Slate's Bizbox
press box: Media criticism.

Peter Jennings, Embargo Criminal

Jack Shafer
Posted Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, at 3:25 PM ET

I'm relieved to learn from today's Los Angeles Times that I'm not the only embargo-defier in the press corps. Meet my fellow scofflaw, Peter Jennings. Jennings broke the embargo of exit-poll data in an item he wrote and posted yesterday on ABCNews.com while the Michigan polls were still open. Previewing his evening newscast, Jennings wrote:

At the time we are writing this, we are seeing the first wave of exit polls from the Michigan Republican primary. The exit polls are one of the most fascinating tools we have to understand the electorate, and while we don't rely on them to project winners and losers, at this time of the day they are a very good indication of who is doing what to whom. Right now, John McCain and George W. Bush are statistically dead even--not a deep breath between them.

ABC spokesperson Eileen Murphy told the Times that Jennings had caused no harm in releasing the exit-poll data early, and went so far as to say that Jennings' preview might even have inspired some Michiganders to vote because the polls indicated "a dead heat."

In other words, ABC officially agrees with my "Press Box" column of yesterday that the embargo is pointless. Unfortunately, Jennings' harmless and maybe even constructive act won't be repeated because, as Murphy told the Times, it violates ABC policy.

Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Jack Shafer is Slate's editor at large.
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES

Highlights from The Fray:


If you're lucky enough to get British world news (ITV) on PBS as we are here in NYC, you would have access to the same exit polls that were posted here. The news is carried at 6pm.

--Jim Saspherz

(To reply, click here.)


Yes, some network news reporters are disingenuous when they feign ignorance of exit polls, fine. I still prefer that to your publishing of incorrect and misleading data. I propose a valid reason for not reporting exit poll data: it is UNRELIABLE! I invite anyone who feels this way to lie to any and all pollsters. The more unreliable this data is, the more likely the media will ignore it and instead focus on issues over horse races.

--MM

(To reply, click here.)

(2/24)

Washington Post