The Arizona Daily Star opts for stenography in CD 8 election coverage

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I realize that the Arizona Daily Star's political reporter Rhonda Bodfield recently left the paper and other reporters have been reassigned to cover the special election for Congress in CD 8, but really, is this the best the Star can do?

The Arizona Daily Star, at least since it has been owned by Lee Enterprises, has engaged in the practice frequently referred to as "fair and balanced" reporting. If the Star reports on a Democrat, the report will include a quotation from a Republican for "balance." And if the Star reports on a Republican, the report will include a quotation from a Democrat for "balance."

At least that's what the Star used to do until its coverage of the CD 8 special election for Congress. Now there is no "balance," only stenography. And that's hardly "fair."

As for fact checking, Fuhgettaboutit! The Star abandoned fact checking years ago.

Here is just an example of what I am talking about. I will give you the "Cliff Notes" version. Where GOP contenders in CD8 stand on 4 key issues:

In an effort to provide voters with more information about the GOP contenders, we've asked them each four questions on these topics.

They had to answer the questions in 50 words or less.

Q1: On jobs and the economy: Name at least two concrete steps you would take to jump-start the economy and create more jobs in Arizona?

Antenori: Repeal "Obamacare," reduce government regulations!

Kelly: Lower taxes, reduce government regulations! Drill, baby, drill!

McSally: Simplify the tax code, reduce government regulations!

Sitton: I have a 10-point plan I can't explain "in 50 words or less." Renew our commitment to free enterprise, reduce government regulations!

 

Q2: On border security: Considering many believe we must secure the border before engaging in immigration reform discussions, how do you propose we measure whether the border is "secure?"

Antenori: When a fence or sensor covers the entire southern border, and enough Border Patrol agents to rapidly respond to any incursion and apprehend illegal border crossers. (Just like the DMZ in Korea!)

Kelly: Complete the double-layer border fence and hire more Border Patrol agents. (And a flaming moat with asbestos alligators!)

McSally: We need an integrated intelligence-driven strategy for securing our borders to thwart this national security threat and its root causes. (Because I was recently a professor of national security studies at the George C. Marshall Center – I stick to what I know).

Sitton: Our border must be better secured. It is a national security imperative. The number of illegal immigrant apprehensions is one measure of the problem. Equally important, however, is drug seizures, border-related private property crime, home invasions and environmental degradation. (Now we know that Sitton does not read the Star, because it has recently reported substantial declines in all of these areas of concern).

Q3: On Social Security: What do you suggest we do to ensure future generations get their Social Security benefits?

Antenori: First, prevent Congress from raiding Social Security and further depleting the fund. Then, increase the number of oil, gas, and mineral leases with a portion of the fee going to Social Security. (So a new revenue source for Social Security, Frank? What would Grover Norquist say?)

Kelly: Grow the economy to provide more revenue. Protect the current system by no longer raiding the trust fund for unrelated programs. Allow younger workers the choice of placing a portion of their contributions into a personal account. (Privatize it!)

McSally: We must keep the promises we've made to seniors and veterans. We need to look at gradually increasing the retirement age for younger workers and giving individuals more options to invest part of their benefits for higher returns. (Privatize it!)

Sitton: We must keep our commitment to seniors, assuring they get the benefits they have planned on. Reform includes modernizing [i.e., raising] the retirement age and offering younger workers optional personal accounts for a portion of their money. (Privatize it!)

Q4: On the budget: When it comes to cutting the budget, name at least two federal agencies you consider untouchable, and why.

All government agencies should receive budget scrutiny and justify their appropriations… (except the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies).

Kelly: There are no agencies in the federal government that should not be reviewed for cost savings. (I reject the premise of your stupid question!)

McSally: None. [A]s a retired colonel, I know that even the Department of Defense can gain efficiency without sacrificing security. (I reject the premise of your stupid question!)

Sitton: Nothing in our national budget is untouchable. Waste, fraud, abuse and redundancy exist throughout. Every expenditure must be justified annually. (I reject the premise of your stupid question!)

The problem with this kind of "reporting" is that it is simply stenography: here are the questions the Star asked, and the candidates responses. There is no fact checking and no challenging the candidates' substantive knowledge on any policy issue. Their responses are the kind of 'talking points" the candidates post on their campaign web sites.

I have poked fun at the candidate responses to emphasize that what the GOP candidates are selling us are empty platitudes and bumper sticker slogans for policy. There is no demonstrable knowledge or understanding of complex policy issues in their responses. This could be the fault of the Star's Q&A format. The candidates appear to be taking their responses right out of their GOPAC candidate training handbook. GOP talking points guru Frank Luntz taught his students well.

If the Arizona Daily Star is simply going to do stenography for the GOP candidates, then I expect the same "fair and balanced" treatment for the Democratic candidate, Ron Barber, and the Green candidate for that matter. A real newspaper with real reporting is simply too much to expect.

UPDATE: The Star's stenography extends to the GOP CD 8 debate coverage as well. See today's report, 4 Republicans agree: 'Obamacare' must go.

Can you find the paragraph(s) where the reporter asked substantive questions of the candidates post-debate?

Can you find the paragraph where the reporter obtained a statement from the Ron Barber campaign?

Aha! Trick questions — there are none. Apparently this no longer part of the curriculum in Journalism 101.