the water cooler

Anderson Cooper on Deconstructing Photo-Ops and Causing International Incidents

April 2, 2004
CNN’s Anderson Cooper
(CNN/Eccles)

Anderson Cooper is the anchor of “Anderson Cooper 360,” which appears on weeknights on CNN. He is the former chief international correspondent for Channel One News and anchor of ABC’s “World News Now,” and he moderated the “Rock The Vote” Democratic presidential debate in November. He spoke to Campaign Desk from the CNN New York bureau, part of our ongoing series of interviews with reporters and commentators about the election.

Brian Montopoli: What do you think of the campaign coverage so far? What could reporters be doing better?

Anderson Cooper: I think a lot of the problems that always existed still exist, and I’m not sure they’re solvable. A big one is how it’s easier to follow the horserace than follow the issues, of course. But that’s a perennial problem — I don’t see it more this year than in other years. Overall, I think coverage has been pretty good. It may be more intense this year than it was in an earlier time. People are making more of an effort to fact-check ads, for example — something we’ve started doing on our show recently. We’re also trying to make an effort deconstruct what actually end up seeing — step back and deconstruct the photo-ops, for example. Just literally deconstruct how a photo-op works.

BM: You seem to be viewed by CNN as the anchor who best connects with young people. Is the news — and campaign coverage specifically — often presented in a way that turns off young people?

AC: I would never sell myself as the person with the best connection to young people — some other people seem to think that, but it’s not how I’d present myself. But in general, I think news in general doesn’t really connect to young people. It’s a question of where the interest level lies. Young people traditionally don’t come out to vote in large numbers. I do think there’s a way to cover news — and politics — in ways that connect to young people. But you’re not seeing a lot of it out there.

BM: Do you think reporters tend to cover the horserace because it’s easier for reporters, or because it’s what the people want?

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AC: I think it’s more a little bit of both. And there’s a third thing — the horserace is often the most compelling story out there. Conflict is inherently compelling, and so a political race is going to be inherently compelling.

BM: When you’re on the air so often, is it difficult to keep your opinions out of the political coverage?

AC: I don’t think it’s hard. There are a lot of people whose mandate is to not keep their opinion out — it’s to wear it on their sleeve and shove it down people’s throats. I’ve always prided myself on being a blank slate. I revel in the opportunity to do that. I think there’s a role for people who are just there to ask hard questions to both sides. I think of it as a point of pride, not a particular challenge.

BM: We’re curious, could you see yourself working on the other side — being a White House press secretary, for example, or working in public relations? Does that hold any appeal?

AC: If I was a PR guy I think I’d hang myself from the rafters. I have a very difficult time doing stuff I don’t necessarily believe in — I’m just not very good at selling things. And as for being a press officer, I don’t think that would go well. I think I would make a few snarky comments and invariably end up causing an international incident.

Brian Montopoli is a writer at CJR Daily.