Media Coverage of Elections: What About The Media's Responsibility?

"First, I would like to explain to the media that we, the people, depend on you to keep us up to date, aware, and informed of the events in the world. Individually we cannot be everywhere at all times and hear everything that is said. You seem to be able to perform such miracles...I think that all of you did a superb job in announcing the major political candidates and an equally impressive job reporting the victors.

Unfortunately, the impressiveness of these two tasks lies only with their accuracy...When listening and reading what you had to say about George Bush, the word 'conservative' comes to mind...

You described Perot as a whirlwind in the political election. When he blew it, you told us. You informed us of the controversy and influence he stirred up while in the presidential race, and announced when the whirlwind died out. Only necessary information was given to us by you. Your accurate data, untainted by accusations or lies, helped immensely to determine what type of political figure Perot actually represented and whether or not our votes should be cast in his favor...

Bill Clinton, I believe, got the short end of the...fairness stick. From the onset, was plagued with unfair accusations of alleged extramarital affairs, draft status, and experiments with marijuana. (Your) reporting of such erroneous information hurt this candidate and affected the feelings of his supporters...

Media, you have a powerful gift. In many ways you control people's minds during crucial times, such as political elections. Take great care in the way you operate...Your influence, whether good, bad, right, or wrong, carries much weight. . ." AR

"The media has one of the most important roles in today's society. They should use their power wisely and to the benefit of society." PA

"When journalists enter their profession they do not take an oath, like doctors or lawyers, but perhaps they have taken on even greater responsibilities. The media can control the public's perception of candidates and issues, influence thoughts and create new trends. But the public did more than bestow an all-encompassing power upon the media, they also laid out a list of expectations. The media was to be fair, accurate, unbiased and thorough in representing all aspects of an issue. Although these duties apply anytime, they are especially important during elections." OR

"Vital information is no longer the exclusive property of government officials, military men and business leaders. From thousands of sources each day, information bypasses those in authority and flows directly to the media and, in the case of television, the result of this is called 'media power.' That is transforming American journalism from its traditional function as an image, or mirror of society to an active role in shaping what we think and what we do. " SD

"Whomever is chosen to represent the people, whether it be on a national state, or even local level, is going to have an enormous impact on the lives of the entire society. This is why it is important that the people hear the truth in order to make educated decisions concerning who they vote for and the reasons that they choose a particular candidate over another." OK

"Recently, many news sources have developed ad reviews which investigate and dissect the conflicting charges presented in ads. They have already done much to deter the candidates from playing fast and loose. These ad reviews help the voters divide fact from fiction." KS

"In return for the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, the mass media have an obligation to keep the public informed by making wise use of their powers to influence the thoughts and attitudes of others." TN

"One suggestion is to let the press handle the problem themselves. . . . to set some kind of standards. . . " VA

"Since the media is such an influential force, it should accept the responsibility to report the facts and become a profession working to better the nation and its government." PA

"Media has not taken responsibility for its obligations and actions. They have not been fair and are not deserving of the praise they so often receive." KS

"Because of the media's laziness the voters only hear what the candidates want them to hear. These result in a misinformed election where one is not sure whether the best man has really won." KY

"The press does have a responsibility to show the public what is going on as far as a fairly recent, yet important history of what the nominees have done. This includes both good and bad things. I personally feel that they should prove who has the greater leadership qualities and who has the best qualifications for hard-to-make decision making situations." SD

"By their nature, sexual allegations are often hard to prove. This is a perfectly good reason not to publish them. but why should such stories be published even if they are true?. . .We cannot, I believe, limit the role the media plays in the election of our candidates for national office, because, many more times than not, the public's only way to find information on their candidates is through the media." OK

"The press has an awesome power to destroy, but lacks the responsibility to decide when the affairs of private lives warrant being invaded and publicized." OH

"Viewers and listeners do not always take time to be critical about the information they are receiving. People might take for granted that what they are hearing is accurate. Of course it should not be their responsibility to sift what they hear. People should be able to count on the press to bring them accurate news that will be beneficial to their decisions." KS

"The media should strive harder to keep their personal opinions from intervening with their news reports." NE

"The media has the responsibility to give the news impartially, without fear of favor, regardless of party, sect, or interest involved." TX

"It might be said that the media was ready for a Democratic president." OK

"The media's coverage can give status to people and events. For these reasons, the media can actually set the national agenda--what we should take seriously, what we should ignore, and what we should take lightly." OH

"It is vital that television be used properly by avoiding biases. If it is improperly used and people receive biased or untrue information, then it has successfully undermined democracy by not allowing voters to make their own decisions." TN

"The nation gave the press its freedom. Therefore, the press owes the greatest responsibility to the people of the nation. The American Society of Newspaper Editors adopted a statement of principles of 1975. They said that 'Good faith is the foundation of good journalism." KS

"The public should be presented a clear view of each candidate's views, platforms, and qualifications. The public should be allowed the opportunity to see each candidate as a person instead of an issue. The media should stay out of the candidate's personal lives. The media needs to take responsibility; they need to see how the public is affected by their reports. Furthermore, the media needs to get their responsibilities straight; they should stop being so manipulative where the public is concerned. The media should be fair to the public and the candidates. They need to allow the public their rights. When the media withholds information from the public, they are hurting the public, the media, and America in general. When the public is allowed to see each candidate clearly, then and only then will America have a true leader." OK

"The effect that the media has over the general public is amazing. . . They should not just publicize what Americans want to know. They should tell us what we need to know. We are putting our faith in their hands; they should not use it for their own benefit." KY

"Many people vote for a candidate because he or she is the only candidate they have heard about." MA

"If the media does a good job they can get the right people elected. If the media does not do a good job, then we can get some corrupt people in office. . ." IN

"The importance of informing the public honestly and impartially cannot be stressed enough. The election of political figures to national office is and should be by the people's choice. This can only be done if the media recognizes its responsibilities to inform the public of political candidates in an unbiased manner." IL

". . . what individual or group has the right to choose what is seen, read, or heard by the public? No one is qualified to draw that line, so the media must accept the responsibility of censoring their own work." OH

"The media also has an obligation to know what is right in providing the American people with the best possible political coverage it can. The media needs to take a step back and seriously evaluate ways to enhance the current system. After all, the media is one of the most vital links in the system; and it has the responsibility to make sure that every citizen is adequately informed." PA

"There is no real way of predicting what role the media will take in the future. There are biases that make it less than fair to the people of the United States and their politicians. Unless changes are made in the general attitude of the media, though, it will continue to erode the natural flow of the democratic form of government." KY

"If the media can begin to uphold its three moral obligations to the people: 1) to find the truth, 2) to report the truth, and 3) to remain neutral in these reports, then it can and will have a more positive impact on campaigns and elections in the future." OK