Media Decides Winner and Losers?

Kudos to WOWO's Pat Miller for a Monday afternoon faux pax, and quick recovery. 

Mr, Miller, WOWO afternoon host and staunch Conservative was interviewing Andy Downs, PFW professor and democrat party activist about Tuesday's Municipal election.

While discussing the Republican candidates in the highly contentious primary race, Mr. Miller remarked that on the Democrat side, incumbent Mayor Tom Henry was unopposed. 

After some texts were sent to WOWO, and running a Gina Burgess for mayor commercial in the next commercial cluster, Mr. Miller quickly mentioned that Ms. Burgess and Tommy Schader were also on the Democrat primary ballot. 

To his credit, Mr. Miller's misstep was minor and was quickly corrected. However, the issue of how the local media generally treats "fringe candidates" continues to show how media is complicit in choosing winners and losers. The cozy relationship between the current political ruling elite and the media elite is easy to see. The Journal Gazette can't seem to decide if Ms. Burgess is a Republican (as stated in print) or a Democrat (as stated in print). Other media feature "mainstream" candidate interviews at more favorable times than those pesky "fringe candidates" because they fear viewers will flee if Tommy Schrader, for example, pops up during a high viewership newscast slot.  

Because media helps determine winners and losers, the Maven ponders the money that could be saved if we just let the news media tell us who our next "rulers" will be.