Peepshow: Media and Politics in an Age of Scandal

By Robert S Lichter, Larry J. Sabato, Mark Stencel, et al.

Book Overview

The line dividing public life and private behavior in American politics is more blurred than ever. When it comes to questions about sex, substance abuse and family life, anything goes on the political desk in many newsrooms, including uncorroborated hearsay disguised as news. But some stories still never make it into print or on the air. What are the rules for politicians and journalists in the aftermath of Washington's biggest sex scandal?

Peepshow looks behind the scenes at news coverage of political scandals, analyzing what gets reported, what doesn't, and why. The authors talk with top news editors to get a fix on what will make the evening news and what we're likely to read about in the next campaign season.

The costs of today's politics-by-scandal are mounting, with disaffected voters, discouraged candidates, and a news corps distracted from policy issues and substantive debate. But the forces driving "attack journalism" have as much to do with voters and candidates as they do with what the press is organized to report.

Peepshow offers an alternative view of the prurient side of election coverage, helping newsroom decision-makers and campaign managers see through the inevitable scandals of election year 2000 and gain insight into presenting a politics of public trust.

CASE STUDIES include:

- South Carolina Governor David Beasley's denial of an unsubstantiated extramarital affair;
- Georgia gubernatorial candidate Mike Bowers' admitted affair with his secretary;
- Reporting on rumors sparked by Texas Governor George W. Bush's admission that he was once "young and irresponsible;"
- Congressional affairs involving Representatives Barr, Burton, Chenoweth, Hyde and Livingston;
- The divorces of Bob Dole and John McCain;
- The outing of Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe's and the sexuality of other members of Congress and candidates;
- Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice's off-again, on-again divorce;
- Coverage of Colorado Governor Roy Romer's "affectionate" relationship with a top aide and adviser.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742500101
• ISBN13: 9780742500105
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.1" x 5.9"

Customer Reviews

Great resource

My daughter read this book to help her write a research paper in her government class. I got curious, so I read it too. Excellent information, with lots of concrete examples of media invading the private lives of public figures. Also gives great examples of public figures wanting to use their private lives as part of their campaigns (for public image-building), and then resenting the intrusion of the media. I look forward to an updated edition, since this was published in 2000.

Sanity at last!

I've been waiting for a book like this for a long time. It offers, at last, a clear-headed and incisive analysis of the whole scandal mess in today's media. It's short, to-the-point, delightful reading that I found tremendously entertaining. Anybody who listens to the daily diet of dirty laundry on the news will love this book.