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WAPO Ombudsman criticizes own newspaper's excessive coverage of Barack Obama
Today, The Washington Post's ombudsman Deborah Howell compiled data showing that in the last 10 weeks -- that is, when he became the Democratic nominee -- by a 3:1 ratio, Barack Obama has been featured in front page articles more frequently than John McCain.
Howell adds:
"Democrat Barack Obama has had about a 3 to 1 advantage over Republican John McCain in Post Page 1 stories since Obama became his party's presumptive nominee June 4. Obama has generated a lot of news by being the first African American nominee, and he is less well known than McCain -- and therefore there's more to report on. But the disparity is so wide that it doesn't look good." My emphasis.
Overall, Obama dominated all stories 142 to 96 in the same period.
It is thus understandable why a recent Pew poll found that many Americans (48%) believe they have heard "too much" about Obama, in contrast to the 26% who hold the same view about John McCain. The story on the poll in the Pew website was appropriately headlined: "Obama fatigue."
Back to the Washington Post article in question, Howell concluded: "Numbers aren't everything in political coverage, but readers deserve comparable coverage of the candidates."
Comments (10)
Ah but was the positive to negative ratio.
August 18, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly! WaPo has been one of the WORST offenders for slanted coverage of Obama. Howell needs some direct feedback on this issue. Please call her out and have her own up to the fact that her paper has been hammering Obama relentlessly with negative and unfair coverage - which amounts to positive press for McCain. In other words, this statement from Howell is utter bullshit.
August 18, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, we've also learned that the media,while they give more space to Obama, are also much more apt to give him negative coverage.
It's not how much you say about someone, it's what you say. But you know, that if the WaPo increases its coverage of McCAin, but dares to be as critical as it has been on Obama, we'll hear nothing but whining about it from the McCain camp. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
August 18, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you are ignoring negative articles about McCain. Google is your friend.
By the way, the major media outlets just tore apart Corsi's book. Would a pro-McCain media do that?
August 18, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
They tore apart Corsi's book - but McCain's not being linked to it. In fact, McCain's getting a pass on it, even though he won't take any position on the book.
Would a pro-McCain MSM refuse to cover his gaffes, his controversies, his past or his lack of policy prescriptions? Now, remember that Google is YOUR friend, too.
August 18, 2008 11:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
By the way, you might cite a subjective study by academics, but people are not buying the little conspiracy theory that the media is in the tank for McCain.
In all, absoutely all the surveys which have asked voters who they believe is receiving more friendly coverage, Obama has come out on top, both versus McCain and Clinton.
Only TPM/DailyKos types think the media is anti-Obama.
August 18, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
"People believe Obama gets more favorable coverage because the McCain campaign whines about the coverage at every step - and gets reinforcements from Fox, WaPo, etc.etc."
The above statement is just as valuable - and can be supported by more evidence - than any poll that asks Mr. and Mrs. America who they think gets better media coverage.
You can do better than citing public opinion polls on slanted news stories.
August 18, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would be happy to see more coverage of McCain. He's more guns than roses.
August 18, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wholeheartedly welcome more coverahge -- and scrutiny -- of McCain.
He's not vetted. The MSM, including WaPo, is covering up his scandals. He needs to be vetted and his skeletons need to be aired.
August 18, 2008 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think its going to happen? I've never seen such a one-sided look at candidates in a Presidential race.
I can't believe people think they know who John McCain is...If they do, how could they possibly vote for him? He scares the beejeepers outta me.
August 19, 2008 1:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
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