Barack Obama's 'paparazzi presidency' may change how a president is covered

Washington, January 2 (ANI): Having marked a step change in U.S. politics, Barack Obama's historic victory in the 2008 election now seems set to upend the way a president is covered by the media.

Experts say that the kind of attention Obama has gained from non-political publications thus far, such as being on the cover of some top magazines, indicates that several new storylines may be brought to the fore when he is covered as 44th U.S. President.

Obama's star power has already prompted some to predict that he will be "the Britney Spears of 2009", and the entertainment press's fixation with the president-elect seems to be helping him as he prepares to take office.

"The number of eyeballs that read People magazine are enormous compared to political publications," Politico.com quoted says veteran Democratic strategist Chris Lehane as saying.

"If you're able to communicate through those outlets, you're able to reach more people more quickly, without your message being 'translated' by the historic gatekeepers," Lehane added.

Media critics are also referring to the way some photographers recently clicked beefcake shots of the president-elect on the beach, and of him at a memorial service for his late grandmother, during a family holiday, and how those playing by the rules missed the shots.

"The idea that the Washington (photographers) agreed not to cover him and the paparazzi did so changes the rules of the Washington press corps. If one person breaks away from the pack, there is no pack," says media critic Jeff Jarvis, the founding editor of Entertainment Weekly.

It is also said that pictures like those featuring Obama's muscular chest are enough to divert attention away from more pressing crises facing the nation for a day or so. (ANI)