And there is a vacuum of knowledge that results in shoddy, incomplete, and often inaccurate coverage. The best example of that was the coverage of Easley's public service announcements. The Easley people did a great job of convincing the media that it didn't matter. By and large the media ignored something that 20 years ago would have sunk the candidate. Today, the times are more cynical.
Spin doctors are more sophisticated.
The media missed an important story. The other example was the voucher issue. Richard laid out a very specific plan for school vouchers that was similar to the Florida plan. The Easley campaign distorted that to make it sound as if it is a radical change in education, rather than a constructive reform to be tested. Now, I do give The Charlotte Observer credit.