Media Mea Culpa on Health Care

If you're trying to figure out why the health care debate has gone off the rails, the ombudsman of the Washington Post has a thoughtful piece that examines one reason: too much concern about tactics, not enough explanation of the basics.

This is an old flaw in journalism, and it doesn't help the public cope with issues. Both reporters and the policymakers they cover are wound up in the day-to-day politics of an issue. That's natural – the definition of "news" is what's new. If you ask journalists why they don't write more "explainers" about the basics, they'll often say "everybody already knows that." It's all too common for both reporters and politicians to forget that, far too frequently, everybody doesn't know it. And the public can't work through an issue without that information.

People can get up to speed on issues. You just have to remind yourself to keep doing it.