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Surpassing all expectations

Andrew Steele | 09:14 UK time, Friday, 7 March 2008

With the dust settled on the , the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ teams have returned to Washington to regroup. But with the Democratic race in such delicate balance, it's clear we'll only have a short respite before we're back on the road again.

Hillary Clinton and Barack ObamaThe was always going to be the principal element of American coverage this year, indeed one of the world's biggest diary stories in 2008. But the gripping race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is surpassing all expectations.

Within the States, the quantity and quality of election coverage has been a subject of discussion this week - the bemoaned the fact that US networks failed to break their schedules on Tuesday evening to cover the results and left the breaking coverage to cable news stations. In that respect, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ America's special results programme, which was simulcast on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ World and News 24, received an approving mention.

Our challenge on major US stories is to cover for our world audiences with clarity and authority, without appearing simplistic or condescending to our increasing legions of US-based online readers, viewers and listeners. It's also vital for us to get beyond the Democratic horse race to deal with the real issues of the election - Iraq, health care and the economy to name just a few. Matt Frei's moody report this week on is an example of how we're doing this.

But it's a long haul and for the time being, the race for the Democratic nomination dominates air time and column inches. We are now turning our attention not only to states where primaries and caucuses are yet to be held, but also to the mysterious world of the super-delegates - the party grandees who now hold the fate of Obama and Clinton in their hands. The super-delegates are already relishing the limelight - expect their role as king- (or queen-) makers to be a key element of our coverage in the weeks to come.

Comments

At what point was it gripping,

Two candidates the absolute only difference is that one is a white woman and one is a black man,

They stand side by side on every issue, and they are both steeped in the US Establishment.

The race is a show which you happily cover as real

  • 2.
  • At 03:21 PM on 07 Mar 2008,
  • Andrew wrote:

With respect, your remit is cover the US stories with clarity and authority for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ licence payer.

The licence payer funds £3,243m whilst ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide earnings are £111m last year. This should indicate who your audience should be.

This is not to say that US readers views should not be pursued, as obviously they can contribute to debates etc. I'm just arguing that they who pay the piper can choose the tune.

  • 3.
  • At 03:59 PM on 07 Mar 2008,
  • CT wrote:

The coverage of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and other UK based media has been excessive.

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