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Tuesday, January 20, 2004
On To New Hampshire
This Denver Post excerpt summarizes the next few hours very well: "Then on Tuesday morning...when the media hordes haul their satellite dishes and sound trucks off to the next stop on the rugged campaign highway, it will all be over. Iowa will be merely that stubborn piece of windswept prairie there in the rearview mirror as the dog-tired caucus survivors head to their next challenge: New Hampshire." That wraps up the keyboard pounding tonight. Hope it made for a good read. The site saw triple (!) the amount of average traffic, so thank you. Come back tomorrow! After all, there is this little thing called the State of the Union. Goodnight... 12:25:06 AM
One Last Round of Notes
FOX planned to start repeats at midnight, but continued with Greta until 12:11am to squeeze in a Kerry interview. They were the first to end live coverage. Here's the problem with airing repeats: "FOX News Alert: Kerry to speak at 10:50pm ET," the graphic read at 12:15am during a taped H&C.; // Was the Dean hype a media creation? // MSNBC aired Dean's naming-the-states alongside a map that highlighted each state as it was named // The headline on an Edwards report during Countdown: "New Kid On The Block"... 12:23:31 AM
Are You Getting Sick Of These Compilations Yet?
"Lose your voice, win your caucus," Keith Olbermann said at 12am. // Ouch!: "[Dean] was not only beated, but he was trounced." --CNN analyst Carlos Watson. // Chris Matthews was feeling patriotic tonight: "Tens of thousands of Americans did their duty," he concluded. // On CNN, Carville, Begala, and Novak accurately predicted Kerry would come in first; Carlson wrongly chose Dean. // CNN "set the stage" in Manchester by midnight, with a live report from their next temporary headquarters. "Dean leading Clark in N.H.," the chyron said... 12:04:04 AM
Notes: Greta, Luntz, Dean, FOX
Greta on FOX: "It almost seems like it starts all over again tomorrow"...(FReep points out that her husband works for Kerry's campaign) // MSNBC's Frank Luntz told a WP chat room that "even the reporters here in Iowa started to laugh" at Dean's "angry tone" tonight. Excerpts from the speech are in heavy rotation on FOX // DU posters say FOX seems befuddled... 12:03:07 AM
"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 Monday, January 19, 2004
Another Round of Media Notes from Iowa
CNN had a Woodruff package wrapping up the evening by 11:40pm // Greenfield's big questions on CNN: Late Surge? Iraq War? Turnout? Behind the Vote? // Not many sightings of the NBC embeds tonight; Becky Diamond was on CNBC at 11:50pm // Hardball will be live from New Hampshire beginning Thursday... 11:51:40 PM
Kurtz: "The Pundits Blow it"
"...Just about everything you heard and read about the Iowa caucuses in November and December was wrong," Howard Kurtz writes on the WP web site tonight. "The Fourth Estate has now gotten Dean wrong twice. Underestimating him in early 2003, overestimating him going into '04." His colleague Terry Neal lists tonight's four big news angles... 11:43:10 PM
What Cable Channel Won The Night?
FOX was first with the numbers; CNN focused on reporting; MSNBC talked a lot and had some exclusives. "I think MSNBC is putting on a good show," this poster said, but a TVHeads member felt that their "lack of resources showed." One TVSpyer felt that each channel did well. FOX's aggressive style will be noted in the coming weeks, I predict... 11:32:23 PM
Kucinich: Pundits Scratching Their Heads
A statement from Kucinich: The media had long ago predicted the winner of the entire process and even the loser of the general election, and tonight's caucuses have the pundits scratching their collective scalps in bewilderment" 11:31:12 PM
AP Analysis: FOX Aggressive, CNN Cautious
David Bauder has an AP wire wrap of the networks' caucus coverage. He says the networks showed "widely different degrees of aggressiveness in characterizing the surprising results." The NEP appeared to be a success. "The system delivered what we expected and we are pleased with how it worked tonight," an ABCNews spokesperson said. 11:02:51 PM
The Pundits Begin Their Punditry
FOX's Major Garrett notes: First appearance of waving American flags at Dean events // DU says that Joe Scarborough was "producing by far the most forceful arguments pro-Dean spin on the panel" // Understatement of the night: On Hannity & Colmes, as Gephardt approaches the podium: "[He is] obviously more subdued than we saw at the Edwards camp, and even Howard Dean camp." // MSNBC cut off Gephardt for a commercial, while FOX and CNN stuck with him... 11:00:13 PM
Random Notes from Des Moines
Declaring victory in second place -- "this is Clinton stuff," Matthews said as Edwards pumped his fist in the air, to the crowd's delight. // CNN graphic during Dean's speech: "Dean, Sharpton only candidate without Washington experience" (yes, it's missing an S) // Instant Internet reaction to Dean's explosive speech is mixed // "Next week, the media starts the destruction of Kerry, then Edwards," one Freeper says... 10:42:08 PM
With "20 white satellite dishes pointing skyward"
CNN seems to be first with most of the candidate interviews // Kerry's press contingent has swelled from 6 to 90 // FOXNews.com describes the scene outside Iowa Democratic HQ: "[The surrounding streets are] jammed with giant television trucks, with about 20 white satellite dishes pointing skyward." 10:29:03 PM
"We were...the target of everybody"
It took less than an hour to answer my question: "Dean Blames Third-Place Finish on Attacks" is the AP headline. "We were pretty much the target of everybody for a long time. And it's hard to sustain that." On CNN, Judy Woodruff: "Several things happened [in the last weeks] that...threw Howard Dean on the defensive..." 10:23:16 PM
Who could have predicted this?
Matthews at 9:52pm: "It's over" // FOX pundits pointed out the "dead heat," "four-way tie" hype last weekend, and Bill Kristol responds: "That's what happens in politics, and that's why a democracy is a great thing."// One DU poster: "Congratulations, corporate media. You're goring of Howard Dean is off to a fine start." 10:01:56 PM
Anatomy of a Breaking Story: Gephardt Drops Out
FOX reported that Gephardt will not fly to NH as planned; Hume suggests he "might" drop out. Two minutes later, MSNBC was first to confirm Gephardt will drop out tomorrow; two minutes after that, CNN repeats the not-flying-to-NH news, but doesn't go as far as MSNBC... 9:50:35 PM
CNN Makes Projection; Dean Comment On Media Scrutiny
It starts to become official: At 9:29pm, CNN Breaking News: "CNN projects Kerry as winner in Iowa caucuses," and places Edwards in second place. At 9:36, Hume followed: "It's going to be no surprise to anybody, but FOX News now projects..." // Larry King points out that Gephardt backed out of a planned interview // Dean on Hardball: "[I have] taken a bunch of hits from my opponents and all of you guys in the last three or four weeks." 9:37:25 PM
My Remote Controls Are Tired...
Buzzword of the night: "Electability" // CNN led the other cablers in live reports from caucus sites, allowing viewers to listen in sometimes // FOX's Chris Wallace continues to present an excellent summary of the polling data // Looking forward: "NH will likely turn this race on its head" --Pat Caddell // Refreshing: MSNBC dropped the scroll in the 9pm hour... 9:31:35 PM
Dean on Larry King: He "looks shellshocked"
"On to New Hampshire," Dean told Larry King, and congratulated Kerry. "Looks shellshocked," one DU poster said. The question becomes: To what extent will Dean's caucus shortcomings be blamed on media scrutiny? 9:09:04 PM
Reporting the Numbers: A Balancing Act
Judy Woodruff pointing out on CNN that the first data is probably from smaller caucus sites -- "that's a good theory," Jeff Greenfield agrees: "Don't take [the data] seriously until we get a broader" look at the numbers. But Chris Matthews is less hesitant: "These numbers are tracking all across the board...It looks very good for John Kerry." For the record, it's Kerry 37%, Dean 18% at 8:56pm -- let's see how it shakes out... 8:56:22 PM
FOX Leads With Data; Larry King Tonight
FOX News continues to lead the other cablers in reporting data -- first entrance polls, now the actual numbers. "We are beginning to get some real results," Brit Hume said at 8:45. CNN more cautious. // Chris Matthews feeling more confident: "John Kerry possibly the winner tonight -- perhaps I can say now, probably the winner tonight--" 8:48pm. // One of the few nights where Larry King still matters: Tonight, Dean, Gephardt, Clark, Lieberman will join him (probably Kerry and Edwards too) // Judy Woodruff says "this is democracy in action..." 8:50:51 PM
The Beginning of Dean's Burial?
"This is really a bad night for Howard Dean" -- Bill Kristol, FOX News, 8:38pm. 8:40:34 PM
Media Notes from Iowa, Part Five
You can hear the surprise in these anchor's voices -- let's see how accurate these entrance polls really are // The four Crossfire co-hosts are split between the Dean and Kerry headquarters // MSNBC's phoner reports from inside a caucus have been compelling // "This is going to go through a number of primaries," Jonathan Alter warned on CNBC. "We're going to have a lot of these surprises"... 8:35:08 PM
Media Notes from Iowa, Part Four
"This could be closest race in history of Iowa caucuses," a CNN graphic said at 8:10pm // FOX modified their twirling logo to add "You Decide 2004" // CNN calling their live shots from caucus sites "the "caucus cam" and letting viewers listen in from time to time // CNBC: Seigenthaler hosting a special edition of The News; snazzy new graphics // "Why the hell do the broadcasters go to Iowa if they're going to work on a set that looks just like the one they have in New York?," Oliver Willis asks... 8:17:26 PM
The Angle: Caucus Attendance
The lead story at this point: caucus attendance. "It is standing room only at this point," a WHO-TV reporter told Matthews (MSNBC called it an exclusive). Wallace and Hume discussed data indicating half the attendees were first-time caucusgoers. "Welcome to the epicenter of what may be a political earthquake," Wolf Blitzer said at 8pm... 8:07:37 PM
Republican Pollster Luntz Focus-Grouping on MSNBC
On MSNBC, Frank Luntz is conducting a focus group with Iowa Democrats. Wait -- why aren't they at caucus? (This Dean commenter points out that Luntz is a Republican pollster.) He will be focus-group-ing in DC tomorrow for the SOTU... 8:07:34 PM
FOX News First to Report Poll Data
FOX News first reported entrance poll data at 8pm, indicating Kerry and Edwards leading; Chris Wallace presented detailed results with graphs and charts. "We want to stress that this...measures initial preferences only," Brit Hume said out front. Wolf Blitzer shared the data at 8:02pm. 8:03:24 PM
Entrance polls: "juggling hand granades in the dark"
Best line of the night thus far: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann at the 'polling desk,' explaining that the networks are polling citizens before they begin the caucus: "This makes polling slightly more dangerous than juggling hand grenades in the dark," he said, but promised data soon. 7:37:56 PM
Kick off, tee off, tip off...
"Caucuses called to order," the chyron read on CNN right at 7:30pm. "Iowa caucuses now underway," the FOX banner read. MSNBC's countdown clock because a "Caucus Clock" with the elapsed time. "It doesnt get much bigger than Iowa tonight," Anderson Cooper said. 360 titled the event "the Iowa hustle." 7:33:14 PM
Comparing Iowa and Iraq
The massive demonstrations in Iraq calling for free elections has provided a perfect contrast today. "As we try to build democracy in Iraq, watch us try it here as home," Chris Matthews said in his intro. Shep Smith transitioned skillfully from Iowa to Iraq in the first five minutes of his FOX Report. "On this day of the iowa caucus, planning for the Iraqi caucus," Eric Shawn said. 7:11:16 PM
MSNBC Coverage Begins; Caucus Countdown Clock
MSNBC began its coverage at 7pm, with Chris Matthews interviewing advisers from each of the 'big four.' A Caucus Countdown clock ticked away on the right side of the screen. "For the first time on national television, we'll have live reports from inside the caucuses," he promised. Dick Gephardt was inteviewed at 7:10... 7:10:29 PM
"Break out the TV dinner trays...lots of fun tonight"
From the Hardball email newsletter tonight: "Of course you've blocked out the evening for wall to wall coverage from Chris and MSNBC...A big treat you won't see on any other network tonight is our special "Pat Squared" segment: Caddell & Buchanan will tag team throughout the night with expert analysis...Break out the TV dinner trays, pop the popcorn and order your favorite dinner...Lots of fun tonight." (I have pretzel, teddy grahams, and diet pepsi.) 6:34:03 PM
Russert and Cavuto Comment on Iowa Politics
Tim Russert describes the change he has seen in caucus politics: "Nothing has been left to the imagination. Everything has been thought through. It's amazing the level of disciplined organization that is now brought to this state." On 'Your World' today, Neil Cavuto said we're done with Iowa: "Iowa, enjoy your time in the sun, because Tuesday, it all ends. All those candidates who wined and dined you, tried to wow you and move you, will be done with you." 6:23:11 PM
Media Notes from Iowa, Part Three
Howard Dean wasn't too happy with his media contingent this morning, CBS News reports // These bloggers don't put much faith into entrance polling // Shephard Smith called Iowa "the center of america's political universe today" // CNN's bus is in New Hampshire... 4:00:09 PM
Unruly Media?: "The cameras surged forward..."
The BBC's Dean correspondent reports: "...The cameras surged forward despite the staff's attempt to create a makeshift rope line. The swarm followed him up steps, with sound crews and camera operators throwing elbows and jockeying for position. One cameraman fell as he tried to back peddle." Gov. Vilsack said: "If the national media spent a little more time in Iowa, maybe they would learn to be more polite and more respectful." 2:52:36 PM
Media Notes from Iowa, Part Two
On CNN, Inside Politics expands to 90 minutes today // Crossfire hosts Begala and Novak yell at eachother for a living, but they sat together in church yesterday // Another MSNBC scoop thanks to the embeds: "Kucinich and Edwards have struck a deal of support" // The international media in Iowa... 2:51:10 PM
Quote of the day
Kurtz's Media Notes Extra is an important read today: "I don't know who will win tonight in Iowa. You don't know who will win tonight in Iowa. The hordes of reporters criss-crossing the state don't know who will win tonight in Iowa. But that hasn't stopped them from deluging us with polls, punditry and prognostication. And once the results are in, look out! We'll be hearing who's the new front-runner, who's toast and who's on life support. Which is, on its face, ridiculous." 1:39:04 PM
National Election Poll: Survey Details
Tonight's entrance polling will take place at about 50 caucus sites. Pollers will ask around 15 questions, including what issues matter most in choosing a candidate (war, healthcare, economy, etc) and whether or not the participant has attended previous caucuses. A preference poll will be taken in 100 sites when the first groups form.The survey is being conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International... 1:28:09 PM
"Quadrennial pilgrimage" of the media elite
Chicago Tribune: "The quadrennial pilgrimage of the nation's media elite to the state was on full display last weekend at 801, a steakhouse in downtown Des Moines. The CNN table, for instance, featured all the usual suspects, including Judy Woodruff, Robert Novak, Al Hunt and other commentators." Joe Trippi and John Lapp dined with the group. Here's the story. 1:20:05 PM
The Media 'Players' This Election Cycle
Verne Gay has a must-read in Newsday today. He judges "the players who will influence coverage for the 2004 campaign." Among those on the list: Tim Russert, Sean Hannity, Tom Brokaw, Carl Cameron, Tucker Carlson, and off-airs/embeds. Great story... 12:38:40 PM
Real News Versus Wacko Jacko
Rantingprofs: "Iowa, New Hampshire, the State of the Union, (dare we hope for coverage of Bremer's meeting with the UN?): here's the Question of the Day for today and tomorrow -- will cable get excited enough about real news to ignore Michael Jackson for a day or two?" Perhaps, but MSNBC did a segment about M.J. in the 11am hour... 12:31:34 PM
It's so colorful
Yes, I wrapped the site in the flag today, and added space for comments. It's a special edition of the site today, to monitor media coverage of the Iowa caucus. 11:04:15 AM
"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 |
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