Advertise Here

Deliver your message to thousands of readers every day.

Our readers are influential opinion makers - politicians, journalists and activists.

Our latest headlines

About Us

The California Progress Report is published by Frank D. Russo, a longtime observer of and participant in California politics.

About Frank Russo.
About California Progress Report.

Got a news tip? Want to write a guest column? Contact Frank here.

Public Disparages Media Mavens--Press Corps Tanks in Latest California Opinion Survey

towashington 089.gif By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

The most surprising fact revealed by the latest Field Survey of the attitudes of California voters was the very low rating given members of the “media”. They have a favorable to unfavorable rating of 28-46 – slightly better than Legislative Leaders and below that of Union officials.

Clearly, the political establishment (which includes both political parties) has lost favor with and the confidence of the voting public. The economy and war of George Bush and the very visible failure of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the health care arena have taken care of that. But why the low ratings of the media? Is the public blaming the messenger?

I think it may be something different. The public no longer sees the media as neutral observers presenting factual material on which they can make reliable judgments. The phony arguments of ‘talk’ radio and television have convinced people that journalists have opinions that affect their coverage. Just as Nixon caused a generation of Americans to lose trust in public people so Fox et al have caused the pubic to see journalists as just another set of politicians. And, as politicians, they are judged to be wanting (28-46).

Put simply, journalists are seen today as the equivalent of Russ Limbaugh. A bitter pill indeed for those not paid like Limbaugh.

This is a serious problem for the profession of journalism. Columbia Review standards are taken seriously because they are supposed to instill trust in the product by the public. Trust is the essential difference between the tabloids and the TIMES. But this public, at least, seems to lack trust across the board. Maybe it’s because tabloid standards have infested traditional journalism? Or maybe the public now judges all media to be of tabloid quality?

Is it any wonder when the ‘news’ about the Mayor’s of California’s most prominent cities involves their private lives? When the ‘news’ coverage of the likely next President focuses on one candidate’s exaggeration of danger in Bosnia and the other’s off-the-cuff analysis of class voting behavior (instead of war). Trivial character flaws and sensational sex is the grist of today’s political coverage.

28-46!? They must be doing something wrong.

Bill Cavala was Deputy Director of the Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services where he worked for over 30 years.

He attended undergraduate and graduate school in the 1960’s and received a doctorate in political science at UC Berkeley. He taught political science at UC Berkeley during the 1970's while he worked part-time for the State Assembly.

Cavala left teaching at UC Berkeley and went to work for Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in 1981 until his tenure as Speaker ended in 1995, and he has worked for his five successors as Speaker up to and including Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Mr. Cavala manages election campaigns for Democratic candidates.

Posted on April 28, 2008

Comments

Comrade Cavala states:

"Is it any wonder when the ‘news’ about the Mayor’s of California’s most prominent cities involves their private lives? When the ‘news’ coverage of the likely next President focuses on one candidate’s exaggeration of danger in Bosnia and the other’s off-the-cuff analysis of class voting behavior (instead of war). Trivial character flaws and sensational sex is the grist of today’s political coverage."

Trivial character flaws??? To degrade the vows of marriage like Mayor Villaraigisa? Perhaps you should get his wifes opinion on that one...

Or mayor Newsom's adultery with the wife of his FRIEND and co-worker. Ask his opinion on that one.

Hillary LIED about being under sniper fire. Ask anyone under real sniper fire if they thought the experience was "trivial".

Cripes, at least you admitted Obama makes distinctions based on (his version of) the class system, of course as liberals define it, which is entirely another story in of itself.

Also funny is your characterization of all the democrats here as "victims" of pain, suffering and political posturing (lying) which was all due to their own doings and not the fault of others...

While yourself has lambasted republicans for similar sexual pecadillos yourself...

The Emperor (Comrade Cavala) has no clothes! (And it is not a pretty sight).

Posted by: Jay Gould at May 1, 2008 07:01 PM

Get Email Updates

Want the California Progress Report by email? Once a week, we'll send you the latest and greatest headlines.

Stat tracker