No holiday for TV channels chasing Sarah Palin news
You can tell a lot about a news operation by how it responds to a breaking news story on a holiday or weekend when the A-Team is away.
I first wrote that in November about cable coverage of the Mumbai attacks and the sorry performance by MSNBC, which mainly stuck to its canned lineup of prison documentaries while CNN and Fox scrambled to cover the story live.
Well, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dropped a political bombshell late Friday afternoon in announcing that she would resign only two and a half years into her term, and it was fascinating to watch the 24/7 channels already in holiday mode chase the story.
MSNBC responded this time. Even though the program guide had a prison documentary slated for the 4 p.m. hour, MSNBC had Alex Witt at the anchor desk and such analysts as A.M. Stoddard, of The Hill, dissecting Palin's resignation.
MSNBC was using NBC News resources as well. An on-screen headline said: "Sources tell Andrea Mitchell Palin is out of politics for good." We'll check back in on that one in few weeks to see whether it turns out to be true or not. But it sure beats a Lockup doc.
By the 5 p.m. hour, MSNBC had NBC backup White House correspondent Mike Viqueira on, and he provided some of the finest analysis anywhere on TV up to that point. He was one of the first to deconstruct Palin's resignation speech and point our how "meandering" it was.
The speech was more than meandering -- it was disjointed, inconsistent and utterly unconvincing in her explanation as to why she was resigning. Good job by Viqueira in nailing that on the run.
Fox was impressive in quickly getting up to speed and bringing in a range of diverse and savvy voices. And, again, maybe it was mostly the result of the usual A-Team of conservative analysts being unreachable right away on this holiday weekend, but you have to acknowledge the excellent analysis offered on Fox by Lanny Davis, a former White House aide to Bill Clinton, and University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato.
The latter was brilliant in explaining how Palin's abrupt mid-term departure would make her look like Ross Perot, the 1990's independent candidate whose presidential aspirations were in part dashed by opponents who labeled him as "erratic, unstable and likely to resign in mid-term" -- just like Palin did Friday.
I had just left CNN's Washington bureau about 3 p.m. Friday after taping a segment for Sunday's Reliable Sources, so I had a pretty good on-scene sense of how much the news operation was into holiday weekend mode. Suzanne Malveaux, who had been subbing all week for Wolf Blitzer, was at the helm of The Situation Room Friday.
And while it was clear CNN couldn't field its usual on-air team of top political analysts, it showed some real depth putting CNN political editor Mark Preston on the set with Malveaux and bringing in political producer Peter Hamby by remote. The presence of those two seemed to really stabilize and center the coverage.
They were followed by a range of voices, including that of conservative strategist Ed Rollins, who offered a withering and informed analysis of Palin's decision to resign on a dime.
Comments
Yep, the news channels have their work cut out for them now. Her speech was pretty consistent for her. She is not very articulate. Had to have a heart for her in what she has been through. I don't see any future for her as a presidential candidate now. I want a president who won't fold when things get tough.
Gotta go to work.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 3, 2009 6:45 PM
Another nail in the GOP coffin if she is the 2012 nominee. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=2048
Posted by: carly | July 3, 2009 6:55 PM
Well I would bet she will have a show on FOX before the end of the year. When RR lost in '76 he then did a nightly radio commentary that kept him in the mix until '79. I would not be shocked to see Mitt turn up on TV or Radio very soon as well.
If she goes on TV, she'll be better for my blog traffic than Jon & Kate. (I'm kidding). But Palin on TV, that would be fun -- and culturally fascinating. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Gueman | July 3, 2009 7:08 PM
As a news junkie I appreciate the work you do. I watch the three major cable news stations as you do but I miss things as I have but one TV.
I don't see how she can run for Pres. in 2012 now. Even the Republicans are trashing her. Let her be the point guard on the team to nowhere.That's where she's headed.
Hey Steve, Thank you very much. Z
Posted by: Steve Armstrong | July 3, 2009 7:11 PM
Funny seeing the dems shacking in their boots. They are so scared of Palin.
Posted by: Will | July 3, 2009 7:33 PM
...As for Palin, she'll be fine. It is all going according to plan. Her's the reason why she resigned. Palin knew that even if she served out her first term, she would be leaving office in January of 2011. That would give her a very short window to set up an exploratory campaign and raise money. As governor, she would be limited in her exposure among GOP battle ground states. She now as the ability to campaign cross country help other GOP candidates knowing that if they win, she can ask for them to campaign for her in 2012. She is a proven audience draw. She proved that with Saxby in Georgia. It's really that simple. She will no longer be restricted by the rules of the Governor's office.
Posted by: Tyrone | July 3, 2009 8:05 PM
I think SP was just sick of 24 hour MJ coverage so she decided to make it stop.
Posted by: Lynne | July 3, 2009 8:40 PM
While CNN continued to report, MSNBC went back to the prison documentaries. Like they did during the Iran news on prior weekends. Shameful. It seems they have ceded breaking news coverage to CNN for the most part.
Posted by: LJ | July 3, 2009 9:00 PM
Perot was a presidential candidate in the 1980's. The last time I checked, he ran in 1992 and 1996.
Posted by: MCG | July 3, 2009 11:22 PM
I'm actually in LA right now for a convention. The parking lot across from the Staples Center is a downright circus. Sat trucks everywhere.
Posted by: Tyler | July 3, 2009 11:50 PM
"Funny seeing the dems shacking in their boots. They are so scared of Palin"
we're not, not in the slightest, never were, never will be. she's hysterical to us, our eyes are drawn to her like a trainwreck, and what makes her even more interesting is that she is so obviously out of her league and the likes of you adore her.
Posted by: kirsten | July 4, 2009 12:03 AM
I kind of switched back and forth between CNN and FOX, both I thought did pretty well. But, Sarah Palin has me a little worried, she wound around from basketball games to refrig. magnets and did any of it make sense. I she okay? I mean that in a concerned sense.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 4, 2009 7:38 AM
Sarah
Great job...make em guess...Obama is a joke and so are the rest of those clowns....
Posted by: Donna Case | July 4, 2009 8:27 AM
Will, every time Palin as candidate made the news big-time during the campaign, giving to the Democrats increased, as I recall. I think the Democrats would love to see her as a candidate in 2012--what could be better news for their fund-raisers? It's the middle-of-the-road GOP stalwarts (if there are any left) who want her gone.
Posted by: Dahlink | July 4, 2009 8:46 AM
I don't get cable so cannot comment on the quality of its coverage, or lack thereof. A couple of commentators have pointed out that now Palin can ask for and probably receive large amounts of money when she speaks, especially to her base. Her family reportedly is not wealthy, and I'm guessing this is an opportunity to increase her net worth as well as to remain in the public spotlight. I suspect she's preparing for a presidential run in 2012, which, if true, should give Republicans who want the party to broaden its appeal nightmares. As an Obama fan, I'm trying very hard not to feel smug and remember my mother's admonition, "Pride goeth before a fall."
Posted by: Mary | July 4, 2009 11:15 AM
Palin is facing ethics violations. She is getting out while she can so she doesn't have to resign in shame in another month.
She'll probably go back to school to learn some history and geography.
Posted by: Cliff Kroski | July 4, 2009 12:18 PM
Governor Palin has resigned to take on the role of a "higher calling." She is going to be a mediator for "Jon and Kate plus 8.
Posted by: strussman | July 4, 2009 10:41 PM
According to FOX, She is going to sue blogers who say anything about her federal indictments which don't exist too, why she takes on her role of a "higher calling".
Missed church today, and feeling guilty.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 5, 2009 10:23 AM
Can you imagine the "emotions" that Keith Olbermann is feeling right now? YOU know what I mean!!
Posted by: Fred | July 5, 2009 12:04 PM
Could there be ANY POSSIBLE connection between this surprising story and the failure of Ms McKenny not being released from her detention in the middle east? The Micheal Jackson story "happened' just in time to overshadow her being taken by pirates in international waters. Now, because she would not sign a confession of guilt, she was not released before the Jackson story plays out. It almost makes one wonder just how all these stories "happen" at just the right time. Somehow I know this comment will not be posted!! I don't think the "American press " have the collective balls to mention the McKenny story.
Posted by: Cranford D | July 5, 2009 1:31 PM
http://friendfeed.com/queenofspain/2690f765/palin-is-suing-bloggers-now-eyeroll-shall-wear
Boy, can I hit any of the right keys on the keyboard today? My job is to type, I need an editor. Up above that should have said while, she takes on her role of a higher calling. I'll be wearing PJs tomorrow.
Posted by: Sherry T. | July 5, 2009 1:40 PM
I applied the David Zurawik "acid test" at 9:00 PM when I heard the news about Sarah Palain. Anderson Cooper was live, but was leading the sheep with is Michael Jackson coverage. Nancy Grace was orbiting Mars. FOX had a pundit with heartbeat (blonde & female ... imagine that!?) who did not get on my nerves. MSNBC was off and running through the prison stories.
Speaking of loose definitions - - Cable news is becoming anything but news presented over the cable. The newest network whose name has nothing to do with their programming is "History" formerly known as The History Channel. They dropped "the" and "channel". The programming for the show has as little to do with history as the Biography Channel has to do with biographies.
Posted by: Jim Considine | July 5, 2009 3:59 PM
A former US congresswoman is captured in international waters by a middle eastern country, continues to be imprisoned and the msm only talks about Palin & Jackson?
Posted by: billo | July 5, 2009 4:06 PM
I wonder if the MSNBC report on her leaving politics had any factual basis or if they just knew if they ran the rumor it would get swept into everyone else's coverage.
I hope she stays off TV though. I mean she wants to lead a private life with her family so they don't end up as media targets I thought?
Posted by: James C | July 6, 2009 3:47 AM