vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

8.30.2006

Media moments

More and more of our politicians are catching onto this strategy, though they will undoubtedly discover its diminishing returns. When scheduling press conferences, some of them are particularly conscious of how they might best make sure the media will show up. And some have discovered that if they time it close - but not too close - to another event the media is likely to cover, they'll get better results.

Thus we have at least four press conferences planned for tomorrow in Montpelier. Gov. Jim Douglas has his regular presser at 10:30 a.m. Much of the Vermont media usually attends these. Republican U.S. House candidate Mark Shepard smartly scheduled a press conference for 12:30 p.m. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scudder Parker set his for 9:30 a.m. Planned Parenthood squeezed its in for 11 a.m.

Smart planning on all their parts. Collectively, however, it might very well backfire. It might not seem like there's any work to this, but the reality is that us humble members of the media can only write/broadcast so many stories in a given day. Not to mention that the public can only take so much in a given day.

Here's your turn to weigh in. Which would be the best news story?

1. Whatever the governor says?
2. Mark Shepard's comments on parental notification?
3. Scudder Parker's comments on the cost of living in Vermont?
4. Planned Parenthood's "Pro-Choice Pledge" signing ceremony for candidates.
5. Some other off-the-radar story?

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 5:46 PM |

Comments:

I'd personally like to vote for "Whatever the governor says," because by now, all Vermonters should have it ingrained in their heads that the world stops when Jim Douglas opens his mouth, and of course he always has a lot to say.

Whether it's taking credit for others' ideas, cutting a ribbon for the fruit of a project which he originally posed, or just plain ol' talking with that soothing middle-of-the-night AM radio DJ voice, Jim Douglas simply commands an audience.

I mean come on, who doesn't like listening to Jim Douglas tell Vermonters whatever they want to hear at the moment in order to get elected? Act 60 is good, Act 60 is bad; let's raise gas taxes, gas taxes are the work of the devil; education is about quality, education is about money!

So please, trip over yourself to catch every smoothly-spun word, I can't wait to read it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:26 PM, August 30, 2006

We all need more info on Scudder Parker's views, please

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:46 PM, August 30, 2006

Terri Hallenbeck: ... Not to mention that the public can only take so much in a given day.

This is something I would have to strongly disagree with. It would be best for those at various levels within the press/media not to use this incorrect assumption, stereotype and attitude about the perceived reading habits of the public or their attention spans or, otherwise the public itself, with which to hide behind as an excuse for not being able to cover and then report as much as it might be possible to do.

If, however, those in the press/media cannot manage to report on more than one thing in any given media cycle, then I would have to pick:

5. Some other off-the-radar story?

That said, my choice would actually be:

6. All of the above.

And, then leave it up to the public what and how they might be willing to take or absorb on any given day. That is only for each individual to decide for themselves, not something for the media to do so for us.

It is the role of the press/media to cover as much of the news as one can and report it as fairly, in depth and as well as is possible, then leave the rest to the public to choose and decide.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:25 PM, August 30, 2006

Scudder
followed by all of the above

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:40 PM, August 30, 2006

One other Montpelier event tomorrow is the Net Neutrality petition drop at Senator Jeffords's office tomorrow at noon by members of the SavetheInternet.com coalition.

For me, this is important because there's an important role for ourlocal media to play. Big corporate telecom giants are counting on the fact that "net neutrality" is such a wonky issue that the average citizen won't pay attention. Our local media should be covering this event to help break down the issues for Vermonters. How will the loss of Internet freedom affect us? What's at stake? We shouldn't let this just haplessly fall into the category of DC backdoor poltiticking because average Vermonters stand to lose a lot -- small businesses especially -- if we lose the fair playing field that net neutrality lays out for Internet users and information consumers.

I'll be there at Jeffords's office at noon to hear from some of those Vermonters and to make sure Vermonters' Internet freedom is protected from corporate special interest.

# Posted by:

Colleen | 10:13 PM, August 30, 2006

5. If Bob Kiss accomplishes something meaningful, that would be the story of the year - not holding my breath though

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:39 PM, August 30, 2006

Another vote here for the Net neutrality rally at Jefords' office.

# Posted by:

Jack McCullough | 12:24 AM, August 31, 2006

When I answered with my choices earlier, I had meant it in a general sense as far as prioritizing coverage on any given day of course. However, if I had to give an answer (for my pick of 5. Some other off-the-radar story?) concerning tomorrow -- especially since that is how the question was originally framed, I would have to concur with Colleen, GTB and Jack on choosing the Net neutrality rally at Jeffords' office in Montpelier. In fact it was something I thought about posting another comment about, until I saw that Colleen covered it first. That said, if it was an approach for doing the All of the Above option suggested earlier, I also find myself in agreement with eastcoaster's first paragraph as well as GBT's second paragraph too.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:42 AM, August 31, 2006

Net Neutrality!

and the gov candidates

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:09 AM, August 31, 2006

WCAX and the AP covered the Net Neutrality event as did Channel 17. Streaming video of the entire event is available at www.channel17.org - click on the streaming video link.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:59 PM, August 31, 2006

Scudder Parker's press conference, without a doubt. I think Douglas' has fooled enough people and he media ought to start paying attention to some cold, hard facts.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:40 PM, August 31, 2006