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Cameras off, blogs on

4 comments on Cameras off, blogs on

Cameras off, blogs on
: Dan Rather says network coverage of political conventions will end. True. They’ve been made into such big events they’re nonevents.

And once that happens, once conventions stop being staged exclusively for TV, I’ll bet that blogs and such — from big media and citizens and delegates and campaigns — will take a lead in coverage just because they’re intimate and current and personal and don’t have cameras and lights and thus they will get the tidbits that the big boys can’t get anymore. We’ll be back to the days of the smoke-filled rooms (well, smoke-free smoke-filled rooms) if there’s anything left to fight over after the primaries.

Goodnight, Chet. Goodnight, David, Goodnight conventions.

4 responses to “Cameras off, blogs on”

  1. JP Avatar
    JP

    That would be something, conventions not tailored for TV consumption – everything else is. For the mildly disinterested viewer of CNN current coverage of the Iowa Kaukus already takes on an absurd dimension. Is it that important? Not to me, thank you.
    JP

  2. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    no, i think as soon as the democrats are back in power conventions will suddenly become “exciting” again. what an excuse not to broadcast the republican convention. who would ever want to see that? Dan Rather and the like are very transparent. things are not going their way, so why watch?

  3. Jay Avatar
    Jay

    When conventions stop being covered by TV, they’ll soon whither to almost nothing.
    Conventions’ main purpose, to select a candidate, ceased to exist years ago, which is why they’ve mainly become transparent TV propaganda shows.
    Their secondary purpose, to build a platform, has also faded in importance as most Americans see the platform as a feel-good wish list for various factions, something that a candidate rarely pays attention to after winning an election.

  4. Paul Wright Avatar
    Paul Wright

    Don’t forget the action taken by Toby on The West Wing. He threatened the networks with conspiracy/cartel charges if they refused to cover the conventions.
    Money quote: “we gave you the airwaves for nothing; you can afford a few hours every four years”