Panelists Debate Campaign Coverage

Has the media been fair to Republican presidential candidate Robert J. Dole?

A panel of student journalists attempted to answer that question last night in a "Pizza and Politics" discussion that attracted an audience of 35 to Ticknor Lounge.

While representatives from Harvard student publications all acknowledged Dole's unfavorable image in the media, the group disagreed on who should take the blame.

According to Douglas M. Gordon '97, editor-in-chief of the Harvard Salient, members of the media tend to be "white, male and liberal."

He noted that 89 percent of Washington reporters voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 and suggested that they have shown a bias toward the incumbent in this election.

Scott L. Shuchart '97, former managing editor of Perspective, blamed Dole for the poor coverage of his campaign.

Unlike Clinton and his handlers, he said, "Dole hasn't known how to massage the media."

But Crimson President Todd F. Braunstein '97--a self-described conservative Republican--said Dole's relationship with the media is not the problem at all.

Braunstein argued that Dole is simply a weak candidate.

"Republicans criticize him; congressional candidates distance themselves from him," said Braunstein. "Dole doesn't know what he believes."

Washington Post columnist and Institute of Politics fellow Dorothy Gilliam mediated the discussion and expressed her own concerns about sensationalism in political journalism.

She said she is concerned that the media is "covering the horse race as opposed to issues."

Harvard Political Review Editor-in-Chief Andrei H. Cherny '97 said the media has actually treated both candidates unfairly.

Cherny, who is a Crimson editor, said the media has focused on sideshows rather than personal issues.

In particular, he complained that reporters gave more attention to Dole's falling off a stage in California than his announcement of a proposed anti-drug campaign around the same time.

Panelists agreed that because Dole and Clinton are politically similar on many issues, the press has focused on trivial events.

"Reporters will concentrate on whether Bob Dole made a snappy comment," said David A. Hammer '97, president of the Harvard Independent.

But Braunstein said news coverage merely reflects what happens in the campaign.

"If there was a legitimate Republican candidate, the media would be more favorable," he said.