According to the New York Post President Obama has taken command of the media granting three times the number of interviews than his two predecessors combined. On the New York Times front page alone, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, 405 stories on the Obama administration have appeared through mid-August of this year totaling 119,678 column inches.
Nothing has garnered as much media coverage, gushing, wooing, swooning, and at times pathetic display than pandering to the most heralded and anticipated Presidency in the history of the United States. We will see if the bigger they are the harder they fall. One thing is certain, though, Jimmy Earl Carter (actually it's James but he decided not to grow up) is happy because he will die knowing that he won't be regarded as the worst President in history!
If you've got a little time check out the transcript of George Stephenopolous' interview with the President on Sunday the 20th. Obama was afforded every opportunity to ramble on and on and on, controlling the interview including asking some of the questions. I'm sure George would've kissed him good night given the oppportunity.
BO has given 66 television interviews since taking office. In the same time Bush had given 16, Clinton 6. This guy is clinging to his winning philosophy of sound bites make a President. That was in the days before our 24 hour newsday, however. Since we now have 24 hour a day coverage, analysis, time-to-fill, blathering, bloviating, bantering, and generally dismissing of all of it... we are saturated. We are also educating those who would not be educated if they so choose.
But there is yet another plus from this. There is a new major in college journalism curriculae -- Talking Head.
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