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Why The Media Needs To Do A Better Job

Flickr Creative Commons, danxoneil

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2011-28-2012.mp3

What didn't get covered as a full-blown campaign issue in 2012?

Well, let's see. Climate change. Poverty. Gun control. Civil Liberties. Drone strikes. Housing. The War on Drugs. You may have your own list. 
 
The campaign -- and media coverage of the campaign -- consisted of a lot of attacks by one candidate against the other, a lot of talk about the budget and the economy, and jobs and ... not much else. 
 
There are multiple valid explanations. The assumed audience for politics in 2012 may not have cared that much about those other things. But that brings up a chicken/egg question.  If the media had offered a lot of vivid and insightful coverage of poverty and climate change, would people have known to care about them? Isn't part of the mission of the press to raise issues? 
 
You can join the conversation. E-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.

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