Professor Elam

Wed Jan 13, 2010

THis articles analyses the reasons for Sarah Palin taking a position as analyst at Fox News, now the most watched news station in America. 

I am not making this post necessarily in support of Sarah, but to point out she is doing the same thing that Barack did in leaving Hillary in the dust. 

The traditional route to higher office was to endure endless rounds of interviews on Meet the Press type programs and tours of cities making campaign speeches. Now a position as a 'news analyst' or possibly a talk radio host, grants on an instant audience, without the bother of answering questions. Like Barack, she can use Facebook and Twitter to issue statements. These will be covered by the media, but again skirt the necessity for immediate answers, though of course the blogshpere will post question. 

In other words the social network has allowed politicians a way around the traditional media, no wonder newspaper subscriptions are down.