Campaign Coverage Questions
I decided to write this blog in response to Bill M's comments on my previous entry. He raises some issues that are very much front of mind for those of us trying to cover both the gubernatorial campaign as well as daily news.
When the Meg Whitman controversy broke over what some are calling "Nannygate" (we have chosen not to use the term), one of our first questions was about the timing. Attorney Gloria Allred, representing Whitman's fired housekeeper, claims she is not playing politics by going public with this case just weeks from the election. We covered the story but also took the timing question straight to a political analyst. In our report, we specifically addressed the issue of an Allred lawsuit announced just weeks before the election in which Governor Schwarzenegger was sent back to office.
In this year's Governor's race, we have also been put in the interesting position of covering Jerry Brown, who is the current Attorney General. When his office generates news, we are just as careful about asking the hard question: is there a political edge to be gained from him making an announcement at this juncture? We decide whether or not to cover his press conferences with that in mind.
Right now, we are looking more critically at the continued press conferences given by Gloria Allred. As we get closer to election day, it's our priority to be ever vigilant about using our best news judgment and not fuel the frenzy.
Finally, I'd like to ask my readers to weigh in on BillM's last question. We've dissected the question "What did Meg do wrong in handling the nanny case?" in news stories, and will continue to as we learn more about exactly what happened. However, it is clear the impact of this controversy is the impression it's left with some voters. Opinions aren't always made on facts (witness the success of mudslinging campaign ads filled with questionable information). So, do you think what Meg Whitman did, or didn't do, was wrong? Is your opinion based on the facts that we know right now or perception? Bill M.'s comments follow:
"She paid an excellent wage and all the taxes. She was given a drivers license and social security card for identification from the agency. (By the way why is it that Jerry Brown is not held accountable for her getting a drivers license? Enforcement of DMV regulations fall under his authority.) The letter she was sent specifically states that you cannot fire someone nor does the letter indicate a person's legal or illegal status. Until Nikki admitted she was illegal in 2009 she could not be fired. So again I ask what did Meg do wrong?"
