Can you fix a debate- neutral journalism ?

The national ledge carries this story:

"Biden-Palin Debate Scandal: Gwen Ifill in the Tank, Gotcha Journalism on Deck?"

Gwen Ifill, it goes on to say has a book pending on Obama: "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.", so will have a vested interest to spear Palin.

It says Matt Drudge unearthed this partisan fact.

The book is indeed listed on Amazon, published by Random House inc saying:

Ifill argues that the Black political structure formed during the Civil Rights movement is giving way to a generation of men and women who are the direct beneficiaries of the struggles of the 1960s.

And her background is impeccable:

GWEN IFILL is moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and senior correspondent of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Before coming to PBS, she was chief congressional and political correspondent for NBC News, and had been a reporter for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and Boston Herald American. She lives in Washington, D.C.

So does Matt Drudge and similarly minded thinkers have a point? Given Gwen's work with Lehrer has anyone criticised her in the past.

On Wikis Newshour site, it says the programme has run into trouble for being bias interestingly towards the Republicans:

In October 2006, a study by the left-oriented media analysis group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) accused The NewsHour of lacking balance, diversity, and viewpoints of the general public, in favor of Republican and corporate viewpoints.

Obviously Gwen will have her own personal views. It is possible to be part of a structure and nor necessarily go with its views.

In the UK where there are no prime ministerial pre-election debates, I thought how likely could it be to have a journalist of note moderate an important debate, and have a book supportive of a cause.

We might know the political persuasion of Jon Snow or Jeremy Paxman, but we'd bet their do a through job on any political head.

So is this just a political party machinery making mischief, or more so stirring a non hornets' nest to side track Palin's lack of credible international knowledge that suggests in live debate she WILL trip up on this subject.

US politics - you couldn't make it up, or could you?

Palin - Film me but don't ask a ***** word

ABC Reports a series of meetings scheduled between the Republican's VP runner Sarah Palin and world leaders was due to take place "in camera".

You can observe but you can't report cuz they'll be no reporter.

We all know and have worked the pool system, but this would have been something not to have a reporter present.

You might as well get your own camera ala PR and flog the video with your icon at the top.

Rightly so there's been a hue and cry. C.f ABC News's blog, with word that broadcasters would have boycotted showing anything.

Webwise it would have been interesting to see whether online news sites show a blank or black screen in protest - something that was done in the 90s when US authorities sought more power to curb the independence of online sites.

Now I have been using the past tense through out here because it appears, from ABC, that the fire has been put out as a CNN producer will now be allowed in.

No word on who the producer is and what they'll be allowed to ask.

But in light of this foreign policy cram, how much I wonder will Palin allude to an expanse of international experience from her meeting, and more importantly what quotes are likely to be lifted for the ads to highlight her competence.

" I found Mrs Palin, to be fully aware of the pressing issues of security within our country and her pledge and commitment to seek greater interaction to resolving the festering sore, when she assumes her VP role".

says Afghan President Hamid Karzai

Oh slip of the tongue; jolly laugh with reporter: " I meant should she become VP, which I see no reason why she should not".

Too late, we know which one we'll edit. See those film review pages where comments like: "Great film but the acting sucked", and the review on the poster becomes; "****** Great film.

Yep you're ahead of me.

Now come to think of it was PM Gordon Brown having a freudian dig at Palin when he said government is no time for a novice.

Meanwhile says Palin, "There Obama put that in your pipe and smoke it. I met Karzai".

Next week, the SALT Treaty is revisited.