Editor's Note

No Honeymoon for Obama

By

November 11, 2008 RSS Feed Print
  • Comment (26)

Related Articles

An Obama supporter holds a "Yes We Did" sign.

An Obama supporter holds a "Yes We Did" sign.

Well, it's over. And it's just starting. Historic election! First black president! Lots of new, energized voters. A world awash in good feelings. OK, fine, but what have you done for me today?

Short attention spans are an occupational hazard in the news business, but I think the disease is catching. Now anyone can be in the news business, as we saw over the long, long campaign season. Political junkies and the merely curious onlooker can access the sort of information online that only the most sophisticated political pros and journalists were getting just a few years ago. Polling data, video clips, speech transcripts, news analysis from every corner of the dial: Everyone is now an expert. And everyone is eager for that next headline. Which is too bad, because we're losing some of the necessary rhythms of the political cycle. Call me old school, but I think it's good for the country to take a deep breath and a few weeks away from the political furnace now and then. But that's not going to happen.

Barack Obama will be the first American president burdened by this national hyperactivity disorder. As we said on the cover: He faces two wars, a collapsing economy, an anxious nation—and he isn't even president yet (Inauguration Day is January 20). He will get little or no honeymoon during which voters are content to sit back and see what unfolds. The demand for action, whether real or perceived, will be overwhelming. And for all the kindness that parts of the media showed Obama during the campaign, don't think they won't turn on him if he stumbles. The beast must be fed.

In recent years, only Ronald Reagan came into office facing similar immediate challenges—the Iranian hostage crisis, a belligerent Soviet Union and a sclerotic economy. Of course, with CNN only a months-old experiment and the Internet a distant dream, the scrutiny was far more forgiving. Reagan took his time assembling a capable team and making quiet plans to launch a strong presidency. And the hostages were released the day of his inauguration. It's hard to imagine Obama will have such a luxury of time, even though he will need it.

I'm interested in your thoughts on the prospects for President Obama and the role the media should play. Are we damaging our democracy with information overload? Is there a way to turn down the volume? Or are we just a better-informed nation that has to endure some of the excesses? E-mail me at editor@usnews.com or post a comment below.

—Brian Kelly

Tags:
media,
Barack Obama

Reader Comments Read all comments (26)

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

I have never felt so uneasy about the stuff you guy are wqriting as I did during this campaign. What really bothers me is the way interviews are being conducted. Example: Charlie Gibson and his interview with Sarah Pahlan. He in sisted in trying to "pin" her down on the issues instead of allowing her to inform us on her position.It was not good Jouralism in my view. I finally had to switch channels I was upset. You people seem to wnt to involve yourself in the news reporiting rather than just giving us the details on all the subjects that are being reported. The reporters feel compelled to interrupt the person they are interviewing. Your Editors note on The NoHoneymoon for Obama was well written. Thanks. I have been a subscriber to your magazine for about 50 years. I feel the press is generally liberal and the news comes out that way. I fell that John Mcain did not have a chance based on the bias of the medea and the volumse of material being written about Obama. He was dead before he sterted. I am still looking for a detail report on Obamas Natioal health Care plan thate he talks about. Several writers have repoted bits and piececx but with very little detail.There is an overload in the press and I guess there is no way of slowing it down. The media seems compelled to run off at the mouth on every little detail and voice their oppinion. CNN just lods the air with all ovtheir opinions and reporting and this is being sent aeound the world. Very frustating.

thomas H. Kavanaugh of WI 3:21PM November 28, 2008

In answer to your question about are we in information overload, I believe we have too much opinion acting as fact and not enough digging for facts. Usually the magazines leave me with answers to my questions, but the tv media doesn't know how to ask questions. The anchor/interviewer will ask a question then expect the real expert to just say "yes". Maybe with a little behind the scenes work they could make a good interview. Try to teach the experts how to make their point in a short answer.

Also, while I need more information in some areas, why doesn't the tv use so many pictures that they would be useless on XM radio. Background maps like you add to your articles would help.

Do you have a way to solicit questions and ideas for news articles from your public?

Linda Emerson of PA 10:13AM November 20, 2008

Many of the comments missed your primary question, which really isn't about Obama at all; it's about the age we live in where information about any topic is more readily available than at any other time in history. Does this instant availability of information make us intrinsicly more intelligent and help us make better decisions? Does the equalizing of all information cause us to forget that informtion is of varying value and that some things are more important than others? Is there value in resting from the relentless flow of information so that we distinquish between that which has lasting value and that which is transitory? Is there value in resting from the relentless flow so that we have time to ponder? My opinion is that t.s. elliot asked the right questions: "Where is the knowledge that is lost in information? Where is the wisdom that is lost in knowledge?"

Candy Hunt of AZ 12:20PM November 19, 2008

Editor's Note

Brian Kelly was named editor of U.S.News & World Report in April 2007, nine years after joining the magazine. With more than 30 years of journalism experience, including covering Capitol Hill, politics, and the presidency both as a beat reporter and as an editor, Kelly is one of the nation’s most experienced magazine editors in steering national and international news content.

advertisement

Cartoons

advertisement