MediaWatch: August 1992
Table of Contents:
Revolving Door: On Board for Gore
On Board for Gore. Al Gore has at least one network veteran on his side. Marla Romash, Press Secretary to Senator Al Gore since 1989, is traveling with Gore's vice presidential campaign entourage. For most of 1984 and early 1985 Romash was an Associate Producer for Good Morning America, meaning she helped book guests. After ABC, she spent three years as a reporter for Hartford CBS affiliate WFSB-TV.
Helping CBS. After choreographing the 1988 Michael Dukakis primary victory and running Senator Bob Kerrey's less successful campaign this year, Tad Devine became "a fully credentialed member of the press" during the Democratic National Convention." The July 14 Boston Globe reported that at the Madison Square Garden event, Devine acted "as a spotter and in-house expert for CBS News."
Democrats Covering Republicans. Last month, MediaWatch listed the names of 17 reporters or executives set to cover or oversee coverage of the Democratic Convention who used to work for Democratic politicians. Names included NBC News Vice President Tim Russert, a former aide to Mario Cuomo; ABC News convention coverage Executive Producer Jeff Gralnick, one time Press Secretary to Senator George McGovern; and CNN reporter Ken Bode, a worker in Morris Udall's 1976 presidential campaign. All will be on hand in Houston to cover the gathering Republicans.
Republicans Covering Republicans. A few reporters who once worked for Republicans will be on hand in Houston, but not many. MediaWatch identified 17 Democrats turned reporters or news executives, but only four Republicans who will cover the Republican National Convention.
ABC News: Joanna Bistany, Vice President and Assistant to the President; Special Assistant to the President for Communications, 1981-83.
CNN: Catherine Crier, co-anchor of convention coverage; Judge elected on the Republican ticket, Texas civil district court, 1984-89.
Fox: Cissy Baker, Vice President and Managing Editor; unsuccessful 1982 Republican congressional candidate in Tennessee.
PBS: David Gergen, analyst during convention coverage; White House Communications Director, early 1980s.
Chicago Tribune: Jack Fuller, Editor; Special Assistant to U.S. Attorney General Edward Levi, 1975-76.
CBS News, NBC News, National Public Radio, Newsweek and Time: None known.
The Democrats also had two former CBS News producers working for them in New York. Republicans will have three media veterans working on their behalf. David Beckwith, Press Secretary to VP Dan Quayle, spent most of the 1980s as a Time reporter. Dorrance Smith, Assistant to the President for Public Affairs since early 1991, spent much of the last decade as Executive Producer of This Week with David Brinkley. Peggy Noonan, occasional speechwriter for George Bush, wrote radio commentaries for Dan Rather in the early 1980s.
