The media may have given up its role as a major player in
presidential campaigns, and that could also mean less coverage of local, city,
state and federal government.
The event that most will blame for whatever follows is the
decision to give so much free time to Donald Trump, though some change should have been expected. The Republican not only was
allowed to talk for hours, usually without questioning, but the news shows that
followed spent much of their time discussing what Trump had to say.
Trump clearly believes any news is good news. Only time will
tell if that can win a national presidential election. Even if he loses, there
is no guarantee the media will be able to return to its major role in choosing
our governments.
Polls
Polls
If Hillary Clinton wins, it will be after what many call a
“front porch” campaign. Critics are attacking her for refusing to hold a single
traditional news conference. Polls suggest this tactic is working.
Presidential news conferences have been declining in general
since after World War 2.
There are fewer journalists assigned strictly to politics as
the print media, like news conferences, also is in decline, leaving fewer to
press for traditional news conferences.
Much of what voters get to see is panel discussions of
political journalists, often joined by “surrogates,” people chosen by
candidates to promote their campaigns.
It shouldn’t be assumed that either candidate’s approach
will automatically work. The Internet has made it possible for people to inform
themselves. Whether they will is another question that has not been answered.
Age often determines where people get their news. Social
media is popular with millennials, but newsmakers are reaching out to all age
groups. TV remains a major source, but many Americans get their news from a
variety of sources.
Political parties will continue to be involved in determining
who gets selected to run for elected offices but party loyalties will likely to
have to adjust to the evolving mood of electorates influenced by how their
performances are judged.
Outsiders like Trump will find it more difficult in future
campaigns to get so much free coverage but they will no longer be novelties.
Both Trump and Bernie Sanders, who gave Clinton a
surprisingly tough fight, focused on rallies that sometimes drew thousands but
were not coupled with traditional ground games.
This year’s race is not over yet but is edging towards
predictability with Clinton leading in the polls and possessing a much stronger
traditional get-out-the-vote ground game. Their hopes for down-ticket gains are
growing.
MSNBC’s popular Morning Joe’s Joe Scarborough, who earlier
had given Trump considerable free coverage, wrote:
“Friday started as it usually does: an early wake up call, an interview
with the next president of the United States and a hateful
personal attack from Donald Trump. Such is life during these dog days of August
in a nasty presidential campaign not even near its ugly end.
“These days, a rudely out-of-bounds Trump attack surprises
Mika and me about as much as a puppy relieving himself on a living room rug. “We’ve
figured out by now that it does no good to lose your cool with the puppy or
Donald Trump, since neither have and control over their bladder or mouth.
As Aristotle famously said, “It is what it is.”
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