‘Blago-Gate’ Captures Nation's Interest

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In an article published today, the folks at the Pew Research Center report today that the scandal surrounding Illinois Democrat Gov. Rod Blagojevich (a.k.a., “Blago-gate”) filled more than a quarter of the news hole from Dec. 8-14, as measured by the News Coverage Index from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism.

Mark Jurkowitz, associate director of Pew’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, explains how big the story really was during its first week in the public spotlight:

At 28% of the newshole, it generated more coverage than the Russia-Georgia war (26% from Aug. 11-17) and even topped what had been the messiest political scandal of the year, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s dalliance with a prostitute (23% the week of March 10-16). It was the No. 1 story online, on cable news, and in the radio sector and accounted for nearly half the airtime (44%) examined on cable last week.

Will the interest continue?  Of course it will, thanks to two contributing factors:

1) News agencies like AFP are reporting that the voice of Rahm Emanuel, the 5th District Congressman recently named Barack Obama’s chief of staff, shows up in 21 tape-recorded conversations with Blagojevich; and

2) Today, according to reports like this one from Associated Press, Illinois legislators named panel members to begin impeachment proceedings.  Those proceedings are expected to last well into January.

If, for nothing else, Democrats can be counted on to provide plenty of fodder for the political scandal reporting business.

Cartoon courtesy Political Graffiti

-- Bob McCarty Writes