Shortfalls of Political Reporting

By Robert Reich, Robert Reich’s Facebook

06 September 15

olitical reporters know only three stories: (1) who’s up and who’s down, (2) how much money candidates have raised, (3) which candidates have made what gaffes, and (4) who’s attacking whom. They’re not trained to report on what the candidates actually say, or the economic and social realities that are fueling what they say and why their candidacies are catching on (or not).

Yet even given these realities, I continue to be surprised at how little of what’s reported about Bernie mentions widening inequality, flat wages, CEO pay, the depredations of Wall Street, and the flooding of our democracy with money from big corporations and the wealthy. Indeed, I’m appalled at how little Bernie’s campaign is being covered at all.

Today, after delivering a major policy address calling for an investment of $1 trillion over 5 years to modernize our country’s physical infrastructure, thereby creating and maintaining at least 13 million good-paying jobs while making our country more productive, Bernie happened to mention to a reporter that the Clinton campaign is getting nervous about his rising poll numbers. His comment about Clinton was all that was reported.

Bernie’s surge has nothing whatever to do with Hillary’s campaign; and her campaign’s supposed “nervousness” is completely irrelevant to Bernie’s message or the enthusiasm it’s garnering.

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