Page 95 - An Introduction to Political Communication Fifth Edition

Intro to Politics Communication (5th edn)-p.qxp 9/2/11 10:55 Page 74

POLITICS IN THE AGE OF MEDIATION
journalism, and political discourse in general, while blurring the lines
between amateurs and professionals (as is true of all categories of what used
to be ‘expert’ discourse). The recent edited volume by Kees Brants and Katrin
Voltmer on Political Communication and Democracy collects together some
sixteen essays which explore the implications of these trends (2011).

THE FEATURE

Another important form of political journalism is the feature article. While
not, of course, restricted to coverage of politics, the feature article is the
arena for a more detailed exploration of political affairs than straight news
allows. Features frequently accompany news stories, expanding on issues
and events which a news story can only report in a summary fashion. Like
the columnist, the feature writer will if possible enlist the aid of political
insiders to obtain reliable material, although the feature must stick closely to
the conventions of objectivity described above. When addressing a political
theme, the feature writer must convince the reader of his or her ‘objec-
tivity’ as a journalist, while at the same time pressing a personal agenda.
Alternatively, the research for a feature (the data upon which its objectivity
will be founded) can be gained by on-the-spot interviews with participants
in the events underlying a current political issue. When, for example, a
journalist wishes to draw attention to the failings of government foreign
policy towards a particular region, he or she may travel there, record the
scene and the views of its inhabitants, and fashion a piece which condemns
the government, if not always explicitly.
Features straddle the line in political journalism between the hard news,
which is the staple of a newspaper, and the column, where its ‘priestly
pundits’ wax eloquent (or indignant) about the events of the day. The best
feature writers function as pundits and reporters, combining the research
skills of good journalism with the analytical and intellectual prowess of the
top pundits.

THE BARDS

Rather different in their function are what Nimmo and Combs call the
‘bards’ of political journalism (as distinct from the ‘priests’). The bardic
journalist or pundit plays the role of ‘a court jester, that ruling elites can
tolerate’ (1992, p. 67). The bard employs humour, satire and irony to
comment on political affairs, although frequently with serious intent.
Political cartoonists attempt to make their readers laugh while highlighting
important political issues. Bards such as Simon Hoggart and Matthew Parris
made their reputations as wickedly funny diarists of the House of Commons’

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