Edwards cites evidence in this eloquent opinion piece, recognizing in the abandonment of issues by the media in search for narrative her husband fared better than others. She documents that curtailment of meaningful analysis and coverage isn't new: "In 1954, the Army-McCarthy hearings an important if painful part of our history were televised, but by only one network, ABC. NBC and CBS covered...snippets on the evening news, but continued to broadcast soap operas in order, I suspect, not to invite complaints from those whose days centered on the drama of The Guiding Light." She also brings to light the 10/07 Project for Excellence in Journalism and Shorenstein Center study that "during the early months of the 2008 presidential ... More »

Most of this article is on point. The quality of major media coverage is an issue, starting with television. However, part of the problem is length of the campaign, cost of conducting a campaign and the number of voters turned of by a combination of these issues. Like most complex issues the problem is complicated and multifacted. This article should at least aknowledge other facets.

Excellent discussion. Given the way her personal life has been buffeted by media sensationalizing of her personal story, a lesser person than Elizabeth Edwards could have spoken from a sense of injury. Instead she takes the high road to try to understand how the public good is at stake. She keeps her sights on big questions about what kind of communicative spaces are needed to keep democracy vibrant.

Eloquent statement of an important problem: entertainment vs. enlightenment and information in the american media.

Clear , even tempered request for the voters to ask for better journalism.

A good commentrary on the perfidy of the corporate news media in working so diligently to control our elections of their benefit. However, I wonder that after contributing so much toward eliminating Biden and others, including her husband (who had the most comprehensive health plan and stood up to the corporations, including the corporate media), if Elizabeth Edwards realizes that the corporate media are now trying their damndest to eliminate Obama. Since they much prefer their darling John McCain, they are now on the attack in many devious ways to diminish Barack Obama.

YES: Way to go Elizabeth. We are facing such vital challenges, and yet the supposed news about the candidates is almost all meaningless sensationalism. The "debates", with the exception of the ones hosted by the Black Forum and Olbermann's moderating at Soldier's Field, were almost exclusively concentrating on the press designated leading candidates, and the others rarely had an opportunity to put their positions forward to the national audience. By continuing to foster the notion that the Democratic nomination is still a battle and not already mathematically settled, I assume so they can keep their ratings up, they are encouraging false hope and also misleading people with limited incomes to donate to a campaign that has no ... More »

Hurray for Elizabeth. She's "spot on"!