Election ’08 Coverage

Senators Barack Obama (left) and John McCain (right)

Hello again! This week I was assigned with the task of monitoring one source of media and its coverage of the United States Presidential Election. I will be referencing different media roles present in Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Paul Waldman’s “The Press Effect,” and attributing those of relevance to CNN’s televised broadcast. I’ll be using Toulmin’s model as an outline for my argument.

The CNN network presently employs one of the most renowned political news crews in the United States. Many Americans consistently tune in to CNN as an outlet for current events and up-to-the-minute news updates on existing political issues. So, I decided to analyze the proclaimed “best political team on television” for at least an hour a day, and put their coverage under the microscope.

After viewing several hours of programming, I’ve concluded that CNN has broadcast adequate coverage of the election in a generally unbiased manner. The majority of segments offered multiple perspectives concerning issues that challenge both Democrats and Republicans. Narrators facilitated discussion via satellite between members of both platforms, allowing them to debate numerous issues within a range of topics.

I believe that CNN has taken on the role of “custodian of fact.” They offered coverage of both candidates in multiple segments, and ensured that the public was not being misled during the “Keeping Them Honest” portion of the broadcast. During this segment, the validity of controversial statements was tested, and the results were posted for the public.

Keeping the facts straight is essential in any election. The public deserves to know the truth about candidates and their current stance on issues in order to make an objective decision when casting a ballot. Kathleen Hall Jamieson and Paul Waldman offer that the “custodian of fact” media role examines statements assess their accuracy.

The “custodian of fact” role crucially pertains to coverage of the news because it ensures that viewers will not be incorrectly informed about issues or unknowingly interpret the wrong impression of either candidate. Although news is inherently biased in some form, facts are accepted truths, and help create an informed public capable of making an objective decision when voting.

The possibility that CNN’s coverage of the election is inadequate still exists; I am only basing my analysis on the broadcast that I monitored over a three-day span. In my opinion, if you’re looking for an outlet for information on politics and current events, CNN offers adequate election coverage on real issues that will affect Americans in the upcoming presidency.