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Responsibility Frenzies in News Coverage

Dissecting a Hillary Clinton Rumor

Little attention has been paid to cases in which news media cover political controversies in a sensible and responsible manner. Unlike "feeding frenzies," which have been well documented, there has been almost no serious examination of cases in which reporters engage in "responsibility frenzies." In this article, the author discusses a case of one such responsibility frenzy: rumors during Hillary Clinton’s 2000 U.S. Senate campaign that she was a lesbian. Using interviews, personal observation, and news accounts, I explain how the press avoided irresponsible coverage and engaged in enlightened self-restraint. While responsibility frenzies admittedly are much more rare than feeding frenzies, it is important to understand the dynamics of the former and the factors that lead the press to act responsibly.

Key Words: feeding frenzy • responsibility frenzy • Hillary Clinton • Senate campaigns

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