California Dreaming

On October 7, residents of California voted to oust governor Gray Davis and picked Arnold Schwarznegger to take his place. This archive of stories focuses on how the press tackled the unfolding election drama. For more information on the election, including a list of the candidates, click here.

Note: Some of the articles below may no longer be available for free, but can be accessed usually for a fee or by using a database such as LexisNexis.

"California stations prep for new governor coverage"
Daisy Whitney, TelevisionWeek, October 27, 2003

"The 'Late Show' joke's on Arnold"
David Bauder, Associated Press, October 22, 2003

"Debating the 'LA Times' Arnold series"
Joe Strupp, Editor and Publisher, October 22, 2003

"Editors voice support for 'LA Times' Arnold series"
Joe Strupp, Editor and Publisher, October 14, 2003

"Working to spin distrust of media into votes"
Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, October 12, 2003

"NBC supports the politically partisan Leno"
Bill Carter, New York Times, October 10, 2003

"Leno said to exceed Terminator limits"
New York Daily News, October 10, 2003

"'Schwarzenegger' hard on headline writers: Copy desks struggle with 14-letter name"
Associated Press, October 10, 2003

"News media lost the most in Calif. race"
Eric Deggans, St, Petersburg Times, October 9, 2003

"State politics turning into 'Must-See TV'"
Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2003

"The recall show with Jay Leno"
Sharon Waxman, Washington Post, October 9, 2003

"First news conference reflects changing era"
Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2003

"Maria Shriver's limited coverage"
Lisa de Moraes, Washington Post, October 9, 2003

"Talk radio is still in attack mode after the election"
Bob Baker and Steve Carney, Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2003

"Times faces lingering feelings of bias"
James Sterngold, San Francisco Chronicle, October 9, 2003

"NBC says it wants Shriver back"
Maria Puente and Patrick McMahon, USA Today, October 9, 2003

"'Nutballs' no more, talk radio jocks bask in their recall role"
Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, October 9, 2003

"TV gropes for depth after feasting on fluff"
Tim Goodman, San Francisco Chronicle, October 9, 2003

"Calif. editorials take measured approach to election"
Seth Porges, Editor and Publisher, October 8, 2003

"Hollywood suspense missing from recall"
Howard Kurtz, Washington Post, October 8, 2003

"Television calls winner as polls close"
Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, October 8, 2003

"A few wrinkles in Shriver's marriage to NBC News"
Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, October 8, 2003

"Television is quick to call it a night"
Elizabeth Jensen, Los Angeles Times, October 8, 2003

"Cable networks all but declare win in advance"
Scott Bowles, USA Today, October 8, 2003

"Stewart elects to skewer recall live on 'Daily Show'"
Gary Levin, USA Today, October 7, 2003

"L.A. Times's articles on groping spark outcry"
Michael J. Mccarthy, Matthew Rose and Amy Merrick. Wall Street Jounal, October 7, 2003

"Schwarzenegger fights media 'villains' with smile"
Adam Tanner and Gina Keating, Reuters, October 7, 2003

"All the world's a stage"
Duncan Campbell, Guardian, October 7, 2003

"Schwarzenegger prompts role reversal among media"
Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, October 6, 2003

"Star power, unusual election attract TV networks"
Elizabeth Jensen, Los Angeles Times, October 6, 2003

"Public has less faith in political advertising"
Gregory Solman, Editor and Publisher, October 6, 2003

"Networks turn out in California"
David Bauder, Associated Press, October 3, 2003

Arnold Story: "L.A. Times editor defends article"
James Sterngold. San Francisco Chronicle, October 3, 2003

"California recall energizes TV news, voters"
Lou Cannon, Stateline.org, October 3, 2003

"TV's hot glare makes odd campaign even odder"
Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, October 2, 2003

"Web sites make inroads, but fail to rule campaign"
James Rainey and Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, October 2, 2003

"Despite efforts, press can't seem to pin down Schwarzenegger"
Mark Jurkowitz, Boston Globe, October 2, 2003

"California recall has become TV's obsession"
Associated Press, September 30, 2003

"Sex and the candidate"
Michael Wolff, New York, September 29, 2003

"Marriage of media and politics"
lissa Wye Geraci, San Francisco Chronicle, September 28, 2003

"Bay area TV anchor-reporter gives to Schwarzenegger"
Associated Press, September 9, 2003

"Top sites, blogs for California recall"
Mark Glaser, Online Journalism Review, September 9, 2003

"Media change Calif. campaign"
Dan Balz and William Booth, Washington Post, September 2, 2003

"Recall race to get its own dummies guide"
Roy Rivenburg, Baltimore Sun, September 2, 2003

"Unusual election elicits media frenzy"
Carla Marinucci, San Francisco Chronicle, September 1, 2003

"Hey, did you hear the one about the California recall election?"
James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle, August 28, 2003

"Los Angeles Times and CNN to co-sponsor California recall debate"
Los Angeles Times, August 27, 2003

"Spanish media eye recall race with different lenses"
Fox News, August 26, 2003

"ABC makes TV prime-time move for California Race"
Reuters, August 26, 2003

"TV audiences miss close-captioned spoof of Arnold"
Associated Press, August 25, 2003

"Fox plays Terminator, ending Schwarzenegger movie puns"
Jim Rutenberg, New York Times, August 25, 2003

"The media mustn't become star-struck"
Jon Friedman, CBS Marketwatch.com, August 15, 2003

"Recall election fires up Hispanic media"
Marcelo Ballve, Pacific News Service, August 14, 2003

"Before he was a candidate Schwarzenegger openly flexed his vocal cords"
Peter Hartlaub, S.F. Chronicle, August 15, 2003

"It's our media that are simplistic, not Arnie"
The Age, August 15, 2003

"Sacramento's new star appeal"
E.J. Dionne, Washington Post, August 15, 2003

"Take Schwarzenegger Seriously, But Make Him Accountable"
Paul Janensch, Hartford Courant, August 14, 2003

"Recall candidates work on their images"
Jesse Hamlin, San Francisco Chronicle, August 13, 2003

"TV cameras roll up for California's election circus"
David Teather, Guardian, August 11, 2003

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