Letters to the Editor
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Do it, Joan
Joan, there are hints in this thread that we might soon get a feature article from you or one of your writers about the similarity between sports and political coverage. Anyone who regularly reads both sports and political news can see the same media behaviors in action. If the political press decides there is nothing to the Valerie Plame story, its coverage reflects and reinforces that presumption. If the sport press decides that Roger Clemens's rather supernatural career reflects a diligent work ethic, their coverage reflects and reinforces that. They don't ask probing or even obvious questions that might challenge their initial take. I don't think this is out of bias, but out of sheer laziness. No doubt one could find the same traits exhibited elsewhere in the media, be it coverage of business, entertainment or what have you. But it's probably most strking in the area of sports and politics. I think comparing the two would be a far more worthwhile investigative effort than sending a bunch of sports writers to cover ploitics. You'd only end up with--horror of horrors--a gang of Greg Easterbrooks running amok.