15,000 journalists descended on Boston this week for the Democratic National Convention, and next month's Republican counterpart can expect an equally hefty turnout. By the count of the Northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper, the TIMES LEADER, members of the media outnumbered the delegates six to one. With so many potential sources of information, what kind of coverage is America seeing?

A wide variety, to be sure. Newspapers have reported on the trinkets being sold in Boston and New York City, including gourmet chocolates in the shape of donkeys and elephants. There have been articles on the food service companies vying for a chance to cater high-profile events. Coverage has been ample on celebrity appearances at and around the convention hall. And, of course, newspaper readers, television viewers and Internet surfers can access a vast array of political analysis.

As has been widely reported, ABC, CBS, and NBC aired three hours spread over four nights of the Democratic convention this week. Although this marks a sharp decline in coverage since the 2000 election, the networks have expanded coverage elsewhere, basing nightly news shows from the convention, feeding convention reports to their morning shows, and utilizing their Web sites, cable affiliates and radio networks to channel information. According to USA TODAY, "Some critics say there's been too much talk and commentary from pundits and celebrities, too much promotion of the cable networks' stars and too little coverage of the speeches, delegates and issues before the nation."

Peter Ames Carlin of the OREGONIAN also feels that serious primetime coverage has been inadequate, "For even if the political parties have transformed the gatherings into intricately stage-managed, conflict-free entertainment events, they are still pivotal moments in the election year: the points at which the parties present their cases to the nation."

Similarly, Paul Krugman reports the lack of substantive political reporting in the NEW YORK TIMES:

Somewhere along the line, TV news stopped reporting on candidates' policies, and turned instead to trivia that supposedly reveal their personalities. We hear about Mr. Kerry's haircuts, not his health care proposals. We hear about George Bush's brush-cutting, not his environmental policies.

Cable television, including C-SPAN with its "gavel-to-gavel coverage of the conventions, is one place viewers who have cable access were able to watch more of the action on the convention floor. CNN, CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC and Telemundo all had substantial presences, and non-traditional news outlets such as MTV, Comedy Central, and ESPN also produced shows from the conventions. Radio listeners had National Public Radio to keep them informed. NPR broadcast 3 hours from the convention each evening and two popular morning shows were on location as well.

Those with Internet access have a variety of options, in addition to the offerings of AOL and other media giants. The organizers of this year's Democratic convention decided this year to allow "bloggers," authors of Web logs, to apply for special attendance credentials. One convention spokeswoman said that the Democrats considered blogs an important way of engaging younger voters. Over 30 bloggers were selected this year on the basis of "originality, readership level, and professionalism." The Republican convention will also be admitting bloggers for the first time this year. CyberJournalist.net has published a list of many of the bloggers covering the Democratic National Convention.

What distinguishes the bloggers from the press? Many dedicate themselves to finding fresh ways to share the experience of being at the convention. In addition, they have the distinction of being able to publish unedited observations, and most bloggers don't claim to be objective. In time for the Boston convention, the mainstream media stepped up to the changing times by launching their own high-profile blogging efforts, sometimes recruiting independent bloggers to work as their correspondents. Read a review of the sea of election-focused blogs from Mark Glaser in the ONLINE JOURNALISM REVIEW. Also, PBS's By the People site helps decode the mystery of blogging and links to some prominent sites.

Sources: CNN, Democratic National Committee, NEW YORK TIMES, ONLINE JOURNALISM REVIEW, USA TODAY

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