If you watch local TV news in different cities around the country, and I'm not suggesting you do so, you see that a small number of stations have political beat reporters, but most do not.
"Most stations where politics is a beat with dedicated reporter happen to be in places where politics is part of the culture," says Deborah Potter, who writes about television news for the American Journalism Rewiew. "So stations in Des Moines, for example, Chicago, New Hampshire, New Orleans, places where politics is what makes the world go round."
James Pindell, the political beat reporter for WMUR-TV in New Hampshire told me that's exactly why he's covering politics there.
"My station is crazy about politics," he says. "It's the state sport. We spend a lot of time on politics. It's very much based on market."
Pindell, who's on the board of the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, could not explain why a station in a place like Denver would cover politics so closely.
Potter said a local TV news beat may be driven by the "passion of an individual reporter."
"Unless you have some kind of huge story involving a particular person and particular issue are you ever going to say that's something that will get more people to watch," said 9News News Director Patti Dennis. "It's about being responsible. It's about all the things I believe a media organization is responsible for."
9News has a political beat, including YourShow, a public Sunday affairs program airing on Channel 20, that's divided between Matt Flener and Chris Vanderveen. Dennis said she's interviewing now to add a possible third reporter to the beat.
Fox 31's political beat reporter Eli Stokols files daily stories about Colorado politics, taking a newspaper-like approach that's highly unusual for any market.
I asked longtime Fox 31 anchor Ron Zappolo how the political beat got established at his station.
"I think we've always wanted to, but I think [Stokols] has been the impetus," said Zapplo whose own interest in politics is refelected in the frequent political topics you see on his Sunday night show, Zappolo's People. "And I think he's pushed it. Some people have been into it. Some people haven't been. But I think he's been the impetus to really put more emphasis on politics."
"Our newsroom has gone through a lot of changes during the last couple years," Stokols explained. "That change created an opening for me to stake a claim on this beat. I mean, when we were between news directors in 2008, at the end of that year right after the presidential election and into 2009, it was easy for me to start showing up at the capitol when the session opened. And I said, this is what I do every day. And I would call in and send them stories, and I would work long hours. After a while, they got kind of comfortable with it or used to it, because it like, all right, we don't have to worry about him. He's doing this on his own, and we're getting it done. Four months later, we'd been at the capitol every day."
But Stokols says he's not the only one driving the political coverage. His station manager was the one, he said, who came up with the idea of leading off the sweeps earlier this year with a five-part series on the state budget and schools.
"To do five nights on education and the budget, when most people are bending over backwards to show flaming cars and dancing bears, it's quite a contrast," says Stokols.
Stokols agrees with Dennis that political coverage won't help Fox 31's low ratings, at least in the short term.
"Shifting view habits will be pretty hard to do based on political coverage," Stokols told me. "And even if that were going to take place, it would take a long time.
"This is about building a brand that's recognizable and respected," Stokols said. "Because you want people to think , if we want political news we'll go to Fox 31. And then when you build that brand up, eventually, that's when you start to see, perhaps, the numbers picking up."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.