Sexism in the media

Intro: Democrats and Republicans agree, sexism and news go hand-in-hand in this election.

Joshua Skurnik (SCUR-nic) has more from Jefferson City.

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Many GOP members have said that Alaskan Governor and running mate Sarah Palin is unfairly treated by the media because she's a woman.

According to Democratic Missouri Senator Joan Bray, the accusations are an unfounded response to the media "catch-up" for the little-known candidate.

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Description: I don't believe, because I can think of, of a lot of other candidates, male and female, whose families have been thoroughly looked at and reported on if there is something to say

Bray, a former editor for the St.Louis Post-Dispatch, did say the media is too focused on Palin's aesthetics.

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Description: You never hear a male candidate described for what color tie he is wearing.

The media's varied treatment on the standards and type of questions asked to male and female candidates crosses party lines.

Democratic State Auditor Susan Montee expresses dismay at any assumptions that women backed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton just because she's a woman.

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Description: The support that Hillary Clinton had among not just women, but people in general had a lot to do with her views, her experience, and her positions on women's issues.

Joplin Republican Senator Gary Nodler agrees the sexist coverage given to Hillary "paralleled Palin."

Nodler blames big news organizations for looking for more stories with high ratings as opposed to actual news value.

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Description: You don't have the same degree of professionalism or ethics in the media that exist in other professional groups, because certain outlets choose not to adhere to an ethical code.

Nodler calls for news organizations to act as checks-and-balances, and to use instances of competing organization's unethical journalism as actual news stories.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Joshua Skurnik.

Intro: Missouri Republicans say the media's coverage is sexist when covering Governor Palin.

Joshua Skurnik (SCUR-nic) has more from Jefferson City.

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Missouri Republicans agree with McCain's statement that Governor Sarah Palin is treated unfairly by the media. They cite the gender slant of the questions.

Cape Girardeau Republican Senator Jason Crowell compared the positive coverage of Democratic V.P. nominee Senator Joe Biden as a single father to Palin's family-life.

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Description: Immediately some commentators were saying that if Governor Palin, if Sarah Palin were at home her daughter would have never gotten pregnant.

Crowell says the sexist coverage is bipartisan. He says the coverage afforded to New York Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign was just as bad.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Joshua Skurnik.

Intro: The Republican Party relies on the media's sexism to protect Palin.

Joshua Skurnik (SCUR-nic) has more from Jefferson City.

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Though Senator John McCain accuses the media of unfairly treating V.P nominee Sarah Palin because she's a woman, one female Missouri State Senator says it helps her campaign.

Democratic State Senator Jolie Justus says she wants to hear more on Palin's values than what she wears to work.

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Description: It may be the republican agenda that they want these issues, they want these distractions, because frankly they have done everything in their power to keep Governor Palin from actually saying anything substantive.

The Kansas City Senator said questions regarding female candidates' looks steal attention from the issues.

Justus went on to say it is sad that the media has not heeded both party's calls for change.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Joshua Skurnik.