Day One Of The US Trip
So I have just returned to my hotel room after the first official day of the US election tour 2012. Having met the journalists from all around the world who have been selected for this program, I am now ready to start on the campaign trail.
Day one, like day two will be, was full of seminars designed at giving us a far better insight in to the US electoral process. After being given a full explanation of how the election will take place and all possible scenarios, we were treated to a discussion on the role media plays in the election.
Unlike in Sri Lanka, US media takes the role of “fact checker” very seriously. We were given a detailed explanation of the role of such media, the reactions by both the public and the candidates.
Following this was a discussion focussing on the issues that are being fought over in this election. While the economy was the obvious topic, the interesting aspect was the role of women (an issue I believe the candidates have avoided).
Finally we ended the day off with a discussion focussing on “how much money is needed to be elected”. A great discussion that ended with the obvious answer that no proper restrictions exist over the maximum amount that can be donated to a campaign.
Overall, while the seminars have been great I am raring to get on the campaign trail and follow the candidates as they wrap up the topsy turvy election.
Changing Perspective 
Good stuff Dickson, have to wonder about that fact checker stuff though. How is Romney even a contender if they take fact checking seriously?
Apparently even though media takes it seriously, the public does not.
So would you say the media there isn’t doing its job well, their job being to keep the people informed, not just by telling them, by making it interesting to know. Or are the people just the way they are?
I think the media is doing a good job. But media organizations (especially cable news) have strong political leanings, this allows most people to read/watch/listen to what they want to hear/read/see.
People don’t seem to like being told something they don’t want to hear, while fact checkers are bringing up issues the public seems to choose to ignore it