Here are some things I've seen in the last 24 hours:
- Yesterday afternoon, McCain aides announce that he's selected a VP. It is a transparent attempt to divert attention away from Obama's speech, but CNN is feverishly covering it anyway, with Dana Bash in Dayton, Ohio standing around and reporting nothing. At one point, she reports that Mitt Romney hasn't been told that he's been selected. A minute later, Wolf Blitzer says that CNN doesn't know whether the person McCain has selected has been informed, rendering Dana Bash's piece of "information" completely useless.
- Today, CNN continues with its "coverage" of the pick. It is "BREAKING NEWS." All morning. Even though the news is that, as the chryon acknowledges, they're "awaiting an announcement."
- Someone finally says they're hearing its Sarah Palin. No one knows anything about her. Tony Harris, who's anchoring, chuckles as he admits that he needs someone to get him a backgrounder on her because he has nothing to say. Another reporter is showing the websites he's been googling to learn things about her and says he's got something coming Tony's way. Tony's happy!
- Three people at the Times wrote this story about Palin, which is being continually updated. Nowhere does it mention the banal, silly campaign trivia about her that Stephen just did.
Better media, please.
