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Don’t pay attention to the next-day polling data on the VP debate. It doesn’t matter whatsoever. Sure, it’s all you’ll hear over the next 48 hours, but try to tune it out.
Therearetwocommonwaystoevaluatedebates.Thefirstisfavoredbythemainstreammedia:breakdowneveryQ&A,tellyouraudiencewho“won”eachencounter,scorethemomentsthatevokedpositive/negativereactions,andthenasktheaudiencewhotheylikedthemost.
ThisistheFrankLuntzapproach:takeastudioaudience,attach‘emtoadial,andhighlightthemomentswherethedialwasmovedupordown.Then,whichevercandidategotthemost“clicks”isdeclaredthewinnerbyLuntz.
It’sgoodTVbecauseit’shighlydemonstrativeandemotionallymalleable:yougettoreplayalltheemotionallychargedsoundbitesandspintoyourheart’scontent.Itbecomesafeaturestorymasqueradingasanewsstory—andfeaturestoriesaremorefuntoproduce.
Journaliststendtofavorfeaturestoriesbecausetheyallowformorecreativity.
Here’sasneakpeekbehindthevelvetropesofthemainstreammedia:hardnewsisfrickingboring.(Alotofwork,too.Tonsofre
