No Honeymoon for Obama

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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

I also found the news coverage of this election disgraceful and so biased it was pathetic. There was no objectivity or proper dissemination of information at all, just a steady and nauseating stream of giddy and unfounded opinions. I am a conservative and I just hope for the sake of this country that Mr Obama succeeds. I wish all the people in the US who seem to find it such a despicable place to live would go elsewhere. Like Ms. Stephens said before me, you elected him, lets just hope you knew what you were doing.

J.Jackson of NY 12:00PM November 19, 2008

I love your question. A hyperactive and varied media has generated the most energized electorate ever. No overload. Those who wish have remained blissfully unaware without exerting themselves. And don't worry about making adjustments for the Obama administration. The candidate was able to brilliantly utilize all media at his disposal and his support team is already at work taking it to the next level. So go ahead Brian; investigate, analyze and report at full volume. History will take care of the rest.

Mary Margaret of ID 6:17PM November 18, 2008

Perhaps it is not necessarily the overload of facts that should be worrisome, but rather the abundance of opinions. In a society where information is easily accessible and up-to-date, people don't tend to be well-informed of current issues. It doesn't even have to be a direct presentation of opinion, just showing one side of an issue, as the media tends to do, is a central idea of propaganda, a tool used to persuade people towards one side. Sure, people are presented both sides of an argument, but they tend to be biased. People are vulnerable to opinions in this form simply because people don't tend to analyze an issue completely, or just don't feel capable of contradicting "experts".
As a resident of California, I noticed how the media constantly presented propaganda siding with Obama, while presenting some which disadvantaged McCain. If anyone saw the news in conservative states, they would notice the propaganda existent for McCain.
As such, people rely too much on the media and not enough on true experts for crucial information about current issues.I had read your magazine over the past year and enjoyed the fact that it didn't always take a side, or at least presented both sides equally. I hope all the media reaches an equilibrium in "middle" politics, especially now at a time when the media are major figures in political occurrences.
Obama has received a much deserved break, after doing a magnificent job with the elections, for soon, all the country's problems will be on his back, and he will have to prove that he will remain true to his word on change. I tend to lean towards the left, just as Obama, so I wish him the best on January 20, when his true challenge will begin.

Pedro Aguilar of CA 1:09AM November 18, 2008

It is way too late for the media to play any role in evaluating Obama or his Administration.Too much credibility was lost for far too long in failing to properly vet the man and attacking anyone who caused even the slightest problem for his campaign.viz Joe the Plumber. It is extremely naive to think that now, the media can reacquire its virginity and perform its function.The Obama Movement will expect complete loyalty and the rest of us have no confidence in the media at all.In due course, the national self delusion will pass and it will become apparent to all but the truly insulated from reality that, far from being a messianic figure, the President-elect is an undistinguished,garden variety machine pol steeped in the sophomoric lore of campus Marxism and nurtured to maturity in the cesspool of the Chicago political tradition. Too bad all around

Karen of IL 11:50AM November 17, 2008

hey friend

feliciq of NY 8:22AM November 17, 2008

Obama will get a short honeymoon for a while. People want the first Black President to do well. However the financial situation means an end to most of his campaign promises.Sooner or later it will get down to personal economic conditions. He way over promised and ran on a ticket that promise health care access for all, which most people incorrectly thought meant universal free health care. They will be sadly disappointed. The Green idea of saving Detroit is dead. The Cap and Trade policy will kill an already crushed industrial base.Raise Taxes in a deep recession? You cannot forgive mortgages because one's man debt is anther's asset. When you forgive mortgages you lower the value of assets.
Unfortunately for Obama he faces an impossible task. We are due for a long correction for the excesses of both parties.I suspect a deep recession. It's back to basics for our economy. Deflation or hyper inflation are his two options. Bummer!

QAwagstaff of CA 11:38PM November 16, 2008

YES, there may be an overload of news out there, however the 'mainstream' media has not reported objectively for such a long time that overload or not it is an outlet for most that do not trust the media.
I took the habit for reading US NEWS... when I was a youngster from my very conservative Father forty years ago. Although very independent minded I rather read you that any of the mouthpieces for the Dems'.
Although I did not take the bait from Mr. Obama's sweet warm fuzzie promises, for the sake of this country I truly wish him well. How he chooses a cabinet will tell us more about how smart he really is. The Dems' liberal-socialist partisanship along with the chaos that Bush & cronies created is going to be a very difficult obstacle to overcome. Both parties are equally at fault and Mr. Obama will need all the help he can muster to get this country back on its feet.
YES, we need all the sources of news we can get so we don't get blind sided if the underhanded politics continue in Washington and Wall Street.

Nick Nichols of CA 9:33PM November 16, 2008