Why issues does patterson have with the media?

1. Negative news bias undermines candidates -
   1. They want and will give attention to the best way they can get ratings, there is a bias towards negative information.
   2. Negative attitude of government in Washington + specific candidates
   3. Gives certain reference lens of candidates - IE Clinton's bad and no matter what new imformation we find about her doesn't chagne our opinion
      1. POWER OF THE NARRIATIVE Ie both dole and gore fell out a stage
         1. Dole lost it because he was old and teetering while Gore just lost his balance
   4. Consider Geer's point - Is negative news all that bad?
      1. it attracts views
      2. more information sometimes comes from when you do negative information.
      3. We pay much more attention to negative things.
2. Focuses on character rather than policy
3. Goals of the process are not clear for a journalists
   1. Media aren't invested in the outcome

Why is this problematic-Because they are not nominating people for rational reasons, rather because they are new and sensational

KEY POINT IN PATTERSON - Media is a miscast insitution to introduce candidates to the public - gives us substandard political candidates

Suggests we ought to put more focus on the parties and their ideas

Vo Key-Echo Chamber
- If media is negative, we will echo those sentiments