INPUT / … / … / Covering the Leaders

Public broadcasters are faced with interesting challenges when covering reigning political parties, and especially heads of state or government leaders. Are we tough, are we lenient, are we balanced, are we fair? It’s complicated. Even with an arms length relationship to government and political leaders, public service journalists recognize that theirs is a delicate, difficult, relationship. Are we impervious to charisma and power? Is our relationship a House of Cards? In the following session, the programs grapple with four distinct political leaders and four very different approaches and styles of television coverage. In one program, a South American president hosts a panel about forgiveness. In another, a populist leader runs a grassroots presidential campaign. In a third program, electors face a brand new prime minister to make their case and hear his answers, a fourth shows political legwork with young voters. In this session, as public broadcasters, we ask ourselves: are we serving the public interest or supporting the political interest. Can both be served?