How Does The MKE Journal Sentinel Cover Politics In WI?

With the various announcements about veteran pols not running for their seats in the future and eager newcomers interested in unseating some of the nefarious incumbents…it is interesting how much ink Milwaukee’s major paper gives to campaign announcements.

For instance, as Zach posted on October 15th, that Democrat Amar Kaleka will run against GOP Rep. Paul Ryan in 2014. This is unexpected news and will lead to an important primary and discussion about the state of our national government and Rep. Paul Ryan’s lack of leadership. How much space did MJS give it? One column by about 3 inches in print and just this on JSOnline:

Amar Kaleka, the son of the Sikh temple president who was killed along with five others in a shooting rampage at their Oak Creek temple, announced his intention to challenge Rep. Paul Ryan.

Kaleka, a 35-year-old Democrat, says he’s running to restore accountability to Congress.

Also Monday, the Democrat who failed to unseat Ryan last year revealed plans for an “announcement rally” at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Rob Zerban has formed a congressional exploratory committee but he hasn’t formally announced his candidacy. Committee coordinator Al Benninghoff says the Oct. 26 event is being billed as an “announcement rally” but he didn’t have further details.

Zerban is a former Kenosha County board member.

So half the article is about Rob Zerban, his potential opponent in a Democratic primary!

And in that same day’s paper, MJS wrote about Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel’s entry as a Republican into the contest to replace Wisconsin Attorney General JB Van Hollen. How much space did this garner? About a fifth of a page and a full color picture…as shown HERE.

Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel formally announced his run for state attorney general next year, pledging Monday to fight Internet crime and combat heroin and other opiate drug abuse if he’s elected.

Schimel opened his campaign Monday on the steps of the Waukesha County Courthouse with more than 20 county sheriffs and municipal police chiefs standing behind him in support of his candidacy. The general election will be held Nov. 4, 2014.

Schimel is the first Republican to enter the race to replace two-term incumbent J.B. Van Hollen, who announced this month he would not seek another four-year term.

His 23 years of experience as a prosecutor in Waukesha County have prepared him to become the next attorney general, Schimel said.

But in the Journal Sentinel’s defense they also spent some space on discussing other possible entrants in the AG race…but really 3 inches to a fifth page…and no photo??? WTF?

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6 thoughts on “How Does The MKE Journal Sentinel Cover Politics In WI?

  1. Ed, we’ve all known for a while that the Journal Sentinel is completely in the bag for Republicans in Wisconsin.

    However, thanks for crystallizing it.

  2. NQ: I am sure that being a neophyte, Mr. Kaleka didn’t have the dramatic announcement presser that Mr. Schimel had. And certainly he didn’t have all of the uniformed police surrounding him. BUT his back story is far more interesting and might actually resonate with the public a bit more than the DAs.

    Either way these are both high profile races for WI and should get something closer to equal attention in the press.

  3. You are so, so wrong about the JS. It’s a great paper. I have a Sunday-only subscription and sometimes they make a mistake and I get TWO coupon inserts.
    I will not have you disparaging Wisconsin’s best shopper.

  4. Thanks Sue, the first thing I do every Sunday morning is tear out all of the advertising inserts…they hit the recycling bin just after lunch…so swing by and double your shopping opportunities!

  5. In all fairness…I just want to acknowledge…that the MJS gave Rob Zerban’s announcement that he will again run for Rep. Paul Ryan’s seat exactly the same amount of space that they allotted to Mr. Kaleka!

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