Tell us: How should BlogHer blog the Republican and Democratic political conventions?

An informed electorate depends on a bias-free press.  Well, that's impossible, isn't it.  How can we expect any human to be free of bias.  Okay, let me try that again. 

An informed electorate depends on an agenda-neutral press.  Ah, that's better. 

What's an agenda-neutral press, you ask?  It's the reporter who acknowledges his or her bias but works to ensure that bias doesn't come into play in the reporting.  It's the reporter whose agenda is to be the eyes and ears of the public, rather than the star of his or her own show.  It's the reporter who does not conflate opinion with fact, hard news with soft.  It's the reporter who doesn't believe his or her credentials are more than just a pass to the hall.  When I find that reporter, I pay attention.  When I don't, I hit the off button or, in this case, delete. I'm not a fan of advocacy journalism; to me, it's just more noise.

By Jane

http://byjane.blogspot.com

http://midlifebloggers.com 

I'd just like there to be some semblance of equality (whether that means amount of coverage, number of posts, or type of coverage) and honest analysis.  In the first days of the DNC, it already appears as though BlogHer is completely pandering to the Democrats (or Momocrats, as the case may be) and I am hoping and expecting, to a certain extent, the same amount of positive coverage devoted to the RNC.  We may be outnumbered on this particular forum, but Republicans and conservatives are people too, with valid opinions and thoughtful intelligence.  My two cents:  take 'em or leave 'em.

The GOP base is not even warming up to mccain (of course, i could be wrong) and even though it's still early in the game, this just proves to show how we see our candidates to-date. i know i will get burned for this, but i think mccain is a warmonger. i get the impression that he doesn't care to what happens to our troops in the middle east and the other parts of the world. Can’t we just all get along? i think it is time for a purification; i think it is time for a change; i think it is time for obama time. Now that the candidates are set for the US Presidential Election, Barack Obama and John McCain are beginning to set the tone for their campaign in clash/politics ( http://clashorama.com/index.php?id=164 )

I'm not one of the CE's going to Denver, but I have covered politics for BlogHer. I've always believed that my job was to report the truth and offer as much insight as I can about the the aspects of the event that might interest readers. I suppose it's an individual matter, which is fine, as long as there is transparency.

I'm looking forward to the coverage, which will be wonderful, I'm sure. 

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|Professor Kim ( http://professorkim.blogspot.com/ )|

This is from a July 28, 2008 study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University:

MEDIA BASH BARACK (NOT A TYPO)

Study Finds Obama Faring Worse On TV News Than McCain

Barack Obama is getting more negative coverage than John
McCain on TV network evening news shows, reversing Obama’s lead in good press
during the primaries, according to a new study by Center for Media and Public
Affairs (CMPA).  The study also finds
that a majority of both candidates’ coverage is unfavorable for the first time
this year.  According to CMPA President
Dr. S. Robert Lichter, “Obama replaced McCain as the media’s favorite candidate
after New Hampshire.  But now the networks are voting no on both
candidates.”

The whole study is available here ( http://www.cmpa.com/Studies/Election08/election%20... ). 

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|Professor Kim ( http://professorkim.blogspot.com/ )|

I'd like to see the side of the conventions we never see- how a delegate really lives through one of these events. Are these real people or are they mucky-mucks in each party? How's the food? Using a restroom? Getting any sleep? What are the unseen, but earnest moments of a nomination convention? I imagine there is an enormous amount of waiting, what do they do while they wait?

We're all aware of the issues and each nominee's stance on them. Give me a fresh, on the floor report. 

This is Parker Barrile, Co-Founder & CEO of Predictify. As Ms. McReynolds noted above, Predictify could be a useful tool for BlogHer and/or individual blogs in the network, especially during the conventions and election season.

Our platform is easy to customize and deploy, and we'd love to work with you. If you're interested, send us a note at bizdev at predictify.com and we can provide more info.

If BlogHer's intention is to "report" on the conventions then the person or persons covering them should be completely unbiased in their reports. Saying that, I truly believe that sending anyone who is/has been very vocal in their support for one candidate or another should not be the person reporting.

If however, BlogHers intention is to report as one commentor asked from the "cocktail party view". Then it doesn't matter who to send because it will have no affect on anyone's voting position.

If it is not possible to send an unbiased person to either conv then it would be nice to have at least 3 points of view. One from each party and one from a non-partisan person.

As a blogger. See you there!

P.S. I'd love to go to the Dem convention too, but they haven't issued me an invitation:) 

Live blogging (e.g. CoverItLive ( http://www.coveritlive.com )) gives BlogHer an opportunity to conduct informal polls and engage readers in a live dialog with interviewees.  Readers could also vote on interview topics.  As a form of interactive media, blogging the conferences offers readers incentive to engage -- and share their opinions on their own blogs, defibrilating the apathetic. 

Conversely, "The Washington Post ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/ ) has partnered with Predictify ( http://www.predictify.com/ ), an online polling service, to create a 'Prediction Center' that allows
readers to vote on possible outcomes for selected stories. Users will be able to leave their predictions and discuss their beliefs on an integrated comment thread, with the most accurate participants appearing on a leaderboard," according to TechCrunch. Not a bad idea in the case of BlogHer.

A.M. McReynolds

although I don't believe in the party system--- I'm pretty tired of being pegged as a Liberal because of gender.

I agree to send equal parts of each "leaning"  -- I don't believe in "unbiased" reporting.  That's like "dead breathing" to me.... : )

What I think we should hear about?  Something that might affect our daily lives....if possible...well, I guess that's a long shot.

 In any case - can we have some FUN with it maybe??  The political peeps tend to get WAAAAY to serious 'bout this stuff.  I'd like to hear the view from the cocktail lounge myself.  Life is TOO short.  : )

k - i'll shut up now....

I guess the answer given is dependent on how you view BlogHer's role, Lisa.

Do you view the organisation's role as one of reporting? If so, by all means, bias should be left at the door.

If it is meant to be cutting edge blogging, send both conservatives and liberals (equal measure) to give their respective takes on each convention, and then let the viewpoints go where they may.  

nelle ( http://refractivethoughts.org/ )

&

llhaesa ( http://llhaesa.org/ )

How great would it be to have swing voters represented at both conventions. For example, I've ready surprisingly appealing stuff about the McCain health care plan - it seems like he's the only person to break the employer dependency thing there and if I were a single issue voter on health care for independents, that might push me his direction. (Freaky unlikey, but still.) I'd really like to see coverage that, rather than fawns over the candidate, tackles hard core specifics. Less politics, more policy.  Focus, focus, focus. 

Nerd's Eye View ( http://www.nerdseyeview.com )

"LobbyDelegtes.com is a great tool, I have contacted all my State Delegates for free through email, I have come accross another tool from the same company www.statedemocracy.org ( http://www.statedemocracy.org ) its also free and I can contact my lawmakers, apply for an absentee ballot & voter registration and on election day I can locate my polling places. Great tool.... use it"

I ask for fair and unbiased reporting. I am very tired already of the democratic bias, so please let John McCain and the Republicans have their say.  Come on ladies, we're more fair than that type of reporting!

We could take a look the Democratic/Republican party platforms and then ask questions based on the platform to delegates on the floor. Specifically on health care, the budget and education. It could be a reality check between what is stated and what is desired by the delegates.

I do feel there has been a media imbalance between the coverage of McCain vs Obama, so for the Republican convention I'd want to hear from folks who can identify reasons why I should give this guy a fair evaluation.

For the Democratic delegates I'd want them to give me specifics on what the Democratic party hopes to achieve if Obama is elected.

Gena - Out On The Stoop ( http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com )

As a liberal person I have repeated asked for a diversity of conservative viewpoints.There is not just the version of conservatism that I see promoted on TV.

I'm a proud Moonbat but this country will be doomed if we do not start exchanging accurate information across party lines.

So whoever gets to go to the Republican shindig would have to make like Lois Lane and get the true scoop.

Gena - Out On The Stoop ( http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com )

Here's the article I wrote about it for OpEd News:  http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-come-our-favo...

Basically, not only did I get turned down for credentials for the conventions by the Congressional Press Gallery but most Progressive online news services were turned down too.  The Big Tent is okay but it's insulting to not be allowed in with the mainstream media -- the ones who promoted the WMD lies, supported the deregulation that caused the housing crisis, etc.

I wish I had known about your blogging convention. My son just wrote me about it.  I would have gone.  I've written over 400 articles for OpEd News, and 600 articles for my own blog (http://jpstillwater.blogspot.com ( http://jpstillwater.blogspot.com/ )), been to Iraq three times as a journalsit and have still yet to make one single penny from all my blogging work.  Humph.

Please do not send people to the GOP convention who dislike Republicans.  In one very thoughtfully started blog on this site, it wound up a "McShame" dish just eliminating any possible additional discussion.

I get that younger voters tend to like Obama, and so do younger bloggers.  Keep it fair and I'd love to read the coverage. 

Gena--I really like what you say.  I want not just specifics, but projected outcomes.  As an example, Obama supports raising the cap on Social Security taxes.  As you know, employers match SS taxes, that is, a wage earner pays half and an employer pays half.  Some seventy percent of new jobs in this country are created by small business.  Would an increase in the SS cap be more or less likely to hurt small business? What would it do to hiring plans? 

Similarly, the cut in capital gains under Kennedy and Reagan increased tax revenues to the govenment. That's a fact, not an opinion. Obama plans to increase the capital gains tax.  If experience shows that decreasing capital gains helps increase government revenues, then what is the justification for increasing it?

In another example, the current corporate averaged tax rate is 35 percent on total revenues, the second highest in the world.  (Only Japan's is higher.)  If governments around the world, including France and Germany are reducing corporate taxes and enjoying higher prosperity, then what is the justification for proposing higher corporate taxes? 

In my opinion, our highest priority is getting this country back on the road to prosperity.  On the one hand, we have a candidate who admits he knows little about the economy.  On the other hand, we have a candidate who, smart as he is, appears to have bought into class warfare and economic redistribution ideals without regard for its impact on our ability to generate the income that can actually be put to solving social ills.

Ask the hard questions.  Get hard answers.

Meanwhile, I'm scared. 

I was lucky enough to get an invitation to the Big Tent ( http://www.bigtentdenver.org/index.cfm ) sponsored by ProgressNow, Digg, and Google.  I received an invitiation because I am a female, swing state blogger of note.  This year, Nevada has the potential to send an all female delegation to the House! Wouldn't it be great if BlogHer could help sponsor a long-time member who is covering the event as an independent citizen jounalist? With no other resources?  At this point, I have no shame ;-)

If any individuals want to chipin, go to www.renodiscontent.com ( http://www.renodiscontent.com ) and look for the ChipIn widget on my sidebar. 

Thanks for your support.  

Yours, Tracy Viselli (a.k.a. Myrna the Minx)

My Company

Reno Fabulous Media: www.renofabulousmedia.com ( http://www.renofabulousmedia.com )
My Main Blog
Reno and Its Discontents: www.renodiscontent.com ( http://www.renodiscontent.com )