"The pundits woke up early this morning" The pundits woke up early this morning, blanketing the news shows. Fox & Friends' question of the day: "Caustic Caucus: Clear winner or cloud of confusion?" The banner read "All About Iowa," and a graphic previewed an interview with Howard Dean at 7:40. He was on A.M. minutes before -- Bill Hemmer interviewed Edwards and Gephardt in the first 15 minutes. Mike Barnicle anchored MSNBC coverage from Boston, saying that "Imus slept in today," but he couldn't compete with entrenched morning shows... 7:31:23 AM
Media Notes from Iowa Elizabeth Jensen previews the new polling system's "first big test" in the LA Times // This blogger noticed a Dean bumper sticker affixed to a FOX News sat truck // This is Tom Brokaw's last caucus... 7:30:19 AM
When "a Michael Jackson story comes on, people watch" Two windy city follow-up stories on the Jackson "freak show:" "It's one of those stories where a lot of people say they're not interested, but they are," NBC's Jim Avila tells the Chicago Tribune. "The research shows that whenever a Michael Jackson story comes on, people watch." And Richard Roeper in the Sun-Times "kept wondering when someone was going to bring up another element in this story. You know. The kid." 7:22:58 AM
Deborah Norville Readies for MSNBC Prime Deborah Norville talks to Peter Johnson for a USA Today column. Regarding suggestions that her show may take a tabloid spin on the news: "No way" is the response. "I'm about as straight an arrow as you'll find out there," she says. Details... 2:58:06 AM
! "One big Iowa Caucus Channel" A day shy of three years ago, President Bush was inaugurated. Today, eight candidates will try to stop that from happenine again. So grab your remote. "Today, a good chunk of your cable dial transforms into one big Iowa Caucus Channel," the New York Observer opines. Keith Olbermann has called it the sportscenter of politics. "Turn on the news anytime of day and you're guaranteed to catch CNN's Judy Woodruff in a cornfield or Fox News reporting live from Farmer John's back barn," the Seattle Times said last week. This site will feature minute-by-minute analysis of the media coverage all day and night... 12:07:38 AM
Scarborough Takes "Unpaid Leave" From Law Firm Howard Kurtz continues to push the Scarborough / conflict of interest story. In his column today: "MSNBC says it erred in saying that talk show host Joe Scarborough has severed ties with his law firm to avoid conflicts." Kurtz explains... 12:04:01 AM
CableNewser
Special Edition: the Iowa Caucus
Wall-to-wall cable coverage
The first test of a new polling process
Who will win the expectations game?
On Television:
FOX:
7pm: FOX Report
8pm: Brit Hume
10pm: Hannity & Colmes
11pm: On the Record
12am: Your World (R)
CNN:
7pm: Anderson Cooper 360
8pm: Wolf Blitzer
9pm: Larry King Live
10pm: Wolf Blitzer
12am: Larry King Live
MSNBC:
7pm: Chris Matthews
12am: Keith Olbermann
Questioner Q&As;:
Dave Busiek News Director, KCCI-TV
Mr. Busiek has reported on the Iowa caucuses since 1980. He is a former chairman of the Radio-Television News
Directors Association. In a
CableNewser Q&A;, he shares thoughts on the
importance of the story and the news media's focus on it.
Rob Bignell
Editorial Page Editor, Iowa City Press-Citizen
It's a new feature: Questioner, a brief and to-the-point interview with media insiders. Mr. Bignell discusses coverage
of the Iowa caucuses. Read the interview here.