Palin Begs Mac to Give Mich. Another Try

(AP) - After 2 years of stories about bad ratings and an uncertain future, Katie Couric is in the news for a positive reason, the AP reports—her work. Her CBS Evening News interviews with Sarah Palin, Joe Biden, and John McCain have brought the broadcast unprecedented buzz even though, as the New York Times reports, the ratings payoff has been modest at best. More»

Maybe shielding Palin from the media was a bad idea

(NEWSER) - John McCain and Sarah Palin sat down for a joint interview with Katie Couric last night, and it was hard to avoid the impression that McCain was chaperoning his running mate “to keep her out of trouble” writes Time TV critic James Poniewozik. McCain accused Couric of “gotcha journalism,” when she confronted Palin with a statement the would-be veep made at a pizza parlor contradicting his stance on Pakistan. More»

Practice, know the details and don't repeat yourself, media pros advise VP candidate

(NEWSER) - Now that we've seen Sarah Palin interviewed on TV three times, it's clear she could use a little media coaching, Christopher Beam writes for Slate. To figure out how Palin can break out of her "constant low hum of mediocrity," Beam gets tips from media pros. Some highlights:

• Give details. Don't say the economy requires "a multifaceted solution." Provide examples, one media trainer says.

CBS anchor will talk to her for shows in late September

(AP) - Second in the broadcast network competition to talk to Sarah Palin: Katie Couric. The CBS anchor will spend two days on the road with her and John McCain, the network said. Couric's interview material will be aired Sept. 29 and 30 on the CBS Evening News and The Early Show. It's timed for just before the Oct. 2 vice-presidential debate. Palin also is talking to Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity this week. More»

Campaign aims to do the opposite of McCain

(NEWSER) - Team Romney’s rule of thumb: Do the opposite of everything John McCain did in 2008, or so reports Politico in a look at the campaign's strategy. The approach applies broadly, say advisers—focus hugely on the economy, fully engage in fundraising, integrate early with the Republican National Committee—but comes most into play in the search for a VP. The campaign doesn’t want to end up with its own version of Sarah Palin, so it is going to great lengths to avoid anyone who could be seen as unprepared. The goal, according to one official: Go with an "incredibly boring white guy." More»