Kerry is NOT getting coverage from US media...

[KansDem]

...He IS getting "Gored!"

Kerry Vies for Screen Time; Networks Focus on Iraq, Bush; Democrat Sometimes Ignored:

Dan Balz and Howard Kurtz. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: May 19, 2004. pg. A.05

<snip>
On May 6, Kerry unveiled a major education initiative in California, promising to provide more than $20 billion to hire more teachers and boost their salaries. On the network news that night, CBS ran nothing, NBC aired a profile of Teresa Heinz Kerry and ABC's Peter Jennings reported a Kerry comment on the Iraq prisoner-abuse scandal.

From April 1 through last week, the three network newscasts did not run a single report on Kerry's proposals on jobs, education, health care, the environment or other issues he has been hitting on the stump, mentioning them fleetingly just five times. But they carried reports that tended to portray Kerry on the defensive: the controversy over his throwing away his Vietnam medals or ribbons, an attempt by some Catholic leaders to deny him communion, and Vice President Cheney's attacks on his defense record. CBS ran a piece on Democrats worried about his candidacy, while NBC did one on how Kerry's message is being drowned out.

With the newscasts heavily focused on the violence in Iraq, the prisoner scandal and the beheading of an American contractor, Kerry is often glimpsed uttering a sound bite on the day's events. He has approached the Iraq issue carefully, refusing to comment on every development.

"There are a lot of overwhelming news stories going on at the moment requiring extensive coverage, and they eat up most of the news time day to day," said Jim Murphy, executive producer of the "CBS Evening News." "I've always believed presidential campaign coverage starts well before most of the public is ready to pay attention."

Mark Halperin, ABC's political director, said television is faced with "big world events in which Bush is a central player and Kerry is only a player if he chooses to be. He is not saying anything bold, different or particularly relevant to that day's story. It's not our obligation to hold our breath and turn purple and insist he inject himself into these international stories."

Bill Wheatley, an NBC vice president, offered a similar rationale, saying it is "difficult for a candidate to get covered in the middle of a major international news story" but "it's only May. It will even out."

(more article available)

If the media reported on Kerry's domestic speeches, then Bush's poll numbers would drop even more...

(I pulled this article up on an internet-accessible magazine database that requires a paid subscription. Unable to post link due to licensing agreement. However, you can go to Washington Post site http://www.washingtonpost.com/ and read article with registration)

[tom_paine]

1. Exactly. Meet the New Pravda. Same as the Old Pravda...

[Flubadubya]

2. No s**t Sherlock!!!

And what little he is getting is unbelievably biased and negative. There isn't a pundit on TV who has a kind word to say about Kerry or his plans. :grr:

[blm]

3. The GOOD thing is that Kerry is getting GREAT local coverage

on the campaign trail. He is giving enormous access to the local press everywhere he goes.

Alot of positive things are happening even though we aren't always hearing about it.

[rex 555]

9. Of course!

Bush can't go out and meet people. Kerry can. Its retail politics. Hometown TV. Years ago Dems would be still be fighting for the nomination,Kerry has had weeks to meet and greet. I really like it. Bush spends $130 million with no effect. Kerry is making friends everywhere.

[JI7]

4. Kerry campaign is run in a way they know they can't depend on big media

the kerry campaign knows they can't depend on these big media. they plan things accordingly.

[narcjen]

5. Problem is Kerry's delivery style

he is not an inspiring speaker. Its tough to get a message across when it gets so muddled up by a lifeless delivery. Kerry's domestic plan would be great if only people could stay awake long enough to hear it. I'd hate to say it, but he's a terribly ineffective speaker, much worse than Al Gore (who wasn't a bad speaker IMO).

[MsUnderstood]

8. That is complete and utter nonsense

If we relied on delivery style, then why in the hell does Bush get so much TV time? The man butchers the english language.

C'mon don't fall for the "if it bleeds, it leads" mentallity.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[papau]

6. Kerry Vies for Screen Time - Wash Post link below

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37603-2004May18.html

Kerry Vies for Screen Time
Networks Focus on Iraq, Bush; Democrat Sometimes Ignored

By Dan Balz and Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, May 19, 2004; Page A05


PORTLAND, Ore., May 18 -- Sen. John F. Kerry was the big story here Monday. His dinnertime rally downtown with former Vermont governor Howard Dean drew thousands of supporters and dominated the local television news that night. "Portland crowd rallies around Kerry," a front-page headline in Tuesday's Portland Oregonian said.

But the presumptive Democratic nominee barely caused a blip on the national news media radar, even though he was paired against President Bush in ceremonies in Topeka, Kan., commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Kerry got a one-sentence summary on the "CBS Evening News" and a two-sentence summary on "NBC Nightly News." ABC's "World News Tonight" aired a two-sentence sound bite -- to Bush's three.

Earlier this year, the senator from Massachusetts had little trouble attracting national attention as he racked up a series of primary election victories. Since then he has been far less visible, struggling almost daily to compete for attention with the news out of Iraq and the bully pulpit of the White House.

All this has left Kerry with a smaller megaphone at a time when challengers often struggle to be heard. But Kerry advisers argue that, with Bush on the defensive and his poll numbers dropping, their candidate has hardly suffered from the lack of national media visibility.

Tad Devine, a senior Kerry strategist, said the nonstop Iraq coverage is a double-edged sword: "I think the information people have gotten about Bush for the last two months on the network news has been bad for him."<snip>

[trof]

7. I rather see the kind of publicity Bush* is getting.

[NNN0LHI]

11. I would not worry about this at all

Kerry is a strong finisher as was proved in Iowa. When he wants the national face time he knows how to get it. I trust the people on his team. He has some knock out punches to deliver when the time is right. You will know they are coming after you see several body blows first. Then comes the left hook. This guy is a winner. Don't fret. It is real early yet. The Rethugs keep trying to draw him out sooner but he is too smart to fall for Roves crap. I promise.

Don