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Voters will benefit by 'NewsHour' coverage
Wednesday, January 5, 2000
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD
Because television plays such an important role in how voters perceive or understand political candidates, it is refreshing indeed to learn the "The NewsHour" with Jim Lehrer will offer real coverage of next year's presidential campaign.
Real in this context means giving time to the candidates to discuss issues at some length, as contrasted with the standard 30-second sound bite that is the shallow staple of network TV news.
If that reads like a put-down, it is.
The premier public affairs show of the Public Broadcasting System, "The NewsHour" will devote substantial chunks of its regular nightly broadcast to extended excerpts of candidates' stump speeches. And it will offer candidates 90-second spots to deliver messages, with accompanying commentary by "NewsHour" regulars Paul Gigot and Mark Shields.
Gigot, a political writer for The Wall Street Journal, typically offers commentary from a conservative and Republican point of view. Shields, an independent columnist -- who appears regularly in the Post-Intelligencer -- offers a liberal and Democratic perspective. Their participation will enable viewers the chance to read between the lines of the candidates' 90-second statements.
Another important wrinkle to "NewsHour" offerings will come next fall when it will broadcast 30-minute interviews with the major presidential contenders.
This beefed-up coverage is the result of PBS asking its viewers what they want. "I've been stunned at the response," remarked Lehrer, who was moderator for the two nationally telecast presidential debates in 1996 between Republican challenger Bob Dole and incumbent Democrat Bill Clinton. "People really want us to go to the issues."
It is reassuring that thousands of people want and will view high-quality broadcast coverage.
During the early primaries, "The NewsHour" will begin this extended coverage in its nightly program, which airs here on KCTS Channel 9 at 6 p.m. This is of particular importance because Washington will stage a presidential primary Feb. 29.
That allows time for the other major networks to make plans to emulate the coverage planned by PBS. It's something they ought to do.
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