Today's New York Times has three stories at the top of the Web having to do with the announcement that Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Take a look at them here, here and here.
Do you think those stories are legitimate? How would you cover the issue of whether the McCain campaign had thoroughly examined Palin's background before she was chosen to be the Republican VP nominee?
14 comments:
Covering Sarah Palin's family is certainly legitimate. Much of a person's character and values is reflected on them through their family and friends.
I would cover anything and everything of value the public might wish to know about Sarah Palin. This isn't like running for mayor or something, this is for Vice President. Her history in the Independent Party, her belief in teaching creationism, her "book banning phase", and her pregnant teen are all factors that affect public perception. People need to know WHO this person is- not just their political history.
I completely agree with Devin concerning legitimate coverage over Palin's family and history. This is a person whom the mass majority of Americans know nothing about and we need to be able to create an image of who this woman really is. The position she is running for is essentially the second highest power seat in the US- I definitely want to know everything about the person sitting in that chair.
side note: I noticed in the three articles that Sarah Palin was 'Ms' Palin and not 'Mrs' Palin. Doesn't that imply that she's not currently married?
~Wil MacAllister
I agree with both Devin and Will on covering Governor Palin's private life. This is a woman who up until last week was virtually unknown outside the state of Alaska. I think it is important for us to know more about her, as she is running for vice president. Readers have a right to know about the person who in about a half-year could potentially be Senator McCain's right hand woman.
-Cole M.
I agree with the above posts as well. However, I think that the accusations brought against Senator McCain regarding him not carefully choosing his Vice President cannot be completely justified. Something as important as Vice President of the United States is not a trivial matter. Senator McCain was probably very aware of Palin's home issues. I might even go far to say that he is using these problems as a pitch in his campaign. A journalist's job is to get the story out there, to sell it, especially one as crucial as this. Even if the facts had not been completely validated, the story was still there to be written about. When such big news happens, sometimes the facts need to come later.
John McCain was certainly aware of his choice, and I'm sure he must have had something in mind when he chose Palin. I don't doubt he's using her personal issues in an attempt to sway lower- and middle-class voters. If anything he's certainly drawn attention to himself.
The first story on Poynter today linked to an article in Us Magazine that ripped on Ms. Palin (and they did use Ms.). A link at the bottom of the article reads "[why] Bristol's high school sweet Levi Johnston may not be ready for fatherhood." Taking it that far is completely uncalled for.
I feel that coverage like this is what makes the presidential election process more of a joke than anything. Every time the press covers something other than stories that will tell the public whether the nominee will be a good candidate or not (I feel this story does not do this) they are making a mockery of the election process.
Each and every little cut the press throws at the other party I view as more or less childish. Take for example the line that implies Ms. Palin would be a bad nominee because her husband received a DUI 22 years ago. If you apply some common sense to this you will know that he was in his early 20s, ie. somewhere around the latter years of college. I may be wrong but didn't George W. get a DUI when he was at Yale?
Well, I also think that the press has a legitimate right to investigate the Palin family. Turning the whole ordeal into tabloid journalism is a different matter. Superficially, people would vote on the whole pregnancy fact. But isn't it the duty of the reporter to inform people on the actual issues. Yes, her daughter's pregnant-move on.
I was certainly suprised at McCain's sudden choice of running mate for I had expected someone a little more common. However I agree with his choice and what they stand for BUT...as everyone else has said, it would be good if a more thourough search was done on Mrs. Palin. After all she could be our next VP.
Although the press covering Sarah Palin's personal life is legitimate, I hope that a DUI that happened over two decades ago and the actions of a seventeen-year-old do not overshadow what American's should really be looking at; if she is qualified or not to become vice president of our country.
I feel that as a journalist, when writing a story like this, it would be important to show a variation of opinions that people have, and not be just one-sided. That way a reader can see a variety and decide for themselves if they would support Sarah Palin or not.
The news media's job is to ask tough questions. Looking closely at Sarah Palin is legitimate and is, in fact, the media's role in a free society. That doesn't mean all of it is handled responsibly. For example, the New York Post printed excerpts from Bristol Palin's boyfriend's MySpace page before it was shut down. (If you publish information on the net it's public.) Among other things the young man said was this: "I don't want kids."
Fair game?
It is of my understanding that when you pry into any one's past you will inevitably find discrepancy. Does this make it right? Well, that is for you to decide and for us to report. This country, built upon the Constitution, enables us to have the right to know of her daughter's pregnancy; therefore, I agree with most of what was said. However, I do not believe this makes Sarah Palin a poor choice for VP. She is her own entity. Although because they do share the same last name they will receive coverage- which is good because the common people need to be informed.
I believe that reporters have every right to cover Palin's family. I agree with Devin that many of one's character and values are reflected in family and friends.
As long as the story doesn't turn into something out of a tabloid, and is still facts, not opinion, then go ahead and report.
The Constitution doesn't give us the right to know about matters outside the workings of government. The media have a responsibility to tell the public about her performance as governor, or anything in her personal life that affects her performance in that office. Does the public have a right to know about her daughter's pregnancy? No. But it would have been impossible to conceal that, which is undoubtedly one reason the family announced it. Should the media report more about it, now that it has been confirmed? That's the question they've wrestled with. In a free society you'll always have a variety of answers to that question.
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