Speculative and gossipy reporting has become a disturbing trend in political news coverage, particularly with respect to the 2008 Presidential Race. Many of the "issues" most widely reported on conspicuously lack substance and distract viewers from the country's problems that deserve and require media attention.  The veritable media fever over Edward's $400 haircut is a prime example, as the event received ten times as much airtime (on MSNBC and Fox) as Senator Pete Domenici's July press conference about the Iraq war on the very day of the conference (the haircut had already been reported on for months.)

Washington Post writer Robin Givhan's article on the nominal amount of cleavage Clinton displayed during a senate speech lit a fire of media attention that overwhelmed any reporting on Clinton's actual remarks about the cost of higher education or healthcare problems in America. 

On August 8th, MSNBC's show Tucker dedicated an entire segment to discuss whether Obama is black enough to win over black voters.  Jonathan Alter, senior editor of Newsweek and commentator on the show, finally relinquished "[it] doesn't really contribute to the debate."  His fellow commentator, A.B. Stoddard, associate editor of The Hill, added, "it's just ridiculous really."  

America has no shortage of real issues for the next President to deal with-withdrawing from Iraq, expanding healthcare coverage, reducing our dependency on oil, reforming the tax system-the list could go on and on.  If we want to be serious about addressing the challenges that face our country, we need a media that is serious about providing coverage that can inform our decision making about the '08 race instead of fostering idle gossip.

By Eliza Krigman