The Fourth Estate: Need to Redefine Journalism in the 21st Century, The
In the fast-paced world of the news room, accuracy and speed are natural enemies. Story decisions are often based on fragments of information as former CNN Vice President Ed Turner explains. The best news organizations do place a premium on accuracy...
The Fourth Estate: Controlling the Message
A free press is essential to a democratic society. It alerts citizens to events that will affect their lives and provides a channel through which political leaders can reach the public. Congress received as much press attention as the President in t...
First Days As Press Secretary
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry talks about his first experiences as White House press secretary. Mr. McCurry recalls the apprehension and nervousness he felt initially, but says the break-in period was relatively easy because of his...
Frames of Reference: Delicate Balance: The Influence of Public Opinion on Political Decision-making, A
To what extent should public opinion influence political decisions? Experts point out that citizens elect representatives to assess the complexities and make decisions regarding a myriad of issues. They are expected to be responsive to the electorat...
Snow Angels in the Rose Garden
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry fondly recalls two very different events from his tenure in the Clinton administration. One took place in the White House Rose Garden following a snow storm and involved several staffers making snow an...
The Fourth Estate: Winning the News Game
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, reporters and cameras converge on late-breaking news events with one thought in mind: winning the news game. In the 1950s and 1960s, most people's access to political information came from three television...
The Fourth Estate: Role of the Press as Watchdog, The
The press's role in protecting the public from corrupt officials and practices took on new meaning in the 1960s and '70s. Correspondent Marvin Kalb talks about his experience covering the Vietnam War. The idea that Presidents Nixon and Johnson lied ...
Frames of Reference: Divergent Points of View
Public opinion is a powerful yet elusive force in American politics. It is not that people are shy about expressing their views; it is just that the advice is so varied. Like many things in life, people begin developing opinions in childhood. People...
World of Uncertainty: Clinton, Triumphant and Embattled
Bill Clinton rebounds from the mid-term defeat and is in a commanding position to win re-election. His greatest strength is the success of the economy and the reduction of the federal deficit. Conservatives argue that social legislation had only inc...
Successful Campaigns: Image or Reality?
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry debunks the idea that the images of candidates are manufactured by behind-the-scenes image consultants. "This is really about the qualities of the individual who's running and...the camera doesn't lie....