Who's News? A New Model for Media Coverage of Campaigns

Political debate in an election season is artificially constrained by the media's focus on electability as the primary determinant of news coverage. What gets lost under this criterion is the wealth of ideas that lesser known candidates can bring to the debate. This article argues that political coverage by the mainstream media should be more responsible in its efforts to cultivate public discourse by redefining the standards for who gets covered and challenging the prevailing notions of electability. It also argues for a view of campaign news that is less driven by events and that gives voters more information about candidates' ideas on key issues of the day.