A look at The Herald's primary campaign coverage

BY EDWARD SCHUMACHER-MATOS

ombudsman@MiamiHerald.com

Ana Navarro, a lawyer and political junkie who contributes her services to the John McCain campaign, wrote to The Miami Herald with what some readers might consider a typical complaint.

''Your post-primary headlines from the various previous primaries, including last night's, are very similar,'' she said after the Wisconsin vote. 'You lead with Obama winning and then it's almost an afterthought (in my unbiased opinion) that `McCain Also Wins.' ''

Obama is pictured more on the front page, too, she said. ``What's up with that?''

Someone called Pat, on the other hand, posted this online: ``I read a lot of news on the Internet each morning, but when I get to your paper, it is very apparent that you lean extremely right. One of your articles in today's issue, for example, is contrary to what I'm reading in other news regarding McCain's contacts with K-Street people and his decisions resulting from those contacts.''

So, what's the truth? Does The Miami Herald news coverage favor the Democrats or the Republicans? I reviewed the front pages from the last six weeks, and what I found might surprise many readers. I found nothing.

Or, rather, I found a lot, including things to watch, but no appreciable bias.

I arrived at that conclusion by creating the Ombudsman Index. If you have a better method, tell me, though I think that mine, while subjective, accurately shows tendencies.

I awarded one point for each full front page story and a half point for a brief. I then awarded extra half points for the glamour treatment of big photos or headlines. In stories devoted to both parties, I awarded a half point if the lead and front page text dwelt on one. We'll come back to tone.

According to the Ombudsman Index, the Republican presidential candidates were the beneficiaries of most of the coverage in the first two weeks, which bracketed the Florida primary. They scored 16 points, to 7.5 for the Democrats.

There was, however, good reason for the difference. The Democrats hardly campaigned in Florida. The Republicans did, and so got most of the coverage. Their presences had to do with how the two parties differently punished Florida for moving up its primary date.

In the weeks since the Super Tuesday primaries on February 5, coverage has reversed. By Thursday, when this column is completed, the Democrats had scored 13 points to the Republicans' 9.

There was good reason for this, too. Mitt Romney pulled out after Super Tuesday and took the Republican drama with him. While former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is running a minor insurgency and the far right is out of joint, Sen. John McCain is the presumptive winner.

In the Democratic primary, however, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are locked in an epic battle that has both Republicans and Democrats mesmerized. Once a winner emerges, and assuming McCain formally closes his race, readers rightfully should expect The Miami Herald to dedicate equal attention to the two parties and their standard-bearers. Indeed, that is what Executive Editor Anders Gyllenhaal promised Ms. Navarro, the McCain supporter.

''We've worked hard to try to strike a clear balance on these primaries -- and that will be particularly important once the general election begins,'' he wrote to her.

Most of the current news focus will stay on the Democrats, he said, though Herald editors have been editing stories to assure that the paragraphs dealing with the Republicans are raised high enough not to be overlooked.

Perhaps this is why, over the full six weeks, the Republicans still got more attention than the Democrats, 25 to 20.5. That gap is something to watch, but is not enough to consider more than an accident of news value for now. Besides, I suspect that more readers think The Miami Herald is liberal than conservative, an image certainly not borne out in the study. The opinion section operates independently and was not included.

Now let's return to tone. None of the stories had a negative tone or one of favoritism toward either party. ''Democrats aim to redefine, recast maverick McCain,'' said one headline, which could be construed as pro-Democrat. But another said ''McCain blasts offer by Obama for Cuba talks,'' which could be construed as pro-McCain.

If there were a change in tone, I would subtract points from the Ombudsman Index in the same way they were added.

The Miami Herald itself, meanwhile, wins points for the way it handled a New York Times story all but accusing McCain of having an affair with a female lobbyist. This was what ''Pat'' online referred to. But the poorly sourced story was a black eye for the Times. Herald editors wisely put inside only a short article based on McCain's denial.

It was a shame The Miami Herald had to do even that, but there was no ignoring a matter that was all over the airwaves.

The Miami Herald did come back the next day with a Washington Post story that focused more seriously on McCain's relationship with the lobbyist's client, Paxson Communications. The Times had struggled in its story to do the same, but just couldn't bring itself to omit the unproven and irrelevant sex innuendo.

I, for one, am tired of the media obsession with the sex lives of politicians. I hope most readers agree.

Meanwhile, as we come to settle on two main candidates, what I would like to see is more substantive coverage.

It is beginning to creep onto the front page, with stories over the last six weeks about McCain's foreign-policy views and the differences among candidates over what to do with Guantánamo and Cuba. A fuller breakdown of policy positions is available at www.MiamiHerald.com.

Still, what I found more than bias or analysis over the last six weeks was a horse race. The front page sometimes fell into the breathlessness of the sports pages. ''McCain rides wave into Florida,'' shouted one Page One headline in large, bold type. ''Obama in a rout,'' cried another. These, after winning the middling state of South Carolina.

Such headlines are fun. Reading about sex is, too. But if The Miami Herald doesn't guide our better instincts, and help us make serious political choices, what other media will?

Cranford's Bafta bonanza: Dame Judi receives record 24th Bafta nomination

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But Dame Judi Dench, 73, may have to reel off the list of thank yous once again after receiving a record 24th Bafta nomination.

She is up for the best actress prize for her role in BBC series Cranford, along with her co-star Dame Eileen Atkins, also 73.

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Dame Eileen Atkins and Dame Judi Dench are both nominated for best actress for their roles in the BBC drama Cranford

The BBC drama, based on the books by Elizabeth Gaskell, yesterday has three nominations - the highest number of any programme.

Dame Judi's other rivals for the best actress prize are former winner Gina McKee, nominated for BBC1 drama The Street, and Kierston Wareing for It's A Free World on Channel 4.

Cranford is also in the running for best drama serial, up against Channel 4's Britz and BBC1's Five Days and Murphy's Law.

In the entertainment programme category, Britain's Got Talent - the show won by opera singer Paul Potts - goes head-to-head with Strictly Come Dancing. The other nominees in the category are Have I Got News for You and Harry Hill's TV Burp.

For the first time in ten years, Coronation Street failed to be nominated in the Continuing Drama category. its soap rivals EastEnders, The Bill, Emmerdale and Holby City are up for the award.

In contrast to the best actress category, all the best actor contenders are first-time nominees.

They are Andrew Garfield for Boy A (Channel 4), Tom Hardy for Stuart: A Life Backwards (BBC2), Matthew Macfadyen for Secret Life (Channel 4), and Antony Sher for Primo (BBC4).

The British Academy Television Awards will be held at the London Palladium on April 20, hosted by Graham Norton, and broadcast on BBC1.

• Votes are being cast for the Sky+ audience award at www. bestonthebox.com until 18 April.

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