Ghost of 2000 election haunts TV coverage

Rule No. 5 of the journalism handbook reads: Never become the story.

After TV news outlets sliced that rule to bits four years ago, then drowned in the confetti, they swore it wouldn’t happen again.

This year, they:

* Promised they wouldn’t call a state until they were absolutely certain.

* Told us about their “decision desks” and “election analysis centers.”

* Explained their cutting-edge computer software, which turned maps of the United States 269 shades of red and blue.

As the polls closed from the East Coast to the West, some states were projected as winners for President Bush and some for Sen. John Kerry.

“We don’t ‘call’ anymore, we ‘project,’” Peter Jennings of ABC quipped.

Everything went fine until it was time to take the plunge.

As every major network crept toward the edge, they peeked over and saw pies aimed at their faces – and they were all in the shape of Florida.

This wasn’t purely a question of Ohio, which was the real wild card. By 10:50 p.m., Fox News and NBC News had already called the Buckeye State for the president, giving him 269 electoral votes – just one shy of the 270 needed for victory.

CNN, ABC and CBS, however, had not awarded Ohio to Bush, but later gave him Nevada. The Silver State, by these three networks’ count, gave Bush 254.

Had they awarded him Ohio, they would have declared him the winner.

Had Fox News and NBC, on the other hand, given Nevada to Bush – which the others already had – they would have declared him the winner.

But nobody wanted to be the first to step on the proverbial hoe and have the proverbial handle clock them upside the proverbial head.

“If we hadn’t gone through what we went through in 2000, I have a hunch we’d be calling this for Bush,” CNN’s Jeff Greenfield said about 10:30 p.m.

“With the justified criticism of the media, in particular the networks and cable, we are not in any hurry to risk saying something about which we are not certain,” Jennings said.

“There may be other news organizations saying Ohio is for George W. Bush, but we are not,” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer said.

“This has gotten kind of absurd,” Fox News’ Brit Hume said. “We have been poised on the edge of a decision and finality in this presidential race – at least in the best terms we can project – for, what, more than an hour now?”

It got to the point where one had to wonder, “Who’s in charge of just saying it?”

Regardless of who it would be, it wasn’t going to be the news networks – no matter how badly the candidates wanted them to ease their own burden.

Jennings took ABC News off the air just before 2 a.m., before any other network called it a night, and KOMO-TV ran an infomercial on Clorox bleach products.

Moments later, Tom Brokaw at NBC said, “The Kerry people are very unhappy with NBC for making a judgment about Ohio.

“The Bush people … really thought they were going to claim their victory tonight, and then they were unhappy with the networks for not giving them the votes they believe they have to put him over the top.”

Finally, Kerry called Bush on Wednesday morning to concede.

Within minutes, Fox News and NBC called Nevada for Bush and declared him the winner; and CNN and the rest called Ohio for Bush and declared him the winner.

But on a night when everybody – lastly, the candidates themselves – finally realized that getting it right is more important than getting it first, we can only hope the lesson sticks.

Tune in again in four years.

Columnist Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@ heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Edmonds Hearing Examiner decides on Perrinville Creek saga

The examiner revoked the city’s Determination of Non-Significance, forcing Edmonds to address infrastructure issues on the creek

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Our Lady of Hope Fr. Joseph Altenhofen outside of his parish’s building that will be the new home of Hope ‘N Wellness on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Hope ‘N Wellness location to open Wednesday in Everett

Our Lady of Hope Church will host the social service organization at 2617 Cedar St. in Everett.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Limited train service to resume on Amtrak Cascades

Trains will have less capacity for now, but service is expected to resume for some routes as early as Tuesday.

Marysville
Police: 66-year-old Marysville man dead from fatal stabbing

A neighbor found the man unconscious on the sidewalk as the result of an apparent stabbing. Police said they are looking for suspects.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Driver, suspected of DUI, hits WSP vehicle on I-5 near Everett

The trooper was blocking the HOV lane for a previous collision when his vehicle was struck Saturday morning.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.