Trying new approach, CBS plans to spotlight policy issues of the presidential campaign.
By on Aug 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Trying new approach, CBS plans to spotlight policy issues of the presidential campaign.
The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder reports that beginning after Republican and Democratic conventions, CBS News plans to step away from horse-race politics and actually cover the policy issues facing American voters. Over 35 episodes, there will be 35 segments, each on a different issue. Ambinder adds that it’s now “up to the producers and their correspondents to make these segments shine on TV.”
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Bring back Walter.
¶ AIO
August 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pmWell alrighty then.
I’ll believe it when I actually see it.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:46 pmI’ll be watching — as long as they send Katie on vacation and put some adults in charge. If not, it will be back to Jim Lehrer for me!
August 14th, 2008 at 1:47 pmHow is it now news that the news will cover news instead of spin?
Like Annie, I’ll believe when I see it, and it’s going to take more than once!
PEACE
August 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pmPOLICY ISSUE #1: Which candidate would do more to help illegal Muslim immigrants get free health care?
POLICY ISSUE #2: How funny is John McCain? Very funny? Or INCREDIBLY FUNNY?
POLICY ISSUE #3: Which candidate is a SCARY BLACK MAN?!?!?!
I’m not holding my breath. And why is this a revolutionary concept for CBS to be rolling out? Are they just admitting that they’re nothing but tabloid dumpster divers the other 330 nights of the year?
August 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pmWaitaminnit — you mean spotlight actual issues and policy positions INSTEAD OF the candidates’ sex lives, religion, and whether or not they wear a flag pin?
What a concept!
August 14th, 2008 at 1:52 pmHow will they report on policy issues and still make McCain look like a viable Presidental candidate?
August 14th, 2008 at 1:54 pmIs this a joke?
August 14th, 2008 at 1:54 pmI’ll believe it when I see it. As long as they don’t allow Katie Couric to do the pieces, I suppose its possible.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pmLOL, yeah, and for their next trick, they’ll present prime-time programming that isn’t insulting to everyone’s intelligence (except right wingers, they have nothing to insult)
August 14th, 2008 at 1:57 pmI’ll believe it when I see it.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pmWow, what a novel approach. Actually report on the issues. Who would have thunk it.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pmHere’s why we are in the mess we are in now: “Ambinder adds that it’s now “up to the producers and their correspondents to make these segments shine on TV.””
August 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pmSince it takes a lot of imagination to make the “issues sizzle on TV”, they just take the easy way out and resort to the horse-race reporting.
I wish CBS luck, though. If they can pull this off, it may signal a new era in politics reporting.
“up to the producers and their correspondents to make these segments shine on TV.”
we should trust THEM?… part of the very reasons we are in such a mess?…
who’s going to fact-check all this “policy issues” spotlighting?
should be thrilled… can’t help but being apprehensive…
August 14th, 2008 at 3:05 pmThere should be a lot of corporations seeing the handwriting on the wall telling of Barack’s election. The fear of Federal agencies that actually enforce the laws, rules and regulations might be having an effect already.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:09 pmThey will quickly learn that this new kind of news coverage will not give them better ratings. First, they don’t have anybody who’s really qualified to do actual competent reporting. There isn’t anybody there who is not afraid to ask tough questions. Two, people like the horse race coverage. It’s like sports and sports are they only thing Americans really care about.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:10 pmDoes this mean that Katie Couric will be doing more fluffer reports?
August 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pmAmbinder adds that it’s now “up to the producers and their correspondents to make these segments shine on TV.
————
“Shine” as in polishing a t*rd?
August 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pm“CBS News plans to step away from horse-race politics and actually cover the policy issues facing American voters.”
Ah, hello, networks should been doing this from the get-go. And I believe this from CBS when I see it. This sudden change only means that NBC Brian Williams is kicking butt in the ratings and their Teflon Katie ain’t cutting it.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:15 pmAnd I have some lovely swampland in Florida.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pmCBS News plans to step away from horse-race politics and actually cover the policy issues facing American voters.
only the ‘horse race, itself, issues’ .. WOW .. how about stopping the unfair bias, props led by the gopper MSM for their agenda?
August 14th, 2008 at 3:21 pmYou mean “real issues” that most of the American Public can’t even begin to understand, where’s the flag pins, where’s the religion, where’s Paris Hilton?
I’ll believe it when I see it.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:21 pmBy stopping the chit chat about who is ahead and who is not, do you suppose there will be more time for the pro gopper agenda?
August 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pmHey all – I got a list of topics for the first ten shows:
Issue #1: Flag pins
August 14th, 2008 at 3:40 pmIssue #2: Angry black preachers
Issue #3: Angry black preachers who don’t wear flag pins
Issue #4: Angry secret Muslims who don’t wear flag pins
Issue #5: Tire gauges
Issue #6: Angry black preachers with tire gauges
Issue #7: Angry ANWR caribou with tire gauges
Issue #8: Secret Muslim ANWR caribou
Issue #9: Tire gauges who don’t wear flag pins
Issue #10: Health care (of angry secret Muslims)
Dammit, I’ve fallen asleep in the recliner again and I’m dreaming. I just read that CBS is going to cover the presidential campaigns by spotlighting policy issues.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:49 pmSo this means if Obama sneezes that the lead story wouldn’t be the latest cancer “breakthrough/statistics” for the umpteenth time?!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:02 pmI love that they’re waiting til after the conventions to start covering real issues, instead of the “horse race”. Which of the shining stars with ANY mainstream news outfit even knows the definition of “real issues”? Katie Couric, who thinks her only job is to parrot Bush administration and Republican talking points, regardless of the fact that she knows different? Bob Schieffer, who accuses anyone who doesn’t think John McCain’s war record qualifies him to be commander-in-chief (despite the fact that McCain crashed more planes in Viet Nam than al Qaeda did on 9/11)?
And if they really cared about real issues, they wouldn’t have to wait til after the conventions to know what constitute “real issues.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:10 pmNice list, hussein toasterhead.
Issue #8: Secret Muslim ANWR caribou – pictured caribou wearing Muslim headgear and almost busted my gut.
I think I’m gonna explode.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pmhussein toasterhead-
“Issue #8: Secret Muslim ANWR caribou”
I can’t wait!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:38 pmROFLMAO
Um. Why should we believe anything from CBS so long as Katie Couric and her producers are still employed?
August 14th, 2008 at 6:34 pmHonestly? What a refreshing idea. Actually reporting the news and giving people the information that they need to vote.
I’m not holding my breath though. I’ll still get most of my news from my own news research on the web.
August 14th, 2008 at 7:29 pm35 policy issues facing American voters, and why they are a problem for Barack Obama.
CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, CNN, MSNBC…they all offer a similar narrative and have the same agenda.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:09 pm35 episodes, 35 segments, and before this post, 35 posts on the subject. Must be a conspiracy.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:10 pmI’d like to see the glass half full here, I really would.
Remember those “real people talking about real issues” crap-fests when K.Couric first started doing the Evening News?
I smell a whiff of that sort of thing and those were maybe one reasonable to five stoopid.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:46 pm.
… WHAT!!!?
No coverage of “Diamonds or Perls”?
Shear disappointment I tell ya. [/snark]
.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:15 pmThis one will reserve judgment until I see what it is they actually do.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:48 pm