Exploring Biden's Innovative 2024 Media Approach Beyond Traditional Outlets
Join President Biden as he breaks the norm by engaging with the comedy podcast, "Smartless," alongside Obama and Clinton, in a unique media strategy that shifts away from the Beltway press.
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President Joe Biden recently visited New York City and had a unique opportunity to participate in a joint interview with former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
The interview that garnered a lot of attention was not conducted by a national news organization or a local newspaper. Instead, it took place on the comedy podcast "Smartless," hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
Choosing to talk to the Hollywood trio instead of the traditional press is a reflection of Biden's media strategy for his crucial reelection campaign with the future of democracy at stake. Despite the image of the president avoiding the media spotlight in the White House, he is actually engaging in various interviews - just not with the Beltway press.
Biden has been actively participating in interviews this year, especially with the Black and Hispanic press. To address declining poll numbers among Black Americans, Biden has given a minimum of 10 interviews to media outlets targeting these communities. Most of these interviews were conducted with local radio stations during peak hours. Additionally, Biden has engaged in two interviews with Hispanic radio outlets in 2024 and is scheduled to have a conversation with Univision's Enrique Acevedo this week, according to Adrian Carrasquillo's report for Vanity Fair.
According to Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign communications director, the efforts to connect with these communities may not always be visible to those in D.C. and New York. However, the impact is being felt by the voters they are aiming to reach.
Tyler mentioned that the Biden campaign is giving importance to interviews with media outlets that target specific groups of voters. He believes that concentrating on local media will be beneficial for the campaign in the upcoming November election. Tyler clarified that the campaign is not avoiding traditional press but rather focusing their efforts on outlets with a targeted audience as part of a smart communications strategy. The campaign emphasizes that this approach creates a media playbook that includes both new media entities and other platforms with wide-ranging reach.
WALLINGFORD, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 08: President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event on March 08, 2024 in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. One day after Biden delivered his last State of the Union address before the November general election, the president held the event to highlight his administration's achievements and vision going into the next eight months of campaigning. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
President Joe Biden spoke at a campaign event in Wallingford, Pennsylvania on March 08, 2024. The event took place one day after Biden's final State of the Union address before the upcoming general election. Biden used the event to showcase his administration's accomplishments and goals for the next eight months of campaigning. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Tyler explained that our main goal as a campaign is to ensure that the president communicates directly with the voters who will determine the path to the 270 electoral votes.
However, Biden has been focusing more on using new and non-traditional media platforms. Compared to his predecessors, he has been less willing to do one-on-one interviews with the national press, participating in fewer interviews at this point in his presidency. Recently, Biden chose not to do the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview for the second year in a row, which has led to questions about his decision to not address the country's largest audience.
Jennifer Haberkorn, a White House reporter for POLITICO, pointed out that Jason Bateman has done a sit-down interview with President Biden twice, while almost every print reporter covering the White House has not had the opportunity. This was mentioned after Biden's interview on "Smartless."
It is likely that Biden's reluctance to engage with traditional news media is influenced by his dissatisfaction with how the press has covered him and his campaign. The Biden White House and campaign have strongly criticized the press for what they perceive as an excessive focus on issues such as Special Counsel Robert Hur's report and the president's age, rather than on Donald Trump's attacks on democratic institutions and promotion of false election claims.
Interviews with the national news media will be where Biden faces the toughest questions on the 2024 campaign, domestic policy, and foreign affairs. This level of scrutiny is typically found in the D.C. press which specializes in such matters.
By prioritizing other forms of media over the Beltway press, Biden has been able to stay connected with voters. This strategy also helps the president avoid being constantly questioned about sensitive topics like his age.
Tyler explained that these interviews focus more on what matters to voters rather than those in the beltway and New York.
Biden is not the first to use the bypass-the-Beltway strategy. Obama famously appeared on "Between Two Ferns" with Zach Galifianakis, while Trump often used social media to connect with his millions of followers. However, as the 2024 campaign intensifies and Biden aims to reach a wider audience, participating in targeted interviews alone may not be sufficient. It is likely that Biden will need to appear on programs with broader reach as well. Eventually, the strategy of bypassing the Beltway may have its limitations.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights Biden's strategic shift in media engagement, prioritizing interviews with specific audience groups over traditional press. This approach reflects his campaign's focus on targeted outreach, aiming to connect with voters directly and address their concerns. By avoiding the Beltway press, Biden evades tougher scrutiny and conveys a more personal connection with voters.
However, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will be effective in reaching a wider audience and addressing the complexities of the 2024 campaign. While targeted interviews can resonate with specific demographics, it may limit Biden's ability to address broader national issues and engage in robust discussions on policy and governance. As the campaign progresses, it is likely that Biden will need to strike a balance between targeted outreach and broader engagement to effectively communicate his message to the electorate.
