A common lament about political coverage is a lack of focus on issues and an almost obsessive interest in scandal and personality. Was it always like this? And if not, when did tabloid mentality become the norm? Matt Bai provides an answer through his exploration of Gary Hart’s 1986 presidential campaign which ended in scandal following an affair that unleashed a press firestorm.
A common lament about political coverage is a lack of focus on issues and an almost obsessive interest in scandal and personality. Was it always like this? And if not, when did tabloid mentality become the norm? Matt Bai provides an answer through his exploration of Gary Hart’s 1986 presidential campaign which ended in scandal following an affair that unleashed a press firestorm. How much of what you remember about the Hart campaign’s unraveling is true, and was this a tipping point for American journalism and campaign coverage?
