The Problem with the Media

Paul Krugman nails it in his blog:

This gets at one of my biggest gripes: reporting that focuses on the political game without ever informing readers or viewers about the actual facts. Back in 2004 I did a survey of news coverage on the rival Kerry and Bush health plans; on TV, at least, there were a number of reports on how the plans were playing politically, but none — none at all — on what was actually in the plans.

The media will talk endlessly about the political "game" and talk about the horse race (who's leading, who has stumbled, details on the latest "gotcha"). But the media doesn't seem to take any responsibility for educating the public on substance, i.e. party platforms, content of proposed legislation, track records of candidates.

It is a pathetic joke. Representative democracy only works if the electorate has a reason to vote for TweedleDee over TweedleDum. If there are no facts, then spin meisters and cynical manipulators have a field day.