By J. Randolph Evans

As the 2012 elections approach, voters are starting to pay attention.
Everyone agrees that cable news and the internet (including Twitter and
Facebook) have changed the world – especially the way voters get their
information. Both cable news and the internet give them what they want
when they want it. Yet, local media coverage remains an influential
part of the voter decision-making process.

Every Georgia officeholder, candidate, and political party knows who the
bad reporters are. But, there are some very good local media sources.

After decades of watching and editorializing about political news (and
occasionally participating in it), here are some thoughts about the best
local news sources in 2011. (Importantly, this is not a complete list –
there is not enough room to list everyone.)

In some categories, it is really not competitive. For example, the
Georgia Gang is the best local television programming for political news
coverage in Georgia – bar none. Dick Williams does an effective,
McLaughlin-like job managing a panel of diverse political opinion that
occasionally gets downright feisty. The topics are timely and the
information is good. Phil Kent helps make the show with the benefit of
insider information from the movers and shakers.

Lawmakers (on Georgia Public Broadcasting) is also an impressive
resource for political news. During the General Assembly, there is no
one better at letting Georgians hear from their elected leaders.

For talk radio shows, it is not really fair to compare nationally
syndicated WSB’s talkmaster Neal Boortz to anyone else. After all, he
is in the talk radio Hall of Fame (literally) and for good reason. When
zeroed in on politics, there is no one better. Of course, his access to
the top newsmakers is unmatched.

After Boortz, one name comes to the top – Rob Johnson. Morning drive
time is no easy slot for holding news-starved commuters who want the
news and opinion. Johnson does a great job of providing both – with
flavor. He has a great wit and has newsmakers on while the news is
still hot. He combines the news of the day with politics, making them
fun and informative.

For local television news, it is a close call between WSB TV (Channel 2)
and Fox 5 (WAGA). Virtually every local television station in Georgia
has investigative reporters and investigative news teams with a clever
name. The question is how good are they? WSB and Fox 5 are definitely
a cut above the rest.

Yet, for political news coverage, WSB definitely has the edge and is the
best in Georgia. Two of their reporters are especially noteworthy –
Richard Belcher and Lori Geary.

Effective political news reporting requires the combination of two
qualities – tenacity and professionalism. Geary and Belcher have both.
There is never a moment when viewers get the feeling that either has a
personal stake in making the story turn out a certain way. They just
want the story, and they want to get it right – every day. Then, they
share what they have learned with viewers.

For political newspaper reporters, Walter Jones of Morris News Service
and Joe Kirby of the Marietta Daily Journal are very good. In addition
to knowing everyone, they cover everything – from the 2012 Presidential
election to local elections.

Many times, they are the first to show up and the last to leave –
hanging around to get that one little nugget that did not make the press
conference. Both have a good ‘ear’ for what is real, and what is not.
Some part of this comes from experience; the other part comes from
having a built-in ‘spin detector’ that goes off when spin starts.

For political editorial, Jim Wooten (even in ‘retirement’) is the best.
He just has a great style about him and knows (or hears) so much. He
makes reading the Friday Atlanta Journal Constitution tolerable.

For online coverage and blogs, there are many choices and it is next to
impossible to pick just one. But, admittedly, everyone reads Jim
Galloway’s Political Insider. Occasionally, he succumbs to media-itis
(generating media about the media for the sake of media) – but
thankfully it is only occasionally. No one can deny that virtually
every Georgia political junkie gets their fix by visiting the Political
Insider when they get up, and before they go to bed

For magazines, the best sources are Georgia Trend and James Magazine.
In addition to reporting what is happening (or not) for Georgia
businesses, Georgia Trend actually includes a political component in
most of its stories and features ‘Political Notes’ – a quick and easy
update compiled by its staff on the comings and goings in Georgia
politics. Matt Towery at James has the advantage of years of inside
information and a willingness to stay in the game.