The message is the news…
Does news happen at a political convention? Jay Rosen takes a look at political ritual and what bloggers might contribute to its coverage.
Yes, news happens at political conventions. Beyond any spot news that could transpire, you have a thing called speeches: politicians talking to citizens about important stuff. Some academics, such as myself, call that stuff “propositional content.” If citizens or politicians act on that content, such actions could change the lives of citizens for better or worse.
Yes, a convention is scripted. Why? Because a convention is one big message. It’s one colossal rhetorical situation aimed at persuading citizens to vote for a certain candidate.
Okay, time to put the snark back in his cage. I wonder about statements such as these because the intent seems to be to dismiss what happens at the conventions as something less than news (from Rosen’s entry):
Richard Benedetto of Gannett News reported the news on July 11: “Conventions today are little more than weeklong, made-for-TV infomercials and pep rallies for the party, its candidates and its luminaries.”
Brian Faler in The Washington Post had the story earlier, on July 5: “The conventions have become carefully staged productions intended, primarily, to reintroduce the parties’ nominees to the general public.”
On July 15 it was Reuters, quoting “political experts,” who have discovered: “What was once an exciting and occasionally unpredictable way to pick presidential and vice presidential candidates has descended into empty ritual–set-piece events that are infomercials for Democrats and Republicans.”
But back on May 25, a Boston Globe editorial had the scoop, with an upbeat twist: “Even though everyone knows that conventions have become staged events with little real drama, the nominee usually gets a lift in standing from a week of being bathed in favorable publicity.”
If a script exists, then it can be read and interpreted. Its implications can be pondered. At the very least its propositions can be reported. The possible effects of its propositions can be debated. Background regarding the specifics of propositions can be reported. The possible effects of propositions can be compared with the known effects of similar propositions.
No news? Merely a ritual? The message is the news.
UPDATE (11:45 a.m.): Walter Shapiro works extra hard today to disconnect citizens from politics:
The only real story here in Boston is the omnipresent security and how easy it is for Americans to work themselves into a panic that terrorists will be targeting alternate delegates from Idaho. Yes, of course, the show must go on in a democracy. But what is a pity is that the only role delegates play at a modern convention is to provide a scenic TV backdrop for the speeches.
Oh, and only certain speeches count. And, further, Kerry’s speech is about meeting expectations and not about anything he might actually say.
I’ll bet Shapiro thinks of himself, as many journalists do, as an enabler of democracy.
