February 8, 1996
LESTER M. CRYSTAL, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER, ON THE POLITICAL YEAR AHEAD
The NewsHour team will be bringing comprehensive 1996 campaign coverage to public television viewers. It began in January with the National Issues Convention and continues through election night. With the Iowa Caucuses next Monday and the New Hampshire Primary on February 20th, the Online NewsHour gives you the opportunity to question Les Crystal about what to expect.
 Click here for NewsHour coverage of the 1996 Presidential election.
A question from Paul Henriques of Tokyo, Japan
Will the NewsHour be devoting any coverage to third-party
candidates in the months ahead? If so, how do you decide
which parties to include and how much time they deserve?
Les Crystal responds:
We have no specific plans at this time to cover third party candidates. However, we will be watching the activities of third party candidates very closely. If a third party candidate qualifies for federal matching funds, we will then give serious consideration to coverage. Also, if a third party candidate starts to receive poll approval above the 10% level, that will be another important factor in our decision making.
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A question from Berna Creel of Washington, D.C.
I watched your stump speech by Alan Keyes last night and I wondered, How do you cover
more fringe candidates? Do you offer them the same opporunities afforded a Bob Dole
or Steve Forbes? And maybe, more importantly, should you?
Les Crystal responds:
Qualification for matching funding and/or strong showings in the polls are the factors which determine whether we cover fringe candidates. Since September, we have interviewed nine of the Republican candidates and broadcast stump speeches of eight. There are 45 candidates who have filed for the primary in New Hampshire. We obviously cannot give them all equal coverage and treatment. We give attention to those who have significant political records and reputations and for those who meet the previously mentioned criteria.
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A question from Robyn Turner of Charlotte, NC
I've never seen a NewsHour poll. Is this a financial or
philosophical decision? What do you think the responsible
way to utilize poll numbers are in an election and how do you
plan to use them in the upcoming election?
Les Crystal responds:
We don't commission our own polling for both financial and philosophical reasons. Our budget is not large enough to make it possible, but more important, there are many organizations who poll and we are able to report their findings. Pollsters also are willing to come on our program to analyze and explain the polls. We see our mission as a program which analyzes the news and discusses the issues. We do not have to do our own polling to accomplish this.
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A question from Evlyn Gant of Kent, Connecticut
Are you going to get beyond the issues addressed
by the candidates? I think you should do in-depth reports on
Dole and Gramm's records throughout their long political careers
so we can see how they've changed and get a better idea of what they
really think and believe.
Les Crystal responds:
We already have done in-depth discussions of many of the key issues in the political campaign and we will do much more. Because there are so many candidates in the Republican field, we have elected to wait until after the nominees have been selected to look closely at their records.
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A question from Emily Strem of Laramie, WY
How do you choose what to cover? What about local politics?
Are you going to look at local races?
Les Crystal responds:
Selecting stories for coverage is one of the most difficult and important things we do. Significance is the critical factor. How important an issue or event is to the country and/or large groups in the society are the main determinants. General interest is the next major consideration. As you know, we don't pick stories for their ratings potential. We may look at some local races or issues if they reflect national concerns. We certainly will cover some key Senate and House races.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
Comments from visitors to our site, in addition to those answered by Lester Crystal.
Martin Arant
Irvine, California
Alaska Straw Poll
I was absolutely shocked at your coverage
this evening of the Republican Presidental candidates. You
started your newcast by showing the results of the Alaska
straw poll... won by Pat Buchanan, and then you proceeded
to show polls which indicated that Buchanan was holding
a 3rd place lead in upcoming primaries. Then, you
spent the entire segment totally ignoring the Buchanan candidacy.
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John Stebbins,
Ventura CA
Lack of Coverage of Alan Keyes
In the Newshour today you covered the Alaska campaign never once commenting on Alan Keyes' fourth place finish in the Alaska Primaries. Alan Keyes consistently places in second, third and fourth places in straw polls, but nobody ever mentions him. He finished ahead of Gramm and Alexander in Alaska, yet you commented extensively on these two without ever mentioning Alan Keyes. The true miracle is that Alan Keyes continues to do so well in spite of the total neglect...
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Jeff Rogers,
San Antonio, Texas
NIC Wrap-up
I watched the first two sessions of the NIC (National Issues Convention),
and enjoyed them emmensely. The concept promotes democracy at its finest.
Unfortunately, I missed the last session -- I would like to know how I can
get a copy of the results of the deliberative poll. I feel that this is the real
essence of the whole process, and would like to share the pre-test
and post-test results with my students.
It will be interesting to see how this influences the
Presidential candidates... Dr. Fishkin and
all responsible for the actual implementation of this
"experiment" are to be applauded.
[Editor's Note: the NIC deliberative poll results have been released. Click here for the results.]
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