Presidential Race Coverage--the Good, Bad and Ugly

It’s become such a common complaint, it’s almost a cliche: The Media--that monolithic term that seems to represent everything from the Auto Trader magazine to “A Current Affair”--do a lousy job of covering political campaigns.

There is more sensationalism than substance to coverage. Whether or not Bill Clinton inhaled pot becomes a topic for lengthy, detailed debate. Sound bites and accusations are the foundations for the quickie reportage that passes for political coverage.

Or so the argument goes.

To a small degree, the cliche is reality. In general, The Media do have a tough time with politics. Compelled to cover the daily rhetoric that flows back and forth between candidates, much of the coverage is more devoted to the race than the contestants. Polls are the subject of stories more often than issues.

Yet, it’s a cop-out to say that the issues aren’t covered. Sure, Clinton’s love life gets an inordinate amount of coverage, but there have been dozens of in-depth stories about the issues and the candidates in almost every newspaper. CNN and C-Span give voters an unprecedented ability to see the candidates in action.

Even network television, the bastion of sound bites and superficial stories, has done a better job of covering this presidential election, slipping more and more analysis into the coverage. CBS, NBC and ABC may give Jerry Brown plenty of opportunity to show off his latest campaign attire, either the snappy turtleneck or the United Auto Workers jacket, depending on which state he’s in, but there have also been several recent in-depth looks at Brown’s flat-tax proposal.

The information is being presented by The Media--if people are willing to look for it and absorb it. If the coverage appears to spotlight the trivial, it’s often because that is what the candidates are focusing on.

Local television news, for many people the primary source of information, is caught in the middle, and usually represents all that is good and bad in coverage. For the most part, the local operations virtually ignore national news or relegate it to a brief part of the newscast, unless there is local angle. But the race for President is not just another passing story.

So most of the local newscasts attempt to delve into the national race from time to time, often simply picking up network features, but sometimes developing their own stories as well, with some success. KNSD-TV (Channel 39) recently did an in-depth look at the Brown flat-tax plan, and Channel 10 managed to put together a decent package on why some locals are supporting H. Ross Perot.

But far too often the local newscasts live up to the cliches, presenting stories that focus on the game of politics without even mentioning the substantive issues.

For example, a recent KGTV (Channel 10) report on that day’s campaign--a fairly typical report--led with the news that Bill Clinton had called Jerry Brown’s tax plan a “disaster” and discussed the polls and the competition without once mentioning, even in passing, what Brown is proposing. It wasn’t necessary to detail Brown’s plan, but it would seem worth at least one line to say Brown is proposing a flat-tax rate.

“We do sometimes fail (by making) the assumption that viewers already know what we’re talking about,” said Channel 10 news director Paul Sands, adding that there is also more information available to voters in this race than in the past.

The independent quasi-candidacy of businessman Perot has proven to be especially difficult for local television news to get a handle on.

Channel 39 recently did a story on local efforts to gather signatures to support the billionaire businessman, focusing on polls and the insurgent nature of the campaign, without once mentioning the ideologies that define the competition. Worse yet, television reports about the local campaign often simply refer to Perot as a “conservative businessman,” without mentioning he’s a conservative who is pro-choice, who opposed the Gulf War and is in favor of cutting entitlements to the rich--hardly a typical conservative.

“We should be trying to provide some context” in such stories, Channel 39 news director Irv Kass said. It’s a goal.

As the presidential race heads toward California, local television will be diving further into the presidential campaign, and local viewers will be able to decide for themselves if the local stations really do a substantive job or if they’re simply propagating the stereotypical image of lame coverage.

From Channel 10 reporter Adrienne Alpert at the pre-Oscars ceremony, commenting on the array of fashions: “The accessories of choice are silk, satin and silicone.” . . .

Perennially pretentious supergroup U2 has refused to formally link up with any radio station for its April 15 San Diego concert, which has the stations scrambling to appear to be true U2 fans. KGB-FM (101.5) is “welcoming” U2 and XTRA-FM (91X) did a weekend-long salute to the Irish group. The rock stations are trying to cover up the fact that they don’t have the usual number of tickets to give away to listeners and advertisers. In an attempt to control the flow of tickets to fans and brokers, U2 gave each station only a handful of tickets, prompting more than one station to have staffers try to buy tickets just like ordinary peons. . . .

Channel 10’s new midday news is set to debut at 11:30 a.m. today, with Alpert and Jack White anchoring. . . .

Channel 8’s Ted Leitner went into another on-air rant last week about the local television critics always being so negative (primarily about him). As a commentator, he’s different because “I try to balance it out,” he said. . . .

“Heil Hitler! Confessions of a Hitler Youth,” the HBO documentary that chronicles the early years of San Diegan Alfons Heck, won a prestigous Peabody Award last week. . . .

According to a Department of Corrections press release, 17 media representatives will be allowed to witness the execution of Robert Alton Harris, scheduled for April 21. Those selected as witnesses must agree to participate in a news conference afterward. . . .

From Bart Simpson: “Country music sucks. All it does is take precious air space away from shock disc jockeys whose cruelty and profanity amuse us all.”

CRITIC’S CHOICE

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

Any movie with the basic premise that clowns are sleazy, despicable characters that can’t be trusted with lunch money can’t be all bad. In “Shakes the Clown,” Bob Goldthwait has fashioned a dark and cynical film for all those who think mimes should be sent to prison. As the title character, Goldthwait is a disheveled alcoholic clown who would rather hang out with his clown buddies in a seedy bar than pander to children at some phony arcade. “It’s as if the cast of ‘Bozo’s World’ suddenly wandered into the splayed-light barrooms of ‘Fat City,’ ” wrote The Times’ Michael Wilmington. Understand, “Shakes the Clown,” which is screening at the Hillcrest Cinemas, is no classic. Far too often, it wallows in standard Hollywood chase scenes and sappy moments. Yet, its relentlessly warped perspective is so far removed from today’s sunny day movie-making philosophies that “Shakes” is clearly destined to be a worthy hit on the cult movie circuit.