my friend. It demonstrates how little they think of the public they are supposed to report the TRUTH to.

Wow it looks like the whole Obama team rushed to this page to screech that the press has not been biased against Hillary! What a laugh! American Media covering this election is nothing more than a disgrace... and in my opinion - should have criminal charges laid against them for deliberately deceiving the public and for deliberately defaming a candidate to sway the voter! They had an ethical journalistic responsibility to report honesty and scrutinize BOTH CANDIDATES WITH EQUAL VIGOR! Not doing so has denied the public their rightful opportunity to make an INFORMED decision. The rest of the world is aghast over what has happened to representatives for the 'voice of the people'. It's way past disgusting. It's criminal. What on earth has happened to all the principals the US stands for? What you have done to Hillary in this campaign makes Russia's Putin look like a choir boy!

[JumpyJack]

The first thing Hillary would do as a president is disallow free press and make all the media write only nice things about her.

[Didi47]

My God JumpyJack...

Grow Up and start answering issue questions instead of resorting to 'flaming Hillary'.

That method just demonstrates the 'empty caliber' of Obama's campaign.

Wow it looks like the whole Obama team rushed to this page to screech that the press has not been biased against Hillary! What a laugh! American Media covering this election is nothing more than a disgrace... and in my opinion - should have criminal charges laid against them for deliberately deceiving the public and for deliberately defaming a candidate to sway the voter! They had an ethical journalistic responsibility to report honesty and scrutinize BOTH CANDIDATES WITH EQUAL VIGOR! Not doing so has denied the public their rightful opportunity to make an INFORMED decision. The rest of the world is aghast over what has happened to representatives for the 'voice of the people'. It's way past disgusting. It's criminal. What on earth has happened to all the principals the US stands for? What you have done to Hillary in this campaign makes Russia's Putin look like a choir boy!

[indie17]

Please quit posting the same drivel over and over.

[verlaine]

Hillary is the biggest whinner and crybaby to ever run for President. No one held a gun to her head and forced to enter this race. If she can't take the media scrutiny as a candidate how the hell would she deal with it if she were elected President.

On March 4th, Hillary will get the rear-end kicking of her political life. She's a lying, gutter politician and she's going down for the count.

[Didi47]

verlaine:

Well if you're talking whiner and crybaby... the hysteria and outrage on this site from the Obama camp.. over the media having to tell the truth is very telling.

Wow it looks like the whole Obama team rushed to this page to screech that the press has not been biased against Hillary! What a laugh! American Media covering this election is nothing more than a disgrace... and in my opinion - should have criminal charges laid against them for deliberately deceiving the public and for deliberately defaming a candidate to sway the voter! They had an ethical journalistic responsibility to report honesty and scrutinize BOTH CANDIDATES WITH EQUAL VIGOR! Not doing so has denied the public their rightful opportunity to make an INFORMED decision. The rest of the world is aghast over what has happened to representatives for the 'voice of the people'. It's way past disgusting. It's criminal. What on earth has happened to all the principals the US stands for? What you have done to Hillary in this campaign makes Russia's Putin look like a choir boy!

[shchartley]

Bias? Hmmm... A long-time advocate and supporter of Hillary Clinton, likely frustrated by her losses, makes a case that she's been given a raw deal. No bias there, I'm sure.

Perhaps Sen. Clinton is getting worse coverage because she's doing worse things? Perhaps because she's played dirty? Perhaps because she's losing and all that implies?

[flasher3838]

i think she is getting worse coverage because her voice sounds like nail going over a chalk board. who whould want to listen to that for the next 4 years. while obama's voice makes my legs tingle. just a couple statements from unbiased reporters

[slow2]

f3838,

Listen or watch somebody besides msnbc; try NPR or CSPAN or PBS. If you only see FOX or msnbc you only get one or two slants. There are others. You just have to use the remote or the dial.

[Didi47]

shchartley:

And perhaps.. the writer of the article has finally put his ass on the line and decided that enough is enough and it's time to express his outrage and take on the media. The media has taken over the country is deciding who they chose to win this election. That kind of non challenged power is a very dangerous thing. It puts the US into an identical national position as Russia. The people no longer have control or input. The public is muzzled and the only ones who will be heard are the ones who do not challenge the media. That's where the US is right now. Think about it.

And you know as well as everyone else... your insinuation that Hillary is getting worse coverage because she's doing worse things.... or playing dirty is exactly how the media has been covering her. You may like it right now because it's in Obama's favor. But do you think it would stop after this election and if they achieve their goal? Not for a moment. The media must adhere to ethical unbiased coverage... with all candidates being aired and scrutinized equally. Anything less means your freedom is gone. And the media pundits are in control of your life. Look a the smirks on their faces. Trust me, they have no qualms about being biased now... What happens when they turn on Obama? What are you going to do then? And believe me they will.
They will because you're allowing them the power to do as they please. They own you my friend.

[indie17]

"And believe me they will." No, I don't believe you.

[patrice37]

Wait a second. Walter Shorenstein is not a "media expert." He's a rich developer and Hillary fund-raiser whose money financed a journalism institute of some kind. Walter himself doesn't know squat about journalism. His personal comments on the subject of media bias are on a level with Mark Penn's.

[afgail]

As one US Supreme Court justice once said about pornography. "I know it when I see it." Shorenstein knows bias when he sees it. Same as I do. We've seen it before in the Bush vs Gore election. The media bias against Gore is well documented. The media is doing the same thing to Hillary as they did to Gore, only worse. We have learned to regret Bush II. And we will likewise regret an Obama presidency. Obama is inexperienced and indecisive, not characteristics you want in a president.

[slow2]

afgail,

The media is doing nothing to Hillary EXCEPT parroting her whines, her complaints, her oh-poor-me monologue. What a crock.

If Hillary were half the candidate Gore or Kerry were, she'd be ahead. Hillary is her own worst enemy. On no, wait, there's Bill back there; he's a close second if not first.

Our regret about Bush has a lot to do with the gift of the presidency by the Supreme Court to him. And, the war that he began -- that of course Hill authorized.

You might think about those couple of things when you think about alleged media bias.

[slow2]

AMEN. Almost anyone in the Clinton campaign is now however a "media expert." Their expertise seems to lie in getting free air time for Billary.

[Timberline]

I usually do not watch CNN or Fox because I know they are really propaganda commercials for the ruling oligarchy. But I had to travel so I saw their divel and banter recently. I have to say that I have never heard a positive word said about Hillary. Never, you put all of the positive comments about Hillary in the news on a 30 sec. tape. Most of it would be how the press blew it by projecting Obama the winner in New Hampshire.

John McCain is never referred to critically. Obama the coverage is positive and negative and now that they have Hillary out the door- it has become more critical of him. They will definitely torpedo him after they have done their job on Hillary.

If Hillary was sharp enough to be President she would attack the press. They are hated almost as much as Bush. This would be bad for her I hear people say--It never is for Republicans who attack the press whenever someone has the slightest negative comment.

[Max7073]

I am sooooo tired of Hillary & Co placing the blame for her trainwreck campaign on others. If she can't manage a campaign and she can't take responsibility for her decisions, can't admit that maybe she WAS wrong about something (the Iraq war vote) she isn't qualified to lead the country. I'm also tired of her dirty tricks, watch out everybody, another one's coming on Tuesday at the Texas caucus and her bi-polar behavior. She is an embarassment to the democratic party. The party elders, superdelegates and her friends need to take her aside on Wednesday and tell her it's over.

[Didi47]

Max7073:

And I am soooooooooooooo tired of the Obama posters being soooooooooooo tired, and sooooooooo insulted and soooooooo foul mouthed and sooooooooo hateful and sooooooooooo repetitive.

What does it feel like to be a clone?

[indie17]

Didi, give it up. You aren't making Clinton look any better.

[Zeusthunderbolt]

de•nounce (dĭ-nouns') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de•nounced, de•nounc•ing, de•nounc•es

1. To condemn openly as being evil or reprehensible. See Synonyms at criticize.
2. To accuse formally.
3. To give formal announcement of the ending of (a treaty).

re•ject (rĭ-jěkt') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. re•ject•ed, re•ject•ing, re•jects

1. To refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or make use of.
2. To refuse to consider or grant; deny.
3. To refuse to recognize or give affection to (a person).
4. To discard as defective or useless; throw away. See Synonyms at refuse1.
5. To spit out or vomit.
6. Medicine To resist immunologically the introduction of (a transplanted organ or tissue); fail to accept as part of one's own body.
Please offer your opinion of Denounce vs Reject.

[lovethesinner]

If this guy is a media critic, he ought to be "outraged" to hear "Network" described as a movie "... in which a mentally disturbed television news anchor ... went on the air and implored viewers to rebel against gimmicks staged by network news executives."

"Network" was about corporate fascism, and Howard Beal was the dupe who thought he could shout it away. (much like this Hillary hack)

Everyone close to the Clintons are creating "alternate explanations" for how she lost the nomination because they want to hide the very painful truth that, once again, BLUNDERBOT BILL CLINTON LIED, and when he was caught doing it, he pointed his finger, lied some more, and brought shame to all those around him.

Bill brought us NAFTA, (and when you think about the biggest blunders in US history, the North American Free Trade Agreement is to Bill Clinton what Iraq is to George Bush) and Ohioans, Texans, Rhode Islanders, and Vermontians will take care to remind them of the OUTRAGE of that.

There is a way to deal with corporate fascism, it's called voting, and everyone knows a leopard can't change his spots. Bill and Hillary can write more books, do more lectures, and deal with it. We're moving on. We can do that. Yes, we can.

GObama!

[Didi47]

lovethesinner:

Well just more of the same old same old 'flaming of anyone who supports or defends Hillary. Looks like you guys are going to be kept very very busy.

How about Jack Nicholson... he supports Hillary, what you gonna say about him? How about Maya Angelo she supports Hillary... what insults are you going to throw her way.

What about Jesse Jackson's WIFE? SHE supports Hillary . What names are you going to call her?
What about Bobby Kennedy's kids... They support Hillary, . What about the 25 generals that support Hillary. What about John Glenn He supports Hillary and the list goes on and on and on.

As for the comparison with the movie "Network" I couldn't think of a better comparison to make.
Yes in Network there was one news caster - that the network overlords drove to ruin. That's probably why in this election... we've heard nary a peep from the 'respected network journalists'. They've been muzzled big time.

You suggest the network corporate facism is dealt with by voting? How is it possible to vote responsibly if you're DENIED the information to make an INFORMED decision? That would be playing right into their hands... or become the 'fish in the barrel' they're trying to turn the public into.

I'm not suggesting you vote for HIllary. I am suggesting you demand the TRUTH and the right to FULL information - and full scrutiny of BOTH candidates and that they be given EQUAL UNBIASED, UNSPUN COVERAGE! To suggest anything other than that, means your rights are gone.

[mhopgood123]

There has been a lot of negative in the media about Barack. You just have to read between the lines. The perception of positive coverage on Barack is for two reasons: Hillary has not been a favorite of the media, and frankly, Obama doesn't have the incredible baggage that she has. Like it or not, she still brings up in the minds of a lot of people the images the of Rose-Law firm scandal, the Whitewater, the Cattlegate,etc. Many people dislike her for the years of scandal they brougth to the White House and we, the tax payers paid for it.. Now that we are at the most decisive moment of the campaign, her people are trying everything under the sun to shed a negative light on one of the most transparent politicians of our lifetime. The Clintons just don't know how to let go without bringing everyone around them down with them.When you go to vote. think about this: Do you really want to have a Clinton in the White House or do you want someone who has shown prudence in managing his campaign, shown intelligence and leadership and judgment in opposing the war and seeing what the real dangers to America are. Do you want a president who can inspire and has a long term vision or a policy wonk
who is divisive and confrontational? The answer should be clear.

[cakelady]

Name me one article that was against senator Obama. I have yet to read one. All the press is negative about Hillary. And please! she is running for president not her husband. Have you really looked at both their records? I doubt that you did and all you have is negative republican comments with no substence. And don't tell me about the war. Obama was not in the senate and did not have to vote for or against anything. He will in the Ill. senate and did not have all the infromation that they have the others in the senate. He himself has said once that he does not know how he would have voted if he were in the senate at that time. However he has taken down that statement on his web site. Why? This country is in big trouble and you want to put another person in charge who will be learning on the job. We don't need or want that. I feel that if Obama wins we are doomed because the republicans will win. He has not even completed one term in the senate, and the one big job they gave him to chair, better relations with our european allies he never even called a meeting for and I understand that our european allies were upset about this because they felt ignored by our position of not attempting to bridge a better position between our countries, especially since the Iraq war put us on opposite sides of the issue. Great Job!!!!!!! He did nothing! He needs experience nothing beats experience, definately not just talk. We will all find that out all too soon. This is what happened when Bush got a free pass from our press and it is happening again. We are in big trouble. The press liked Bush better than Gore and Kerry and look what mess we are in. This is a mess!!!!

[slow2]

cakelady,

Get back to those Duncan Hines mixes.

Your recipe is a few cups short of essential ingredients. Suggest you check out a few good references before you compare Barack Obama to that criminal George Bush.

And one more little suggestion: Bill Clinton is running. The Clinton campaign just hasn't decided where to put the two-term former president who undermines her race and wants so badly to be back in the Oval Office for another term or two..

[capsaicin]

cakelady: i suggest you take a look at CNN.com's site, for example. here are the top political headlines relating to Hillary or Obama, as of right now:

Jack Nicholson endorses Clinton
Clinton elaborates on handling a late-night, last-minute crisis
Live from New York, it's Hillary Clinton!
Obama mocks Clinton… mocking Obama
Hillary Clinton expected to make surprise SNL appearance
Clinton aims to clean house
Clinton to appear on 'The Daily Show'
Clinton supporter rips Texas caucus system

There you have it: out of 8 headlines, 7 are about Hillary, and moreover, are overwhelmingly positive regurgitations of her campaign's talking points. One headline about Obama, and it is misleadingly negative.

[dahlenu]

The truth is that had it been anyone else but Hillary that had lost 11 elections in a row, she/he would be portrayed as out of the game. It is only the bias in favour of Hillary that keeps this primary going.

[Mattie]

he's ahead by 102 delegates according to CNN today, with several primaries to go, why should she drop out, there are still hundreds of undecided delegates out there. Should we just crown Obama and be done with it. Obama supporters can insult and ridicule HIllary Clinton all they want, they can spread as much hate as they want. They can call her a murderer, liar, bitch, c""t, and all the other vile names I've seen here on Huffpo. Let's see how many Hillary supporters show up at the general election to support this man, who inspires the kind of hate Obama seems to in people. We'll see what good it did to ridicule and insult all those Hillary supporters. The party I support, and the party I volunteer for may debate the issues and disagree on policies, but they don't speak to one another the way Obama supporters do, I see a popular 3rd candidate in my future, and from what I hear, a lot of other peoples too.

[afgail]

The common thread through most of the Obama supporters on Huff Po are operating on Newt Gingrich's primer for the Republican right wing. Their language is filled with hate and venom toward Hillary. They can't seem to get their heads around the notion that both are Democrats with almost identical positions on issues. They treat Hillary as an enemy. Suggests they are really scripted in which case this is the campaign strategy of the Obama campaign. I believe Axelrod (Obama's campaign manager) is the Democratic version of Karl Rove.

[indie17]

She's behind 155 in pledged delegates. She can't make that up at this point unless she takes over 58% of the vote in all of the remaining contests. There are 981 pledged delegates left at this point. After Tuesday, there will only be 611 remaining.

I think you can see that, mathematically, after Tuesday, if she has not gained considerably in delegates, she is out of the race. It's just math.