The Top Ten Media Blunders of 2008

[proud2BlibKansan]

The media took its share of lumps this year, with persistent claims of bias and complaints about often wrong-headed speculation from a seemingly endless parade of talking heads. Of course, there was great reporting, with journalists breaking news and penning terrific profiles of the candidates and the campaigns. TV ratings and Web traffic were through the roof, evidence of huge voter interest. But there were plenty of missteps on the way, and Politico compiled a list of 2008’s greatest blunders (along with a look at how the media responded to each).

Were there worse media mishaps we've missed? Politico invites readers — never shy to tell us reporters when we're wrong — to comment below and let us know what should have made the cut.

1) New Hampshire primary: Pundits predicted a campaign-ending, double-digit loss long before the polls closed, and some networks, perhaps disbelieving the results, didn’t call the election until after Obama had already conceded. "I will never underestimate Hillary Clinton again,” Chris Matthews said on MSNBC.

Response: The New Hampshire debacle came up again and again, especially when cable talking heads began saying Obama had sewn up the nomination. But many pundits, perhaps wary of repeating their previous mistake, kept up with the claim the race was neck and neck well after the delegate math no longer gave Clinton any opening.

2) The New York Times' McCain-Iseman story: There was so much hype leading up to The Times' front-page investigation of John McCain’s relationship with lobbyists — dating back at least to a Drudge leak two months earlier — that without something concrete, the story was doomed to fail. Executive Editor Bill Keller said there’s more to the piece than the strongly suggested, never outright stated, romantic relationship between the senator with lobbyist Vikki Iseman, but that’s what the public seized upon. The Times put it out there but couldn’t prove it, leading both the right and the left to slam the piece.

Response: The campaign sparred publicly with the Gray Lady throughout the campaign, using the liberal media as a whipping boy when it needed to rally the base, and the paper often appeared to return the favor, most notably in an hostile October profile of wife Cindy McCain.

more . . . http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16789.html

[baldguy]

1. only ten?

[devilgrrl]

2. One of the lamest lists I've ever read and Politico is a rightwing rag...

I'm sick of seeing their shit posted here.

[underpants]

3. Yes this is typical Politico inside-the-beltway pablum

MSNBC was a disaster?? Hmm their ratings would say otherwise

"Little was heard about Wright after that, or about Ayers until the McCain campaign went hard at the link in the final weeks of the race." :rofl: oh PLEEASE

Citing Kristol and Halperin as ever being credible sources

Anyone take the National Review or Byron York seriously?? I mean anyone outside of Politico and their cocktail party sheeple? :rofl:

The NH primary was just MSM cover for excuses about how they gave Obama too lenient of coverage (see Wright Ayers nonsense above)

The MSM didn't cover ANYTHING about McCain's past (like W in 2000) although I do remember reading something about him being a POW or something like that

and finally

E.D. HILL NEVER APOLOGIZED

[Atman]

4. I have a shorter list...

ABC
CBS
NBC
Fox
MSNBC
CNBC
Fox News
CNN
Tribune Media Company
Clear Channel Communications