1996-1997 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
What Role Does and What Role Should The Media Play In Choosing Our Candidates For National Office?
"The other morning the alarm went off and the radio came on
and instead of the usual hit song I awoke to a political commercial supporting Larry
Craig, who ran for Senate from Idaho. The commercial basically just told of all the
horrible things Craig's opponent, Walt Minnick, has done. About fifteen minutes later a
commercial supporting Walt Minnick began. It explained all of the nice stuff he wanted to
do for Idaho. I thought it was interesting that Larry Craig, the incumbent, felt he needed
to bash his opponent Walt Minnick, while Walt Minnick simply presented himself and didn't
even mention Larry Craig. To me, that shows a sense of insecurity in Craig and causes me
to sway more toward Minnick. So it isn't always the content of the ads that is important
but the way they are presented. And I personally listen to the radio more often than I
read the paper so those ads have more of an influence on me."
Erika R. Cantamessa, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Political ads say nothing about the maker, but only
bad-mouth their opponent. They try to show that their opponent is not qualified for the
office. These ads do nothing for Americans. They only cause confusion and make it so
America does not know where the candidates stand on the issues at hand. The role of any
form of news media is to present the public with information pertaining to current events
and to watch potential lawmakers near election time and while they are in office. They
should present an unbiased view at all times."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Many people do not even listen to the commercials even
though the candidates spend most of their money on ads that will be aired on a major
television station."
Scott Thomas, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"I asked Ms. Joni Lueck and Mr. Steve Massey how they each
keep track of stories printed on the both sides of a political race. I assumed it was in
their newspapers' best interest to keep the coverage in almost equilibrium. Mr. Massey of
the Spokesman-Review told me of the computerized record at his newspaper office. The
system works by typing candidates' names into the computer and a list of all previous
stories about them or involving them are shown on the screen. At our local newspaper, the
Shoshone News-Press, record is kept only by reporter memory. This unreliable method could
allow favorable coverage to a particular candidate. The media should try to balance their
attention to both sides of a race, but they must only be impartial in a professional
sense."
Lucia D. Gregory, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Often times the incumbent will get more coverage. This is
mostly because the media knows more about the incumbent than the challenger because they
have been in the public eye for so much longer."
Shiloh Tesch, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Reporters Joni Lueck, of the Shoshone News Press, and Steve
Massey, of the Spokesman Review, agreed that they have misquoted a candidate but never did
they do it intentionally. Also, they claimed that how the candidate threats them during
the interview has absolutely no reflection on the article written. However, I have been
told by Joni that writing the article is easier when the candidate has a positive attitude
and is open towards her. I know that I would have a better attitude about writing my
article when the person I interview also has a good attitude. When Joni Lueck does not
write a direct quote, she makes sure to paraphrase the equate. She often feels that it is
important to record all interviews with a tape recorder to delete any mistakes that might
occur. She also will call to confirm a quote if she is not positive about it."
Lisa Calabretta, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"If they are a democrat and they are covering a republican
they can't show that they disagree with the republican candidate, which must be very
difficult. Even if it is just an issue they disagree with, they can't show they disagree
in their article because it will influence the readers to think the same way they do and
that is unfair to the candidate…Mr. Messey admitted that he indeed inadvertently
misquoted people but he also added that it was never on purpose, that just in the hurry of
things misquoting and misunderstanding happens."
Leesa Johnson, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"The writers and broadcasters with which the public has
become familiar present candidate's standings on issues that may be on the minds of the
American people. these views, more often than not, are untouched by the journalist's own
thoughts, beliefs, and opinions."
Justin Peters, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"While I read and listen about a candidate, it is always in
the back of my mind that what is being said just might not be true."
Lisa Calabretta, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Most reporters and publishers put aside their biased
attitudes when doing a story or an interview."
Steven Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"In school when we hold class officer elections we don't have debates, and the candidates don't make big speeches. Winning is based on how well everyone knows you. Of course this system wouldn't work on a larger scale. This is where the media comes in. Their job, in a nutshell, is to keep the public informed. In the case of elections, especially national elections, their job is to make the candidates seem like peers; people we grew up with. In order to make an informed decision the public has to understand the candidates, how they think and how they react in different situations. The public needs to understand each candidate as though they had known them a life time. Only they need this understanding in a year or less and it is the media's duty to give them that understanding through articles, interviews and coverage of debates, as well as the candidates own campaign ads and commercials.
The problem with the media is how they choose to cover the
candidates. IN most cases it seems that they are more concerned with exploiting each
candidate's past than telling what the candidates are like now and what they plan to do in
office. On October 30th, when Joni Lueck, of the Shoshone News Press, and Steve Massey, of
the Idaho Spokesman Review came and spoke to our English class, Steve made an interesting
point about how he decides what parts of a person's past are relevant to an election. His
points related well to our own president. In many television stories Clinton's past (draft
dodging, drug experimentation) are brought up. But that stuff, which occurred several
years ago, is irrelevant as long as it hasn't been repeated, so it shouldn't be brought
up. However, more recent incidents, like Whitewater, in addition to his past, bring up
serious questions about Clinton's character and ability to run the country and so should
be addressed. Also, Joni said that at their newspaper office they tried to make sure each
candidate was equally covered, but added that it often appears to the public that the
incumbent receives more coverage because that person has been in the spotlight longer and
in the long run more articles have been written about them. Steve commented that reporters
can't just report what the politicians say, they have to represent the candidates
truthfully. These were only local reporters though and they did give the impression that
on the national level the issues seemed to be lost in the candidates sordid lives."
Erika R. Cantamessa, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Jack Riggs told the class he spent twenty thousand dollars
on his campaign, and Dan Scheirman said he spent six thousand dollars…This money
could be raised to help the state or the national deficit."
Ernest Ouellett, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"By presenting early results, it has made Americans feel
their vote was pointless."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"In interviews with candidates, the media tends to twist
words around to make the candidates appear as if they are against things that would be
beneficial to the society. I can see how the media could take things wrong. They should
just quote what the candidates day and put that into text or on the air and leave it to
the public to take from it what they will."
Colby Mattel, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Television is probably the most influential form of media
there is. Steve Massey a reporter for the Spokesman Review newspaper, was quoted as saying
that the biggest reason for this is that, 'We are an image-oriented society.' We relate
better to people whose faces we have seen on the television. People are more likely to
vote for someone that they have seen on television than for someone whose name they do not
recognize or face they cannot recollect seeing."
Steven Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"Unfortunately I was unable to interview someone from a
television station, but [TV], being a visual form,…appearance [is an important] as
the issues. It would be almost impossible to [support] a candidate on issues, when he is
seen as a single-tooth bum, dressed in messed jeans, and a ripped shirt."
Ian Cotter, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"In some cases, the incumbent has a harder time with the
media than the challengers, because the press has had longer to dig things up about an
incumbent's past, or something they have done while in office to irritate the public.
Steve Massey of the Idaho Spokesman Review says, 'When the press digs up something about a
person's past they are not just trying to make the candidates look bad, but show the
public what kind of person the candidate is.' In my opinion, the media takes things too
far sometimes when they print things about the candidates. 'But whose to say what's too
far, and what's acceptable,' says Joni Lueck and Steve Massey."
Colby Mattel, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"When [Idaho State Senator] Riggs was asked whether he
thought the incumbent had the advantage he had this to say: 'I think the incumbent has the
advantage because people know what he has done and done well and they have the experience
of working with the media.' While Sheriff Scheirman on the other hand had this to say;
'the incumbents do not have the advantage because people have seen him work and they do
not all agree on his actions and often do not want to see that person in office again.'
Mr. Schierman ended up winning the election, primarily because of these two reasons."
Scott Thomas, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"On the front page of an October issue of the Shoshone News
Press, are two ads that state, 'We back Jack Riggs! Endorsed by the Coeur d' Alene Press.'
If the average voter saw these, they may think that since the Coeur d' Alene Press backs
Jack Riggs, then maybe they should vote for Mr. Riggs also. If this becomes the case, then
the press fails to do their job."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Looking at a typical election year, one finds that the media
is almost in control of the election. It is the media who decides which candidates we see
or hear, and which issues we concern ourselves with. If a network does not want to give
coverage to a specific candidate, or issue, the public is not informed. During an
'info-mercial,' Ross Perot stated that he '…was not allowed to buy the TV time
needed…'"
Justin Peters, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"In television, their main complication, I think, would be
getting the information before anyone else. When it comes to the radio, I believe it would
have to be difficult to make their station sound interesting and worth listening to."
Leesa Johnson, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Another place where the press may influence Americans is the
[letters to the editor]. The policy is that letters may not be printed that are deemed
inflammatory or libelous. This seems not to be the case for politicians. In the October
28th issue, Dan Schierman, Shoshone County Sheriff, wrote a letter attacking his opponent.
Schierman said that everything his opponent said about him was a lie. Schierman also said
that he would be the best choice. Even if all of the information in Mr. Schierman's letter
was [correct], with such strategic timing of the letter, his opponent would have little
time to offer his rebuttal."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Every morning, I get up, take a shower and listen to 94.5
KHTQ F.M. of Spokane, Washington. On October 30, 1996, I heard a commercial for Walt
Minnick that was about [Idaho's'] Larry Craig (candidate for U.S. Senate). Walt Minnick
attacked Craig stating that Craig should not get votes because he was in the military for
two weeks then discharged because he had blisters on his feet. And now he was trying to
take money away from the military. I found myself thinking, what did this have to do with
the election. Minnick then went on to say that Craig tried cutting education budgets
because he thought that the education was good enough in Idaho. I didn't think this was
appropriate to put on the radio because it had nothing to do with the election. Then after
that commercial one came on having to do with the Helen Chenoweth and Dan Williams race.
Dan Williams was saying how Chenoweth thought there was no Salmon problem in Idaho when
there obviously is. Again, I thought this had nothing to do with the election
itself."
Scott Thomas, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"My English class spoke to two representatives of the media in October of 1996. Steve Massey, from our regional newspaper, and Joni Lueck, from our local newspaper, came to answer our questions. Mr. Massey made it clear to us that it is not the media's job to print stories on every candidate unless they wish to do so. It is the candidates' job to publicize themselves. I believe the media's job is to cover the important issues in a political race, but it should not be up to them to educate the electorate about the candidates in a race…The media does not want to be anyone's enemy. They have a job to do just like everyone else. I believe that reporters try their best to be impartial and to be sure that the truth comes out. They do not write biased articles in the newspaper, except in the opinion page. The media does not want to enrage the public with a slanted story or headline. they want to build up a reliable and scrupulous reputation. The media is all privately owned, consequently they can endorse or cover a candidate as they wish.
Jack Riggs, candidate for Idaho State Senate, felt that the
national media likes to create stories because they are just out to sell newspaper,
magazines or to get a jump in the ratings. This may be true, but I still believe that they
try to produce accurate reports. It was also in the opinion of Mr. Riggs that the media
sources in the Northwestern United States are more honest. I do not understand how he
could possibly know this. I believe that the local media are more likely to keep stories
closer to fact because there is less distance between the reporter and the politician. The
local media is much more personal."
Lucia D. Gregory, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"On October 16 of this year, incumbent Senator Larry Craig and incumbent Idaho Representative Helen Chenoweth visited our school here in Wallace, Idaho. Mrs. Chenoweth spent about twenty minutes talking about her views and the things she is trying to do for the community. CNN was covering the meeting and filmed about a five minute segment of her speech. A question was asked about the mining and forestry industries. She did her best to run around it and avoid a straight answer. When I brought this to her attention, I immediately had a camera in my face and a microphone over-head. Our conversation lasted about seven minutes and the cameras never budged. This gave me the impression that the news casters were trying to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Chenoweth putting her foot in her mouth…When asked what role the media plays in choosing our candidates, Joni Lueck replied that the media served as a kind of 'watchdog', reporting the goods and bads of both the candidates and the office holders, telling the problems they solved as well as the problems they have created.
Joni Lueck believes the media does their job by informing. Jack Riggs [candidate for Idaho State Senate] believes that the media informs but at the same time tries to create good a story, even if it means stretching the truth. I believe that a story is not as important as informing the public so that the best choice possible is made when the votes are cast. Our jobs, our community, and the future of our country are being put in the hands of the candidates that win the elections, and media plays a big part of that decision.
So what role does the media play? The media plays whatever role
will catch them a story. The media should play the role of truth-finder, watchdog, and
most importantly, informer."
Shiloh Tesch, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"On the candidates side of it, Jack Riggs and Dan Schierman,
candidates for local office, stated that the media has done a good job quoting them. One
exception, Sheriff Schierman had to say, was in October, the Shoshone News Press did not
put his explanations into the article. They published the main quote but then left it to
be understood in different ways, which is what often happens. On Friday, October 25, 1996,
Susan Drumheller, of the Spokesman Review, directly quoted Senator Jack Riggs as saying,
'It seems like there is so much discussion about a not-existent problem. I haven't seen a
case of lead poisoning. I don't think it is a problem.' Susan Drumheller gave the
impression that he was talking about the area around the Silver Valley, which we all know
has many cases of lead poisoning, while he recalls talking about that issue during an hour
interview but his comment was about the Coeru d' Alene Lake area. That publication was a
front a page headline, while the retraction of it will not likely be on the front page or
have a major headline…Another job for the media is to keep the campaigns honest by
checking the accuracy of campaign advertisement. This years election was closely watched
over by CBS and KREM 2 with daily, up-to-date 'Reality Checks'."
Lisa Calabretta, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"The media does a good job letting the public know who is
running for office and about that person. I also believe that the media does a poor job
[discussing important] issues…the media feels…are too boring. I say print the
issues so the public has a better understanding of the candidate. The media
is…preoccupied by less important personal characteristics…when what [the public
needs] to hear is how this person is going to make this country better. What is this
person going to do for us, not what he is going to with his daughter or how often he jogs
around the neighborhood. I believe the media needs to [focus on] the important issues even
it is boring; people [need] to know what they are voting for."
Ernest Ouellett, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Since I work at the local newspaper, I am somewhat involved with the media…I feel that without the media, candidates would have to spend much more money on their campaigns. Without newspapers, television, and radio, broadcasting would be virtually nonexistent to the average candidate. The only people who would receive adequate recognition would be the ones with more money than the typical middle-class working person. The ordinary person would not be able to reach the entire electorate because of the lack of funds to advertise. I feel that without the interviews of the media, which I might add are free of charge to the candidate, candidates would not be able to sufficiently relay their views to the public. This would mean that the public would not really know the views of the candidates. Instead they would just be voting for the candidates whose names they recognize and on the political signs they see.
I also feel that without the media, those in office would have a
definite advantage over the challengers. They would have the advantage in the name-game.
The people know the names of those in office and if they do not have a real problem with
the way things have been going, they will vote for them again and again. I suppose there
is no real problem here but I feel that the people are being left out when they are not
aware of what the candidates stand for. The voter could be pro-life and the candidate
could be pro-choice and still be voting for that candidate…If the public is not well
informed of the views of the candidates, obviously the people are not the ones running the
government"
Krista Kinsey, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Without the media the candidates would have a hard time
getting elected. They depend on the media to cover what they are doing and why they are
doing it. Without the media people or voters would not be able to decide who is better for
the office they are running for. Sometimes, the candidate that might have been better does
not get elected because he could not get his name and what he wants to do for the nation
in the minds of the voter."
Leesa Johnson, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"The media plays a big role in electing a candidate for
national office. The coverage and the way the reporter feels about the candidate
influences the reader, watcher, and listener…The candidate depends on accurate and
truthful coverage from the media to get his name and beliefs to the voter."
Donald Tirpik, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"All types of the media can be helpful, yet threatening at
the same time. There should be greater discretion on the part of the media…Radio
stations should give candidates equal air time or no air time. The media aims to please
the public and they do generally seem to do that, although their idea of pleasing may mean
the misrepresentation of a candidate…The most interesting candidates do tend to get
more coverage which may give them an unfair advantage, but it is up to the candidates to
get votes and their character is probably a big factor."
Steven Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Before one could analyze and say what role the media should
play, you have to first understand what role it does play in the process of electing for
these offices. The media does not necessarily give the candidates equal coverage, but when
running for national office it seems the coverage is pretty even. During election time,
national news stations do a thorough job of covering most candidates, which in turn adds
to greater awareness in voters decision and influence."
Ian Cotter, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"The media, whose sole job is to get information to the
American public and be the 'watchdog' of government, wields a tremendous power. It
influences people to think and vote a certain way. The media plays a major role in
choosing the national candidates by influencing public opinion, but in reality they should
only play the role of public informer."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Steve Massey, from the Idaho-Spokesman Review, said '[The
newspapers] deal too much with mudslinging, but it's an easy story.' An 'easy story'. From
this statement, one gets the impression that journalists have become lazy and will use
nearly anything to catch the public's eye."
Justin Peters, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"A candidate faced with an accusation, can make an ad that
accuses their opponent of the same thing. The Larry Craig versus Walt Minnick campaign in
Idaho took exactly this turn. For weeks before the election, all of Larry Craig's
advertisements said that he was against nuclear waste in Idaho. The ads then said that
Walt Minnick wanted to turn Idaho into a toxic waste dump. Walt Minnick's campaign ads
shot back by saying the same thing about Larry Craig, trying to show Larry Craig as the
bad guy."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Television can turn a political race into a name-calling
jamboree. Candidates choosing this option have an upperhand against opponents who have too
much integrity to use the same hurtful tactics to gain a seat in office. The media should
be aimed at covering the candidates and that candidates issues rather than trying to ruin
the reputation of another candidate…In the closing weeks and days before the election
there were countless commercials on several channels where Walt Minnick, Idaho's
democratic Senate-seeker, accused Larry Craig, his Republican opponent, of several
different negative deeds including wanting to dump toxic waste in Idaho."
Steven Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Ross Perot spent 50 million dollars on 4 one half hour
info-mercials to be aired the night before the election. This in part helped him get votes
and get recognized in the nation."
Scott Thomas, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"My class also spoke to two candidates in our local election.
They were running in different races, one as an incumbent while the other as a challenger.
Both had positive opinions of the media. Politicians must maintain a good working
relationship with reporters. Candidates are so eager to be good friends with the media
because any appearance or interview is like free advertising. They want as much exposure
as possible. If a politician is negative or rude to reporters, it could hurt them in the
future. Those same reporters could decide to give less attention to that candidate, or
even to cover the other candidate for the same position more…"
Lucia D. Gregory, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"When interviewed on October 28 of this year, incumbent Shoshone County Sheriff Dan Scheirman was asked if the media was fair or if the candidate's interviews were ever changed to cut or increase the candidates chances of winning. He answered that often time the media would not print parts on an interview if the result was not what was expected. He also stated that the truth is sometimes twisted to make a better story…
When asked the same question, State Senate challenger, Jack Riggs,
said the press may cut parts of the interview and fill it in with false details. However
90 percent or more of his interviews have been very accurate. Riggs also explained that
some candidates may confuse what they say so that they may be viewed in a more positive
way. An untrue report cannot always be blamed on the media. The candidates are often at
fault."
Shiloh Tesch, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"The media did not allow presidential candidate Ross Perot to
debate in the 1996 presidential debates. They figured that Ross Perot would be unable to
win, so they did not let him debate. According to the media, the electorate wasted their
vote if they chose Ross Perot."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"When presidential candidate Bob Dole went to shake a mans
hand in the audience and ended up falling off the stage, It nearly scared my mother and me
to death. Any person falling is dangerous, let alone a man in his seventies. I watched
'Extra' on KREM 2 right after the incident and they played re-run after re-run of the
falling. It seemed to me that they were mocking him when it would have been just as good
not to laugh and not make that old man look or feel bad. If I fell off a stage, I would
not like to see myself falling, replay after replay for days on television."
Lisa Calabretta, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Sometimes candidates do not answer the question in a
straightforward answer in fear of losing votes…I believe it would be easier for the
media if the candidates that were running for office would stand up for what they believe
in and stop fearing vote loss and speak their minds and tell the public what they believe
in a straight forward fashion."
Leesa Johnson, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"As part of the public, I have a problem understanding just
what the candidates are saying because they can stay in the middle, and do not offend
anyone. In today's society, the politicians are seen as lying, backstabbing, and filthy
people. And in some ways the media is responsible for this…It seems like the press
just reports or prints the things that are slanderous or that might be misconstrued in a
slanted point of view. It is as if they are just looking for something to make the
candidates fit every stereotype that society has come up with for politicians."
Colby Mattel, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"Two politicians also came and spoke to our English class on
October 28th, to tell us what they thought of their own media coverage. Jack Riggs, who
ran for Idaho State Representative from our district, said over and over that he felt the
media had treated him very fairly. That he had received only truthful, positive coverage
from the press. He added that he had been well warned from his campaign people that the
last week could be pretty terrible because there was too little time before the election
for a candidate who had been falsely accused of some scandalous act to clear his name. Dan
Scheirman, who ran for County Sheriff…agreed that he also has received only positive
and precise coverage from the media. And according to election results the media certainly
did not hurt either of these men's chances, as they both won by landslides."
Erika R. Cantamessa, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Even though the newspapers think they do a public service by
presenting all of the survey results and information as to whom leads in the polls, they
only help one candidate to win the election. By showing one candidate's very large lead
over another candidate, they make the public feel that their votes would not count if they
voted for anyone but the person in the lead."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Clearly stated in the First Amendment of the United States
Constitution, congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press. However, does
the Constitution protect the victims of the words of the press? Does the media have the
right to judge or distort the public's impression by reporting actions that are not
relevant? How involved should the media get in choosing candidates for national
office?"
Lisa Calabretta, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"I believe that role of educating the electorate belongs to
special interest groups, political parties, and the candidates themselves."
Lucia D. Gregory, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"With Columns that compare and contrast the candidates and
their views, everyone would be fairly and equally represented."
Shiloh Tesch, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"In conclusion I believe the that the role the media plays
is, they try to make everything interesting. They are not very interested in the beliefs
and issues that are really important. The role they should play is different. They should
let people know who the candidates are and what they are interested in. Then leave it to
the people to decide who is interesting and who is not."
Ernest Ouellett, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"When coverage is given to one candidate, the opponent should
be given an equal chance to defend [him/her self]."
Justin Peters, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Restrictions must be thrown at the media in order to prevent
the destruction of the electoral process…The unlikelihood
of an honest media is disheartening but there is always
hope."
Steven Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"I think we should start limiting the media…If people
were to only see a candidate once a week, rather than every other day, maybe America as a
whole will become more interested in the issues, instead of the candidates."
Ian Cotter, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
" I have heard false stories in the media about my
mother, who ran for re-election for the Idaho State Senate in 1992, so I know not to
believe everything I hear and read. The media has a tough job but I think they make it too
difficult…Let the candidates control what they say…Do not give them 'free
publicity', make them work for it. The media should stay out of the personal lives of the
candidates."
Lisa Calabretta, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho
"Why is everyone so worried about articles being interesting?
I don't want 'interesting' to run my country or state or even my town. I'm more interested
in what the candidate is going to do for my country or state or town, that is what is
really important and interesting."
Ernest Ouellett, Wallace High School, Wallace Idaho
"In the election of the 2000, the American society will have
two choices; pick their president or have the media do it for them."
Sean Shelley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho