>>First impressions from Jay Rosen (and, as I later discovered, many U.S. bloggers) showed the DNC to be a scripted and costly charade.<<
Scripted? Yes. Charade? No.
Costly? How does one measure cost, if not in comparison to value received? I say it may have been a high ticket affair, but the money was well spent, as was the planning and execution.
The Democrats came to Boston with a clear and defined agenda.
1. Make Kerry seem strong, wise, and inclusive, that he is a leader.
2. Present a unified party with a single and patriotic objective: to win the election.
3. Stay on point, stress positives and keep the negatives on a reference basis, not a direct attack.
4. Pay homage to the past, but only when doing so in context with the importance of winning the coming election.
5. Present (read: sell) a wholesome, warm image of trustworthiness that transcends all levels of American society.
They did this, and did it well. Given that there was no surprise announcement to be made or back-room, last-minute deal to emerge from this meeting, what else might one expect?
Perhaps Jay is complaining that it is a big show, a presentation staged for the benefit of the party. But the bottom line is that in a connected world (TV, Radio, the net, and even bloggers this time) with the rules of the primary now eliminating the "vote" or slate development needs of conventions past, it is reduced to no more than a big telecast (and cable/satcast and webcast), a gala for the party.
The bloggers were the same bloggers as they were before they got there. Their content or their posts did not attain some higher or lower level. While it is newsworthy in and of itself that this is the very first time bloggers have received credentials, it is no big news that the bloggers were still themselves.
As were the other media covering the proceedings.
There were no surprises in coverage, which actually matches the lack of any surprises in what they were there to cover.
I agree with your point, and I expand it to all the bloggers: they came with their viewpoints. And of course they did, would one expect any thing different?
Also, agreed on Dave Pell's reporting. His blog has more of the ambience of a journalist covering an event, with some personal and lighter facts thown in as though he were more of a columnist than a straight-laced news reporter.
The Dems did their thing, and bloggers covered it. Now wait a few weeks and the spotlight will be on the GOP in NYC.
Me? I am looking to get away from the City for the duration of the Republican convention. Two reasons: first safety and security. I have some fear that either the organized terrorists or a few loose nutjobs may attempt to disrupt the events. And second: it just seems that when all those Republicans are around town, other places become more attractive in a host of ways.