Media Criticism

I love the idea that Rolling Stone feels it has the political clout to sway an election before the Democratic primaries are done. I complimented Matt Taibbi about his solid reporting on the political scene but I would hope that Mr. Taibbi told the editors of the magazine that most of the primaries are over. I don’t think Rolling Stone has become a Pennsylvania publication and it doesn’t seem likely that this endorsement will do well in places like Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. I am sure other readers of the magazine are pondering why a rock magazine is bothering with this endorsement during the primary process.

I know that Rolling Stone waited in the past to throw its hat into the ring for Democratic candidates (there are few doubts about their political affiliations). Al Gore and John Kerry got the magazine’s blessing well into the general election season. The primaries are protracted due to the impressive qualifications of Senators Obama and Clinton but I am sure there are plenty of other issues that the magazine could cover. Rolling Stone could just put Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones (the center of their musical universe) on the cover while waiting for the final field to emerge.

The larger issue with Rolling Stone’s recent endorsement is the decreasing impact of endorsements at large. The magazine has always been a supporter of liberal ideas while bucking the mainstream Democratic establishment in many articles. I have never run across a conservative music magazine that offers an endorsement of Republican candidates. There are many problems with endorsements including the lack of credibility by supportive politicians, business owners and activists. Rolling Stone just doesn’t have the political clout that it wants to have. The editors should continue to uncover problems in American politics sandwiched between flashy pictures of Amy Winehouse and the latest interview with the guy from Maroon 5. A music magazine with a few articles on politics will never gain credibility with activists in the same way that Roll Call will never be read by hipsters looking for CD reviews.