Promising discretion, networks take over Iowa

ON MEDIA

Democrats might pine for polite polling and discreet coverage of the Iowa caucuses — but broadcasters have been bustling through the state for weeks, plumbing the mysteries of the Midwestern voter.

“The Iowa caucuses are complicated, and if we can offer context, context, context, I’ll be happy,” said CNN political director Tom Hannon from Des Moines, yesterday. “We’ll be cautious in projecting too early, and in over-analyzing anything.”

CNN has a dozen correspondents in place, some broadcasting from a high-tech bus — “a mobile newsroom”— at present in Davenport, but bound for New Hampshire as soon as Iowa becomes an afterthought.

Heavy media presence has the locals worried, however.

Convinced that premature broadcasts of entrance polls could unduly influence voters, the Iowa Democratic Party on Wednesday made a plaintive request to the Associated Press, CNN, FOX, CBS, ABC and NBC to delay releasing poll results for 30 minutes to keep “our caucus night free from outside interference.”

The move could set a precedent for other state officials who fear for their primaries.

The six news organizations form the National Election Pool (NEP), a media consortium that rose from the ashes of the old Voter News Service, disbanded last January after it supplied erroneous information to networks during the 2000 presidential elections and incomplete results during the 2002 midterms.

The credibility of networks came into piquant focus after overeager anchormen initially declared Al Gore the winner in Florida on election night, only to retract their pronouncements.

Few want a repeat performance.

“There’s a misapprehension on the part of the Iowa Democrats,” said CNN’s Mr. Hannon. “We plan to use those polls to reflect issues or the voters, not project a winner.”

“When there’s news, we report it, responsibly and carefully,” noted CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius yesterday.

The Associated Press plans to “scrutinize the polling results and decide how to proceed based on our best news judgment,” according to a spokesman.

Broadcasters are ramping up their coverage while finalizing plans to cover President Bush’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

ABC’s Peter Jennings will anchor “World News Tonight” from Council Bluffs, Iowa, this evening, broadcasting from one of three campaign buses that contain TV and radio broadcast facilities “to cover the national conversation along the campaign trail,” according to ABC.

NBC’s “Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” originates in Des Moines starting tonight, as does Fox News’ “Special Report with Brit Hume.”

CBS News cranks up Sunday with an Iowa edition of “Face the Nation.” NBC’s “Meet the Press” and ABC’s “This Week” also will broadcast from Iowa on Sunday.

Coverage culminates Monday night with a roar: The TV networks plan hourly updates as warranted while the three news channels go wall-to-wall beginning at 6 p.m. and lasting into the wee hours.

• Contact Jennifer harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com or 202/636-3085.