Spotlight-Worthy

Progressive criticism of the mainstream media has been thoughtful and dead-on (e.g. link, link). But, even as the mainstream media stands today, Democrats can make better use of it to serve the cause of progressivism - and thus to serve the public and the party.

Though Democrats don't currently have the bully pulpit of the presidency, Democratic leaders - unlike average citizens - have the ability to capture the attention of the media through a variety of means - interviews, press conferences, public speeches, editorial columns. How much attention will actually be paid depends on the boldness of what the Democratic leaders have to say, and whether what they say touches people emotionally.

By sheer repetition and volume, Democrats can focus public attention on Democratic principles and the facts about how sticking to these principles works for America and how straying from these principles weakens America.

For example, Democratic leaders can speak vociferously and repeatedly about their principled belief in preserving the military readiness of our country rather than carelessly spreading it thin and undermining recruitment, as we have witnessed under George W. Bush. Democratic Congressman John Murtha's powerful, knowledgeable voice on this issue should be joined by a chorus of hundreds of his colleagues, making it that much harder for his highly reasoned - and popular - policy ideas to be mischaracterized by Republicans and distorted in the media coverage. And Democratic leaders can speak often and loudly about their principled belief in reining in deficits and reining in the size of the government, and their record of getting the job done, unlike Republican administrations, where reality so often falls short of rhetoric. Democratic leaders can not only raise their voices about their principled belief in an economy that lifts every member of society, but they can also repeatedly point to the historical record (link, link, link, link, link) which proves the economy does better by every measure under Democratic leadership. When Democratic leaders talk like this, with authority, with earned righteousness, attention will begin to be paid, because this manner of talking - principled, unambiguous - does appeal to the media, and it does gain voters' respect.

But having the principles and the record to stand on is not enough. What most attract the media's and the public's attention are compelling stories and images of real people. All the valid arguments about the need to protect the environment will not be as powerful as one picture of a child whose home has been destroyed by the mudslides caused by deforestation, or one story of a fisherman who has lost his livelihood because of polluted waters. And learning more about the personal stories of citizens who lost everything in the Katrina disaster can remind Americans that when we face a disaster, we need government leaders who are competent, not merely confident. Images of the unprecedented hurricane activity of 2005 can also remind Americans of the risk of catastrophic climate changes - and the reason why politicians must not ignore the scientific evidence of global warming and must enact sensible energy policies. Democrats can use their public spotlight to convey anecdotes and images of real people's lives in order to show the realities of poverty and the tangible, life-changing effects of anti-poverty initiatives - or to show the true impact of environmental degradation and the real social and economic benefits that communities gain through efforts to preserve a clean environment. And Democratic leaders can give ordinary people more opportunities to join them in the media limelight to share their own stories.

As an example of the power of a few pictures, flip through this report (pdf) by Partners in Health. This shows what can happen when desperately poor, extremely ill people are treated as if their lives matter - and what could happen literally all around the world.

There is no shortage of compelling stories and images that Democratic leaders, with their access to the media, can present to remind Americans of our country's real challenges and of the true accomplishments that America can make in lifting humanity when we are guided by progressive principles.