According to a new Pew Research study, media coverage of President/Candidate Barack Obama has become decidedly negative. Over the last five months, only 9% of the news coverage about him has registered as positive while 34% has been negative (57% has been neutral coverage of events).

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Ever hear the phrase "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?" That perfect depiction of a futile effort came to mind when I read that CNN is going to add a live studio audience to Anderson Cooper's primetime news program. Two shows with the new audience and "talk format" will be taped in mid-April and are being called "specials" to keep expectations down. But the special format will likely become the permanent format if there is an improvement in ratings. (source)

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With 24/7 news networks and a perpetually connected audience of news junkies, the American media often creates serious news stories out of minor occurrences when there is little else to fill their programming hours. In years past, the holiday season offered especially slim pickings for journalists, editors, commentators and anchors. This is not one of those years but you wouldn't know that from watching the broadcasts.

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Still no announcement on when (or if) President Obama will heed his general's recommendation and send more US troops to Afghanistan but his war against a media outlet is still going strong. Joining the fight in the war of words between the Obama administration and Fox News Channel is ABC's Jake Tapper and the perpetually inept White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. The latest battle occurred during Mr. Gibb's daily briefing on Tuesday:

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