Media Monitor: Backstage Pass
The Hotline presents our first installment of "Backstage Pass," a behind-the-scenes look at shows shooting on location at the conventions and other media events.
8/24, 8:30 am MT: Set of CBS' "Face the Nation."
Guests: KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), PA Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D), and a "campaign quick check" with Washington Post's Dan Balz.
Scene: On the convention floor (CNN's "Late Edition" was shooting nearby).
Hot topics included the Biden pick and John McCain’s new attack ad featuring Hillary Clinton. Rendell: “This ad will have a three-day life span. When Hillary Clinton speaks on Wednesday night, she will blow this ad out of the water.”
Host Bob Schieffer, as the panel dispersed: "That was terrific. You all were just terrific."
The most interesting (read pointed) exchange involving Rendell and Schieffer, however, took place just hours later.
More after the jump, including pictures.
(KATHERINE LEHR)
8/24, 11 am MT: Joan Shorenstein Center's "The Press and the Election: A Conversation with Sunday Morning TV Moderators."
Panel: PBS' Judy Woodruff, moderator. NBC's Tom Brokaw, Schieffer and ABC's George Stephanopoulos, guests. Rendell delivered the "closing" remarks. Woodruff, introducing the panel: "We have about 150 years of journalistic experience on the stage."
Scene: A sit-down brunch in the Grand Ballroom of the Brown Palace Hotel, one of Denver's swankiest hotels.
Biggest pol sighting: Speaker Nancy Pelosi stopped by for approximately two minutes to mingle.
Biggest showdown: Brokaw vs. Rendell
Following an in-depth conversation between the three moderators over whether Hillary Clinton received unfair press coverage during the Dem primary, Rendell took the podium and turned his body to address Woodruff, Stephanopoulos, Schieffer and Brokaw. Rendell: "Ladies and gentlemen, the coverage of Barack Obama was embarrassing. Embarrassing."
Although he admitted Clinton had a “free ride” during ’07, Rendell accused the press of being in the tank for Obama, and he specifically directed his attacks to Brokaw. Rendell referred to MSNBC as “the network of Barack Obama,” citing that Chris Matthews’ affinity for Obama was apparent in his coverage. Brokaw reminded Rendell that he has gone on record saying Keith Olbermann and Matthews had “gone too far” in their commentary.
In less tense moments, panel members commented on the media’s overall coverage of WH ’08:
Brokaw: “Robust, but uneven.”
Schieffer: “Campaign coverage reflects the campaign.” More: “We need to find a way to shorten the process.”
Stephanopoulos said the coverage has been impacted by the news cycle evolving from twice a day to every five minutes.
When asked the worst guest they’ve ever hosted, Stephanopoulos and Brokaw both answered with presidents of foreign countries -- South Korea and Colombia, respectively -- because of the language barrier. Noting she was “the nicest person ever,” Schieffer named ex-AG Janet Reno. His reasoning? Reno prefaced every answer with “As I have said many times before…” Schieffer: “Lovely person, hard interview.”
Pictured below: Sebelius, Rendell, Jackson Jr. and Schieffer waiting for "Face the Nation" to begin.
And Rendell addressing the "Sunday Morning TV Moderators panel:
