If you search for Welty on the Star Tribune's web site, you will find two recent stories: one on shingles ("a welty rash") and one on Eudora Welty, the late writer. This from a newspaper that boasts in one of its blogs that its political home page "includes the latest profiles of candidates, their stand on the issues, fresh news, a good list of political blogs of all perspectives and other links."
Harry Welty is on the ballot for Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, has appeared on Twin Cities Public Television's Almanac debate for this seat, and is mentioned several times on Minnesota's Public Radio site. But nada for the Star Tribune and nada for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The Duluth News Tribune did invite Harry to submit an essay and published it on October 20. But they would not include him in a debate on local public television. He was not a major-party candidate.
I think newspapers and other media are doing two things that are not in the public's interest. One, by excluding candidates from coverage, they are making news rather than reporting news. Two, their requirements for major-party affiliation are a self-fulfilling prophecy. "How do you get coverage of a political campaign?" "Be with a major party." "How do you get major-party status?" "Get news coverage."
