Absolutely zero news value: We're going to disagree with Kevin Drum. We're even going to disagree with Gene Lyons on this point.
We think the AP was silly this week. We refer to its fevered election eve report, in which it announced that Candidate Clinton had gone over the top in the delegate count.
What an utterly pointless "news report!" Everyone had known for weeks that the primaries of June 7 were going to put Candidate Clinton way, way over the top, if you were willing to include the so-called super-delegates.
In the face of that certain knowledge, what did the AP decide to do? In this morning's New York Times, Michael Grynbaum offers a sad explanation:
GRYNBAUM (6/8/16): Officials at The A.P. offered a simpler explanation: There was news, and they reported it.To us, that report seems quite revealing.
“We’re not calculating about when something happens,” Kathleen Carroll, The A.P.’s executive editor, said. “News is news. You put it out when you have it.”
The A.P. employs a crew of reporters to track delegates, distributing its tally to dozens of news organizations. On Monday, its chief delegate reporter, Stephen Ohlemacher, said that after days of nonstop calls to superdelegates, he had received enough commitments to support Mrs. Clinton for her to clinch the nomination.
Everyone knew that Tuesday's results would put Clinton way over the top. So what did the AP do?
Of course! They wasted several days having reporters make "nonstop calls to superdelegates."
Given what everyone already knew, there was absolutely zero point to this utterly silly behavior. Why didn't they have their reporters pursue something useful instead?
This is the ultimate horserace story. It involves the ultimate waste of journalists' time, chasing down an election result which everyone knew was coming.
What happened because the AP decided to waste its time this way? In theory, the world was deprived of the knowledge its reporters might otherwise have created. Much worse, and needless to say, Sanders supporters were given yet another way to think the election was rigged.
Drum and Lyons have both said that the AP should have reported the news when they got it. In theory, that's true, of course—though it's also true that news orgs exercise judgment all the time about the release of reports. (Generally speaking, polling stops right before an election to avoid giving the impression that news and polling orgs are trying to influence outcomes.)
In this case, the so-called "news" the AP released wasn't really news at all. The news they released had zero news value! More and more, this is precisely the way our silly, faux "news business" works.
"What an utterly pointless "news report!" Everyone had known for weeks that the primaries of June 7 were going to put Candidate Clinton way, way over the top, if you were willing to include the so-called super-delegates."
ReplyDelete"...In the face of that certain knowledge..."
"Everyone knew that Tuesday's results would put Clinton way over the top."
"Given what everyone already knew..."
'What happened because the AP decided to waste its time this way?....needless to say, Sanders supporters were given yet another way to think the election was rigged."
I guess those Sanders supporters are not part of the "everyone" who "already knew."
It's great to know your guess. Terrific to hear from ya!
DeleteEveryone knew you would respond this way.
DeleteI disagree. AP did a story. So what?
ReplyDelete"More and more, this is precisely the way our silly, faux "news business" works." B.S.
ReplyDeleteNow that every outlet has printed/aired stories even mildly unsupportive of HRC, it's decorus to refer to all cable/TV/print news media as "faux news."
AP should not have done this story--for the same reason that news outlets do not use exit polls to call races before the polls close.
ReplyDeleteAP, if they were going to do this story, should have published the names of the superdelegates who put Clinton over the top. That is, if they really think, "news is news". AP can't have it both ways.
Bob Gardner
Randolph, MA
Good column here at Daily Howler. One additional point: Even if AP wasted its time doing this "story" the news outlets didn't need to play it up as they did. I'll bet it was the excess of coverage of the coronation that most galled the Sanders supporters, not simply that AP reported the matter. Clearly, the news outlets were looking for a reason to end the Sanders campaign by their extravagant coverage, not simply to report news.
ReplyDelete"The news they released had zero news value!"
ReplyDeleteThere are ways to measure news value known only to true journalism experts like Harvard Philosophy majors from mid Twentieth Century (whose natural gifts are augmented by liberal arts matriculation).
Assessing today's news for examples of what we have not learned since the War on Gore has news value. It is measured according to rough rules of extended forefingers. For example, Bernie supporters don't know they are only half as sanctimonious as those who cheered "Super" Bill Bradley on. Just more youngerish.
When AP projects in October that HRC will win the presidency, you will accept that as "news" as well. Myself, I prefer to wait for the voting to occur first.
DeleteDave, when you write a comment as a response to someone which indicates you understand the substance of what you respond to, I will think you have more than zero intelligence.
Delete"When AP projects in October that HRC will win the presidency, Dave the Guitar Player will be chiding yet another commenter for not respecting the wisdom of Bob as Bob flails away at nits. Dave the Guitar Player will also be waiting for the voting to occur first."
DeleteFTFY
anon 10:25, at the risk of being chastised for (heaven forbid!) defending TDH's 'wisdom', TDH's point is not a 'nit.' News coverage is 98% horserace, gaffes, noting how what one of the pols has said has offended someone, etc., and hardly anything about what difference it would make if one or the other of them wins. (Also digging up what one of them said in high school). It's like they're covering a high school election for class president. Enormous discussion will take place about who will win in November, when it is one thing that we will definitely find out the answer to once the election takes place. Is it your position that criticizing the way the media covers the election is invalid?
Delete"Is it your position that criticizing the way the media covers the election is invalid?"
DeleteNo, to your strawman question.
But, Yes, if it is Somerby.
DeleteI am glad Bob agrees with Rachel Maddow on this issue.
ReplyDeleteShe also criticized her own employer, NBC, for doing the same thing. I am sure Bob noticed that.
I know it must have been a lot for him to stomach, agreeing with her twice in the same week. His silence is understandable given his vow to treat her with contempt for her mortal transgression back in 2008.
What did Maddow say specifically? O'Donnell did seem a little perturbed.
Delete@ 7:56 - the internet is your friend. Look it up.
DeleteMy life became devastated when my husband sent me packing, after 8 years that we have been together. I was lost and helpless after trying so many ways to make my husband take me back. One day at work, i was absent minded not knowing that my boss was calling me, so he sat and asked me what its was all about i told him and he smiled and said that it was not a problem. I never understand what he meant by it wasn't a problem getting my husband back, he said he used a spell to get his wife back when she left him for another man and now they are together till date and at first i was shocked hearing such thing from my boss. He gave me an email address of the great spell caster who helped him get his wife back, i never believed this would work but i had no choice that to get in contact with the spell caster which i did, and he requested for my information and that of my husband to enable him cast the spell and i sent him the details, but after two days, my mom called me that my husband came pleading that he wants me back, i never believed it because it was just like a dream and i had to rush down to my mothers place and to my greatest surprise, my husband was kneeling before me pleading for forgiveness that he wants me and the kid back home, then i gave Happy a call regarding sudden change of my husband and he made it clear to me that my husband will love me till the end of the world, that he will never leave my sight. Now me and my husband is back together again and has started doing pleasant things he hasn't done before, he makes me happy and do what he is suppose to do as a man without nagging. Please if you need help of any kind, kindly contact Happy for help and you can reach him via email: happylovespell2@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteNo one enjoys a bellyachin' gripe unless it's one generally not mentioned elsewhere as yet: here's mine and please DO enjoy it..Chris Matthews, self designated rep of post FDR thought has suggested today that Bernie's hanging on was a matter of vanity, that it's "hard to give up all that adulation." Invisible to most people are millions of straws breaking everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWhy would one enjoy a bellyachin' gripe not previously mentioned, battery-person?
DeleteMy name is Jessica Luis am from USA, After 1/5 year relationship with my boyfriend, he changed suddenly and stopped contacting me regularly, he would come up with excuses of not seeing me all the time. He stopped answering my calls and my sms and he stopped seeing me regularly. I then started catching him with different girls several times but every time he would say that he love me and that he needed some time to think about our relationship.But cannot stop thinking about him so i decided to go online and i saw so many good talk about this spell caster and i contact him and explain my problems to him.He cast a love spell for me which i use and after 2 day, my boyfriend came back to me and started contacting me regularly and we moved in together after a few months and he was more open to me than before and he started spending more time with me than his friends. We eventually got married and we now have been married happily for 1 years with. Ever since Dr.ocusodo helped me, my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before.You can also contact this spell caster and get your relationship and any kind of problem okay hes email< drocusodospellcaster@gmail.com or drocusodospellcaster@yahoo.com, you can also contact his number +2348105578036
ReplyDelete“LOVE, Happiness, Trust, is the key to LIFE”. That was the word from Dr happy when I consulted his powerful Love Spell. I married the wrong man; I realized that after Three years of our unfruitful marriage. Everything was going from Best to Worst in our life, no child, I got demoted from work after our marriage, my husband was sacked a year after. His application for new job in various offices was constantly declined even though he was qualified enough. I was made to take care of my family with the low income I earn get that wasn’t enough to pay our rent. We keep praying a seeking for help from some people, my friends laugh at me behind because I was advised not to get married yet.It was one Thursday night that my husband woke me up and told me that has thought enough about our crisis, he said that our crisis is not ordinary and it’s beyond our spiritual level. He suggested we should consult Dr happy from testimonies he showed me online about how he has been helping families. I was afraid, I don’t like evil or spell but I supported him to contact him if he can help us. We consulted him via happylovespell2@gmail.com and he replied positively after 20munites with congratulating email that he can help us but he will need our pure heart and trusts in his work if he will cast the spell on us and purify our life. We agreed to his terms. He cast the spell and told us to expect results within 5days. I waited for three days nothing happened, so I started having doubt and blaming my husband for emailing Dr happy. It was on the fifth day that my husband was called for an interview and he got a well-paying work, I was prompted to a higher position. I missed my period on the 5th day and it was confirmed that I am with a baby. Things have really changed for us for good and we now have our own house and cars. I will never forget what Dr happy told us “LOVE is the key to LIFE”, this word keep me going. People that laughed at us are coming close for help and I am delighted to welcome them because my family is now blessed. Dr happy is a savior and man that keep to his word even when I doubted his powers at the end of the spell. Thank to your Oracle for helping us via happylovespell2@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteFix your broken relationship and marriage right now no matter how hopeless your situation seems!! my husband is back today and i am so excited sharing my testimony with everyone here.I am Natasha Hayes by name and i reside here in USA.I'm happily married to a lovely and caring husband ,with two kids.A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce.he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{Unityspelltemple@gmail.com}. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past{7}months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our marriage was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster Dr Unity. So, i will advice you out there, if you have any problem contact Dr Unity and i guarantee you that he will help you and you will be the next to share your testimony to every one in the world!!. Email him at: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com or call him on: +2348072370762.
ReplyDeleteHealing from HIV-AIDS, i never though dr.camala who could ever get my HIV-AIDS cured with his healing spell, i have tried almost everything but i couldn't find any solution on my disease, despite all these happening to me, i always spend alot to buy a HIV drugs from hospital and taking some several medications but no relieve, until one day i was just browsing on the internet when i come across a great post of !Michelle! who truly said that she was been diagnose with HIV and was healed that very week through the help of these great powerful healing spell doctor, sometime i really wonder why people called him Papa camala, i never knew it was all because of the great and perfect work that he has been doing that is causing all this. so i quickly contacted him, and he ask me some few questions and he said a thing i will never forget that anyone who contacted him is ! always getting his or her healing in just 6 hours after doing all he ask you, so i was amazed all the time i heard that from him, so i did all things only to see that at the very day which he said i will be healed, all the strength that has left me before rush back and i becomes very strong and healthy, this disease almost kills my life all because of me, so i will to hospital to give the final test to the disease and the doctor said i am HIV negative, i am very amazed and happy about the healing dr.camala gave to me from the ancient part of Africa, you can email him now for your own healing too at: dr.camalahivadscure@yahoo.com or WhatsApp him +2348164728160 thank you sir for healing me from HIV
ReplyDeleteIn Nguyen Gia is proud to be a prestigious printing company in Hanoi, we always try to bring our customers the dedication in service, professionalism in the way to work to receive customer satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteFast printing service:
in giay khen
in bao đũa
in tờ rơi giá rẻ
in phong bì a4
is often done by businesses & stores as a stimulus tool for purchasing and using services. Preferential policies are specified separately for each product that the customer owns.